Social Media

Tags

Austria, Backen, bake, beet root, beets, Cake, chocolate cake, Kuchen, rote rübe, schokolade, social media, soziale Medien, vegan, veganer

A LOT is being said about social media nowadays – I am not going to re-hash all the warnings, pitfalls and dangers here….but, there are some positives to be said as well…..

So viel wird heutzutage über die Gefahren der sozialen Medien gesagt – Ich werde nicht alle diese Warnungen wiederholen.  Ich möchte mich heute auf etwas positives konzentrieren.

Other than the obvious, i.e. the fact that I have been able to get to know and stay in touch with my growing niece and nephews over the years and who live a continent away in Greece and Austria (they were all born long after I moved to the US) – there are a lot of other advantages.  Yesterday was a perfect example:

Außer den offensichtlichen Vorteilen, Soziale Medien haben mir erlaubt mit meiner Nichte und meinen drei Neffen in Kontakt zu sein und sie kennen zu lernen (alle vier wurden lange nachdem ich in die USA gezogen bin geboren); sie wohnen weit weg in Griechenland und Österreich.  Aber es gibt auch andere Vorteile – gestern war ein gutes Beispiel:

I belong to a group of Quilters (Bee Inspired); one of the members is Kate (Smiles from Kate) who lives in England.  A few days ago, she published a recipe for a chocolate cake that I found intriguing. The cake is vegan (usually not my thing as I believe in butter)….but I am always intrigued by foods made with unusual ingredients. So yesterday, I decided to try it.

Ich bin bei einer online Patchworkgruppe dabei (Bee Inspired). Kate (from England) ist auch ein Mitglied und hat vor ein paar Tagen eine Rezept auf ihrem Blog veröffentlicht dass ich sehr interessant finde.  Es geht um einen veganischen Kuchen (ich bin nicht vegan denn ich liebe Butter!) aber ich bin immer an neuen Rezepten interessiert, ganz besonders an denen die ausgefallene Zutaten haben. Gestern wollte ich dann das Rezept probieren.

All along the way, Kate answered the plethora of questions I had, mostly through Facebook Messenger – “what does baselining a tin mean”, “is cocoa powder in England sweetened or unsweetened”, “can I use canned beets instead of fresh”, “do you use glass or metal pans”….

Während der Vorbereitung, hat Kate alle meine Fragen (meistens durch Facebook Messenger) beantwortet. Fragen wie “was ist baselining a tin”, “ist Kakao in England gesüsst oder nicht gesüsst in England”, “kann ich Rüben aus der Dose verwenden oder sollen sie frisch sein”, “verwendest Du Backgefässe aus Glas oder aus Metal”… 

And here is the cake:

Und hier ist der fertige Kuchen:

BHE has so far refused to eat what he calls the “beetroot cake” – his loss!  The cake is absolutely amazing! It was not only really good yesterday, but it is FANTASTIC today (after it sat in the fridge overnight).  It is moist, chocolatey-flavorful, not overwhelmingly sweet but just sweet enough.

BHE (der-Beste-Mann-der-Welt) hat sich bisher geweigert den “Roten Rüben Kuchen” zu probieren – er hat keine Ahnung was er vermisst!  Der Kuchen war nicht nur gestern sehr gut, aber ist EXZELLENT heute! (nachdem er über Nacht im Kühlschrank saß). Er ist sehr lecker, nicht zu süss aber süss genug, gar nicht trocken, schmeckt wie Schokolade! 

Just one small example how social media can (when used carefully) be a good thing – yesterday, it gave me chocolate cake!

Nur ein kleines Beispiel wie Social Media, wenn man sie verantwortlich verwendet gut sein kann – gestern habe mir die Sozialen Medien Schokoladenkuchen gebracht!

Nikolas

Tags

Austria, Bianca, faserkünste, Fiber Arts, Greece, nephew, Nikolas, Quilt, steppdecke, steppen

My #1 nephew, Nikolas graduated from high school this year. Not a remarkable fact by itself, until you find out the “rest of the story”.  He was born, and went to school in Greece for all of his schooling.  He passed (with flying colors) end-of-year  & graduation exams in two different languages (valid in two different countries).

