Roger's View of the World, Love and Seafood Gumbo!
Seize the Day! Put no trust in the morrow! — Horace
Without a family, one seldom thinks long term
Our daughter Karla has an innocent sense of humor that isn’t too often far from the mark. However, don’t think it weak of me, but I also found the ‘dipping of the shoe’ unsettling in ‘Who framed Roger Rabbit”, too.
Thanks Karla, you made me smile.
Roger
What’s wrong with this picture? Kristin is having a ball, while I sit and try to detect the mysteries of a traditional Sifnos Honey pie with Myzithra cheese? Actually, we are each doing what we love, besides she loves to cook and she and Karen will be with us soon for Christmas!
I do enjoy FACEBOOK if for no other reason that it provides a wonderful glimpse into the lives of family. Kristin posted some of these pictures today on Facebook and I could hear her mother screech!
Back to the Greek Honey Pie called Melopitta, the traditional Easter treat of the island of Sifnos! Searching for authentic ingredients for “Melopitta” is challenging. Most of the knock-off recipes substitute the Greek cheese Myzithra (μυζήθρα, pronounced mee-ZEETH-rah) with Ricotta, Mascarpone or even Cottage cheese… but it is far closer to cream cheese in practical use. There are also many ‘cheesecake’ variations utilizing Myzithra with brandy, fruit and nuts.
Enough, it is lunch time with some wine and Tiropetes!
Roger
Well, nothing brings our family together faster than talk about what’s to make, bake and cook! I think there is something in the untold common family experience that centers around the fire and sharing and consuming a good meal. You really learn about people when you work with them over the fire in a barbecue or in a kitchen.
This holiday season we have a lot planned some are events with themes for fun:
our GREEK NIGHT
the wines (whites & reds and a sweet):
(special note: Greek wines — other than Retsina — are tough to find, allow me to recommend wine.com)
Boutari 2007 Santorini ( before the meal)
Boutari 2007 Moschofilero
Boutari 2006 Naoussa
Archaia Clauss Mavrodaphne
the food:
Tiropetes (Greek Cheese filled philo)
Dolmades ( delicious grape vines stuffed with rice and meat)
Moussaka ( a sort of Greek Lasagna with layers of thinly slices and cooked eggplant and custard topping)
Baklava ( nothing else will do)
Honey Pie ( a secret recipe — a favorite from one of the Greek Islands)
Karla wants something to do with a Rabbit this season and everyone wants Turducken, a wide assortment of pies and even a Baked Alaska is also on the list. I am always amazed at how so much can be prepared and then it’s gone! We are planning some fun with Kristin, Karen and some friends with my sweet and spicy ribs and Mom’s favorite Chinese sweet & sour pork.
lots to do and lots of fun!
Roger
I remember with great fondness those people in my life who brought food to a gathering. Their unspoken generosity was always endearing. I particularly remember teachers and coaches who would celebrate an occasion or emphasize a lesson by breaking bread with the rest of us. What always amazed me is that I remembered everything and took a lot more away with me from the situation than I expected. That day, I would learn a lot and it would always bring a smile.
In our family, we have always found the best social lubricant is great food. Only the most stubbornly obstinate would not smile over a piece of Baklava or a nutty-fudgy-brownie! So besides bringing chocolate for Halloween my three teachers (Laura and Karen … and Kristin soon) sometimes accentuate the positive in class with a sweet something.
Pictured above are wonderful brownies that Laura is taking to her honors students in Psychology class today.
Thanks to all the teachers who make this difference.
Roger
Karla loves the internet and drawing, it fits with her overall interest in the world around her. Naturally, when she noticed a young reporter using one of her illustrations for his story, you can imagine how excited and happy she became. The entire family received repeated emails about the event!
We gave Karla her own domain to post her drawings and she is catching on to the entire web design thing as well fairly quickly.
Congratulations Karla.
By the way, Karla’s big sister Karen (nick named by her ‘the poodle’) was an athlete at SC and previously Florida and drew lots of Trojans!
Roger