Horiatiki Salata (Greek Country Salad)

Jeff found this recipe in Another Trip Around the World. I appreciated Jeff's assistance in preparing this recipe for Jeanette and Judy's birthday meal.

Ingredients:
4 tomatoes, cut into wedges
1 cucumber, peeled and sliced
1 green pepper, sliced in thin rings
1 yellow or red pepper, sliced in thin rings
1 mild onion, chopped
salt and pepper
4 T. olive oil
5 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
15 or more black olives
1 small bunch of parsley, coarsely chopped
1 t. dried oregano

Directions:
Place vegetables in a bowl, then sprinkle
them with salt, pepper, and olive oil. toss well.
Arrange the feta cheese, olives, and herbs on top.

Pan de Jamon--Venezuelan Ham Bread

Jeffrey found this recipe in one of his schoolbooks, Another Trip Around the World. He helped me prepare this recipe for Jeanette's and Judy's birthday meal.

Pan de Jamon-Venezuelan Ham Bread

Ingredients:
canned pizza crust, or prepared from scratch
butter
1 package of ham slices
1/2 c. chopped green olives
1/2 c. raisins
egg white, optional

Directions:
Spread the pizza crust onto a clean, flat surface.
Spread the crust evenly with butter or margarine.
Place ham slices over the butter or margarine.
Sprinkle with olives and raisins. Roll up the crust
and flatten the ends. Brush rolled crust with the
egg white. Place in a bread pan, or on a flat sheet,
seam side down. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Valentine's Day...and I've Got Someone On My Mind

Well..yesterday was special. I spent the day with my sweetheart. Yes, there we are. Happy birthday sis!
In honor of her birthday, I made special homemade pitas. We're going to eat them tonight for her birthday meal. Here's the recipe.
2 packages dry yeast
2 C. warm water
1/2 t. honey
1/4 C. olive oil
1 T. salt
5 to 6 C. whole wheat flour
cornmeal

Now, I altered the recipe. With our bosch machine I mix the water, honey, olive oil, salt and half of the flour. After that is mixed I add the yeast and the rest of the flour. Then I followed their directions.:)
Shape dough into 8 to 10 balls. Cover and let rest for about 30 minutes.
Using a floured rolling pin, flatten each ball into a circle about 8 inches in diameter and about 1/8 in. thick. Dust 2 baking sheets with cornmeal, place 2 of the circles on each sheet, cover, and let rest for about 30 minutes.
The oven is set for 500 F.-very hot for these little breads, and therein lies the secret. Place 1 sheet on the lowest rack for 5 minutes. Do not open the oven during this first baking. After 5 minutes, transfer the sheet to a higher shelf and let it bake for 3 to 5 more minutes. The breads will puff up and be lightly browned when they're ready.

My first couple of pitas were interesting. One was completely flat, the other was quite puffy. I did figure it out and the rest of the pitas were more promising in the end result. We're all looking forward to celebrating Joanna's birthday this evening. (yes, her birthday was yesterday, but we waited a day because of scheduling difficulties:)

For Judith......

Today is a very special day in our household. Today our dearest Judah-bean turns 12! I can't believe my second "little" sister is already twelve years old. Although, my little sister is rapidly becoming my "big" sister, in terms of height.
Where would I be without my dear sister Judy. She is continually making me laugh at myself through my blunderings. Judy is great at making me realize how to enjoy every minute of every day. She also helps me see the limitless possibilities that God gives us in life, and how we should enjoy them to the full.
I must confess that I haven't always had the best attitude about sharing a bedroom with my two sisters. I also have to admit, it's been one of the best things that could have happened to me. Life is full of opportunities to learn selfless love. Let me tell ya, sharing a room gives a person great and limitless opportunities to put selfless love into practice. I can safely say, that my dearest friends and pals, are my sisters. We learn from one another, grow with one another, and learn to appreciate and respect each others tastes and differences.
Judy is a sweet little taste of Heaven in my mind. Yes, we all have moments when we can be quite testy (ask anyone else who lives with us). Judy and I are two very different individauls. Maybe that's why we're learning to get along so well.
Judy, I love you very much, and I can't wait to see what God is going to do with my dear little sister(and yes, I called you little, because you will always be a little sister to me).
Life will bring many changes in the coming years, as we all grow up and move on with our God-given roles in life. I know, though, that I can always count on having my sister Judith as a very dear friend and comrade in life.

Here's to Heaven blessed sisterhood!

Mom's birthday...and Hummingbird Cake

Hummingbird Cake

3 C. flour
2 C. sugar (preferably white)
1/2 t. salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 t. ground cinnamon
3 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 C. vegetable oil
1 1/2 t. vanilla extract
1 can (8 oz.) crushed pineapple, well drained
1 C. chopped pecans
2 C. chopped firm ripe banana

Cream Cheese Frosting:
16 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 C. butter, room temperature
2 lb. confectioners' sugar
2 t. vanilla extract
1/2 to 1 C. chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350. Sift flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and cinnamon into mixing bowl several times. Add eggs and salad oil to the dry ingredients. Stir with a wooden spoon until ingredients are moistened. Stir in vanilla, pineapple and 1 C. pecans. Stir in the bananas. Spoon the batter into 3 well-greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until wooden toothpick or cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn onto cooling rack. Cool completely before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
Combine cream cheese and butter; cream until smooth. Add powdered sugar, beating with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla.


We make this cake every year for Mom's birthday. It is delicious, and especially moist. It's really moist if you forget to read the lable on the pineapple, and add twice as much as it calls for. Needless to say, no one could figure out my secret ingredient.

This is a little late, as our internet had been down. Happy birthday to the world's greatest Mom!
I love you and thank God continually for you. Thank you for helping me continue to grow into a godly, virtuous woman. Especially, for helping me to keep my eyes on Christ, and for learning to trust Him for everything. Your example is the greatest blessing you can give me. You are such a dear Mother, I love you so much.
Thank you for helping me to continue falling in love with Jesus. That is truly the greatest truth you could teach me.