Der älteste meiner Neffen, Nikolas hat das Abitur heuer bestanden.  Für sich nicht eine bemerkenswerte Tatsache, aber…. Er wurde in Griechenland geboren, hat sein ganzes Leben lang in Griechenland die Schule besucht und hat dann das Abitur und Universitätsaufnahme Exam in zwei verschiedenen Sprachen gemacht und mit sehr gutem Erfolg bestanden.

Then (because I guess all this was too easy), he moved to Austria to attend University.  Now, stop and think for a moment what all that entails: As an 18-year old, you get on a plane and a few hours later arrive in a different city, enroll in University, open a bank account,  settle your military duty, etc.etc.  He all of a sudden has to run his own household, pay his own bills, in short, run his own life in every sense of the word!

Can you tell I like the kid?

But, I digress…..

Und dann (weil das alles offenbar zu leicht war) ist er alleine nach Österreich übersiedelt um dort auf die Uni zu gehen.  Als 18-jähriger, stieg er in ein Flugzeug und ist ein paar Stunden später in einer fremden Stadt angekommen, hat sich auf der Universität eingeschrieben, ein Bankkonto eröffnet, sich um seinen Militärdienst erkundigt, etc., etc. Und jetzt muss er auch seinen eigenen Haushalt führen: nicht nur putzen und kochen, aber auch Rechnungen bezahlen, sich um Telefon/WiFi erkundigen und anmelden…..

Ich nehme an man merkt ich hab’ den jungen Mann ganz gern?

Aber ich weiche from Thema ab….

A couple of years ago, I apparently started a tradition by making my niece Bianca a graduation quilt.  This year, it was Nikolas’ turn.  He has always liked music and plays the piano..so the pattern I saw (online, free at Art Gallery Fabrics) called “Press Play” seemed almost perfect.  I adjusted the pattern and voila!

Vor ein paar Jahren, habe ich offensichtlich eine Tradition begonnen:  ich habe meiner #1 Nichte (meiner einzigen Nichte) zur Matura (Abitur) eine “Schulabschluss-Quilt” gemacht.  Heuer war Nikolas dran!  Ihm gefällt klassische Musik und er spielt Klavier – und wie ich dann dieses Muster entdeckte fand ich das sehr sehr passend.  Das Muster heisst “Press Play”; ich habe es für ihn adaptiert, und voila!

The “payment” that each of them have to come up with is a photo that includes them and the quilt.  Bianca sent me a couple of lovely photos that I look at VERY often and that were published in this blog post. And the other day, here came one from Nikolas:

Ich bitte für diese Quilts dann um die folgende Bezahlung:ein Photo in dem der Empfänger und die Quilt zu sehen sind.  Bianca hat mir ein paar geschickt (die auch in diesem Blog Post erschienen) und die ich mir oft ansehe.  Und unlängst, kam dieses Photo von Nikolas:

2015 Finish Along – Q4

Tags

Austria, Dear Jane, faserkünste, Fiber Arts, nähen auf papier, Paper Piecing, patchwork, Quilt, quilt along, steppdecke, steppen

Adrianne (On the Windy Side) is holding a Finish Along each Quarter.  At the beginning of the Quarter (now for Quarter #4) you write a blog/Instagram-Flickr post about your UFOs, and then at the end of the quarter you take stock of what you have accomplished (read the rules here). There are also prizes awarded.

Adrianne (On the Windy Side) hat eineGruppe organisiert, wo man sich vornimmt UFO (UnFinished Objects = noch nicht fertige Projekte) fertig zu machen.  Alle drei Monate macht man eine Liste, dann schreibt man einen Blog/Instagram/Flickr post und drei Monate später sieht man dann was man alles geschafft hat. Die Regeln kann man hier lesen. Es gibt auch dann Preise die verlost werden.

