Badlands National Park may not see as many visitors as the Grand Canyon or Yosemite, but trust us, that s a good thing. The Badlands striking landscapes are noticeably less crowded, making it easier to enjoy the beauty and solitude of the park s striped rock formations and dramatic canyons. Then, there s the wildlife bison, bighorn sheep, and golden eagles, to name a few. Tent campsite at Badlands National Park, South Dakota, early morning
Image zoom Credit: Karen Desjardin/Getty Images
It s a corner of South Dakota that draws people from around the world, who make the journey to drive on Badlands Loop Road, hike on the Notch Trail, or spend time examining the myriad fossils that have been uncovered in the park.
They don’t have pink frosting or rainbow sprinkles, but Dutch oliebollen are the precursor to American doughnuts. Back when New York was New Amsterdam, Dutch immigrants brought these dunkable delicacies to our shores. And while Americans devour doughnuts daily, the Dutch treats, translated as
oil balls, are primarily available around New Year’s.
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These fried dough spheres are believed to have originated over a millennium ago but didn’t come into written history until the 17th century. Rather than being ring-shaped, as the name suggests they’re the size of impressionist golf balls. (If you think “oil balls” isn’t a great name, consider smoutebollen, or lard balls, enjoyed just to the south in Belgium.) Oliebollen are not perfectly spherical, though: while they’re soft and spongy inside, errant strands of batter form browned, crispy protuberances like crunchy bow-ties. You could even say they’re