So, without further delay here are my the top UFOs on my list (the order is relatively random):

1.  Publish Big Boat Pattern
2. Finish Greece Paper Piecing Pattern
3. Complete Christine’s Baby Quilt; baby due in December (and yes, Andreas had something to do with that baby too)
4. Complete U.S. States quilt
5. Complete Maria’s Wallhanging (as ordered by my mom for her dear friend) – yes mom, it is almost done!
6. Finish class sample, Tool Quilt
7. Quilt and bind class sample Christmas Table Runner
8. Quilt and bind folklore quilt
9. Put together “How I became an American Quilt”
10. Complete Linda Hahn Class Project
11. Quilt and bind Mary Anne’s piece
12. Sew together Bonnie Hunter’s Mystery Quilt blocks (Grand Illusion Mystery); quilt and bind
13. Finally finish placemats (quilt and bind)
14. Design Daphne’s quilt
15. Design Marina’s quilt
16. Design Rena’s quilt

Also hier sind meine UFOs:

1. Das grosse Schiff (das Muster) veröffentlichen
2. Das Griechenland Muster fertigstellen
3. Die Quilt für Christine’s Baby (das Baby kommt im Dezember, und ja, Andreas hatte damit auch was zu tun)
4. Die U.S. Staaten Quilt fertigmachen
5. Marias Wandbehang fertigmachen und abschicken )von meiner Mamma für Ihre Freundin bestellt) ß und ja, Mamma ist fast fertig!
6. Die Quilt für meine Klasse (die ist als Exemplar gemeint) fertigstellen
7. Weihnachtstischläufer steppen und Umrandung annähen
8. Folklore Quilt steppen und Umrandung annähen
9. “Wie ich Amerikanerin geworden bin” Quilt zusammennähen
10. Die Quilt von der Klasse die ich mit Linda Hahn nehme fertigmachen
11. Mary Anne’s Geschenk steppen und umranden
12. “Grand Illusion Mystery” (Bonnie Hunter) zusammennähen und fertigmachen
13. (Endlich) Gedeck Untersätze fertigstellen (steppen und umranden)
14. Marina’s Quilt entwerfen
15. Daphne’s Quilt entwerfen
16. Rena’s Quilt entwerfen

I am not sure that the last three qualify; I’ll ask Adrianne and we’ll see – either way I have lots to finish (in addition to the Longarming customer quilts that need to be done in time for Christmas!)

Ich bin mir nicht sicher das es unter den Regeln erlaubt ist, die letzten drei auch auf diese Liste zu geben; ich werde Adrianne fragen und wir werden sehen. Auch ohne die letzten drei habe ich genug zu tun:  Ich habe ja auch tonnenweise Quilts zu steppen (für meine Kunden) die sie vor Weihnachten zurück haben wollen!

Below is a gallery of most of these projects:

Hier sind einige Photos:

Good luck to me with all of this!

Ich wünsche mir viel Glück!

Meadow Mist Designs Mystery Quilt – September 2015

Tags

Austria, Österreich, Blocks, charity, Flüchtlinge, meadow mist designs, midnight mystery, patchwork, piecing, Quilt, refugees, steppen, Syria

The fourth installment of the instructions for the Midnight Mystery Quilt were posted yesterday. This was put together by Cheryl (Meadow Mist Designs).

Der vierte Teil von Cheryl’s “Midnight Mystery Quilt” (die Mitternacht Rätsel Quilt) erschien auf Ihrem blog (Meadow Mist Designs) gestern.

The first and second installment addressed fabric choices and cutting, the third instructed us to make flying geese. In this latest installment, we were to make square in a square units – I am now questioning my fabric choices! Oh well, we’ll see how it all looks at the end!

Im ersten Teil wählten wir unsere Stoffe, im zweiten Teil haben wir sie laut Cheryl’s Anweisungen zerschnitten.  Im dritten Teil mussten wir “Flying Geese” nähen und gestern waren es “Square in a Square” (Quadrat in einem Quadrat) Blöcke.

Jetzt bin ich mir nicht mehr sicher, ob meine Stoffwahl erfolgreich war! Ne ja, wir werden mal sehen….

And, I am collecting small quilts to send to a refugee camp in Austria – winter is coming and it will get very cold soon.  Who ever wants to participate, contact me – if you send the quilts to me in North Carolina, I will then send them on to Austria (if you are in Europe, let me know and I will provide you with an address in Austria to send them to).

Und noch etwas: Ich sammle (kleinere) Quilts für ein Flüchtlingslager in Österreich – der Winter kommt und es wird kalt. Wer immer mitmachen will, sagt mir Bescheid; für die die in den USA wohnen, zu mir schicken und ich sende sie dann weiter.  Für die die in Europa sind, sagt mir Bescheid und ich gebe Euch eine Adresse in Österreich.

The quilts I am making have a dual purpose – one is a large checker board, where any object can be used as a game piece (a can, a shoe or anything else).  The other one I am using is what I have named the “welcome” quilt…both are quick to put together and scrap-friendly!

Ich nähe mit diesen zwei Mustern; die erste ist eine mehrzweck Quilt: Decke, aber auch Spielbrett (Dame, Schach, etc.). Man kann dann mit Dosen, Schuhen (oder was auch immer) spielen.  Das zweite Muster ist die “Welcome” Quilt…beide sind schnell zu nähen und können von Stoffresten genäht werden.

Checkerboard/Spielbrett

Welcome

Caroline? or Social Responsibility?

Tags

Asyl, Austria, Österreich, Budapest, cousin, Flüchtlinge, Flüchtlingslager, Hungary, Kernölamazonen, Krieg, Kusine, refugee camp, refugees, social responsibility, soziale Verantwortung, train, Traiskirchen, Vienna, war, wien, Zug

 

Caroline is my “little” cousin – I was a teenager when she was born and so yes, she is and will always be my “little” cousin.

Die Caro (Caroline) ist mein Kusinchen – ich war ein teenager wie sie auf die Welt gekommen ist und deshalb bleibt sie immer mein “Kusinchen”.

Caroline is now in her mid-thirties and  an exceptional artist (dancer/actress/singer/comedian), a phenomenal mother and an absolutely fabulous human being! I would love to continue on about Caroline, but this post is supposed to be about social responsibility so I will gush on about Caroline later….

Caroline ist inzwischen in den Dreißigern und ist eine bemerkenswerte Künstlerin (Tänzerin/Schauspielerin/Sängerin/Comedienne), eine hervorragende Mutter und fabelhafter Mensch! Ich könnte lange über Caro weiter schwärmen, aber dieser Blog Post ist über unsere kollektive soziale Verantwortung.

As some of you know some of my roots lay in Austria, where several of my relatives still live. Vienna (the capital of Austria) is a hop, skip and a jump from Budapest (which is across the border in Hungary) where in recent weeks thousands and thousands of Syrian refugees found themselves stranded at the main train station. Stranded, because the authorities in Hungary would not let them leave (unclear to me why).  After international uproar and severe media coverage about the deplorable conditions at the train station (no food, no water, no diapers, no showers, no shelter, just to name a few) hungarian authorities relented and allowed the refugees to board trains to Munich, Germany and Vienna, Austria.

Manche von Euch wissen ja dass ich halbe Österreicherin bin; ein guter Teil meiner Verwandten leben auch in Österreich.  Wien ist von Budapest nicht weit weg, wo jetzt schon seit Wochen Tausende von Flüchtlingen von Syrien am Bahnhof fest sassen. Sie sassen dort fest weil die Ungarischen Behörden sie nicht weiter reisen liessen. Nach internationalem Aufruhr und massiver Medien Präsenz über die Situation am Bahnhof (kein Wasser, nichts zum Essen, keine Duschen, kein Obdach, etc.) habe die ungarischen Behörden nachgegeben und den Flüchtlingen erlaubt die Züge nach München oder Wien zu besteigen.

in Budapest (Hungary), train station

After news spread that the trains were coming, thousands of Austrians congregated at the train station in Vienna with water, food, toiletries, diapers, baby formula, and even offers of their homes for the night for those who needed it.  For people who had endured atrocities and war in their own country for the past several years and then fled into an uncertain future, and then endured that horrid hardship in a western train station – how must the fact that they were welcome somewhere have sounded to them?

Nachdem es sich herumgesprochen hat, dass die Züge nach Wien unterwegs waren, kamen zahlreiche Wiener zum Bahnhof in Wien – mit Essen, Wasser, Windeln, Babynahrung und sogar mit Angeboten für Unterkunft für die Nacht. Für Menschen die so verzweifelt waren dass sie alles zurückgelassen haben weil sie in den letzten paar Jahren mit Krieg, Verfolgung, Hunger und Terror gelebt haben, wie muss sich das angehört haben dass sie irgendwo willkommen waren?

I asked Caroline what I can do to help (were I still in Vienna, I would have been at the train station too).  Caroline goes out to the refugee camp (Traiskirchen) almost every weekend – the camp is getting overcrowded as approximately 80,000 are going to seek asylum there this year alone!  For a country that is much smaller than North Carolina, both in area and population, that is a heavy burden!

Ich habe die Caro gefragt wie ich von hier helfen kann (wäre ich in Wien, wäre ich auch am Bahnhof erschienen).  Caro fährt fast jedes Wochenende nach Traiskirchen zum Flüchtlingslager – das Lager ist voll, und man erwartet ca. 80,000 Flüchtlinge heuer allein!  Für ein Land das viel kleiner ist als North Carolina (Flächenweise und Bevölkerungsweise) ist das ein schweres Los!

And yet, while European politicians are scratching their heads, a lot of the people of Austria stood up and stood out – by doing something!

Und während sich die Europäischen Politiker ratlos die Köpfe kratzen, ist ein grosser Teil der Bevölkerung in Wien aufgestanden und hat eine Stellung genommen.

Caroline spends her own money to get whatever supplies she can and take them to the camp; I saw a photo of a young man last week, who stood in front of a store with a handmade sign and started collecting toiletries.  Within a couple of hours, he had a truck load full of items that shoppers had bought in the store and given to him for the people at the camp.

Caro gibt ihr eigenes Geld aus um für die Flüchtlinge einzukaufen.  Ich habe vor ein paar Tage ein Photo von einem jungen Mann gesehen der mit einem selbstgemachte Schild vor einem Laden stand um Sanitätsartikel zu sammeln.  Innerhalb von ein paar Stunden hatte er eine Wagenladung voll; gespendet von Einkäufern.

I am currently trying to figure out how to help – I think I will start by making a couple of baby quilts for the babies and children at the camp.  Winter is approaching fast in Austria and it gets VERY cold.  If anyone wants to help, if you quilters out there want to get a baby quilt, quilt top or an orphan block to me in North Carolina, I will take care of finishing them and shipping them to Austria…. because those of us, no matter how poor, go to bed every night not having to be afraid that we will be killed, tortured or gased at any given moment, owe it to those less fortunate.

In the meantime, I remain in awe of Caroline…

Ich versuche gerade herauszufinden wie ich helfen kann – ich denke ich werde ein paar Baby/Kinder Decken nähen für die jüngsten Flüchtlinge.  Der Winter ist fast hier und es ist kalt im Winter in Österreich.  Wenn irgendeiner von Euch Quiltern helfen will, schickt mir eine Decke, ein quilt top oder einen Block.  Ich werde die Decke(n) fertig nähen und nach Österreich schicken….; egal wie “arm” wir alle sind, wir gehen ohne Furcht schlafen (ohne Angst ermordet, gefoltert oder vergast zu werden) – deshalb schulden wir unseren Mit-Menschen das.

Und mein Kusinchen hat meinen tiefsten Respekt und meine Bewunderung denn sie ist ein wirklicher MENSCH….

on board the train

in Vienna waiting for the refugees to arrive

arriving in Vienna

The photos above are just some of the ones I saw online yesterday while all this ws unfolding.

Candy

Tags

Austria, bananas, candy, chocolate, favorite candy, gelatin, mango, milk chocolate

On my recent visit(s) to Austria, I got reacquainted with one of my favorite confection – chocolate bananas! But, because it is almost 30(!!) years later and things have progressed, the company now also makes chocolate mango (and chocolate strawberries).

I love the stuff!!

The chocolate shell is soft, milk chocolate; the inside is a gelatin-like-but-not-really substance that gives an intense burst of whatever flavor you purchased.

I bought two packs of each before I left Vienna, and have eaten myself through most of them. I went online to see if I can purchase them (since my mom is probably tired of me asking her to send me stuff), and to my great surprise Amazon apparently does sell everything! For a price! A very steep one!

A box of these candies retails for approx. USD 3.00 in Austria (EUR 1.99) – at Amazon, not so much…I would have to dish out USD 12.00 (plus shipping) per box for the Bananas, and USD 20.00 (plus shipping) for the Mangos!

I think I will wait till Mom asks me what I want for Christmas!!

P.S.:  I am NOT being paid for this post – all the wisdom contained within is mine and mine alone, and my only reward is the greatness of this candy…

 

Wedding & Surprises

Tags

Austria, breakfast, butter, cheese, cousin, eggs, food, jams, jellies, omelet, pumpkin, Wedding

As some of you know, I was lucky enough to be able to travel to my cousin’s wedding this weekend. A BIG “thank you” for this belongs to my husband (aka BHE) and my mom, who collaborated to make this possible.

The wedding weekend started with a dinner last night (Thursday) … I have posted a few pictures below. if some of the plates look “nibbled on”, well, that’s because they are! I could not get the camera out fast enough to take the photos after the plates were put in front of us!

Then this morning, some of us went to breakfast – I took photos of some of the breakfast plates: the omelet has pumpkin and cheese in it, and the other plates have lots of vegetables, real butter, homemade jams, pure honey, organic cottage cheese and Austrian breads and rolls. I was in heaven!

Needless to say, after this breakfast, I was dine eating until dinner!

“Real Food”

Tags

apricot, apricot preserves, Austria, austrian food, breading, Burgenland, croquettes, fried, greek food, leberknödelsuppe, lunch, palatschinken, parsley potatoes, pork medallions, potato soup, winer schnitzel

I know, I know – steaks, fried chicken and burgers are real food too, but I have not had real Austrian food in more than three years (or Greek food for that matter).

So, today my mom and my husband took me to lunch in a small Austrian restaurant, in a small Austrian town somewhere in the Burgenland (one of nine Austrian provinces, but more about the Burgenland later).

I was determined I was going to eat several of the dishes I have missed! I started out with “Leberknödel Suppe” (Liver dumpling soup). The dumpling is made with beef liver, eggs, bread, parsley and other spices, and then cooked in beef broth.

That alone would have been enough for a meal; but no, I followed it up with “Wiener Schnitzel” . It is the national dish of Austria, and is prepared pretty much in every German restaurant around the world but rarely done properly. It consists of a boneless veal chop, butterflied, and then rolled in flour, whipped eggs and breadcrumbs (in that order). It is then fried in sufficient hot oil so that it “swims” until it is golden brown and the breeding is puffed. Often, it is served with French Fries but in my opinion the most classic way is with either potato salad or parsley potatoes.

My mom had potato soup with mushrooms (which also looked really, really good), and Charlie had Pork medallions with potato croquettes and vegetables in a garlic caper sauce.

And, as if all this food was not enough, I decided I had to have dessert: “Marillen Palatschinken” (crepes, filled with apricot preserves & dusted with powdered sugar…..

Waaaay too much food and more than either Charlie or I eat in a regular day. However, I do not feel bad about it (actually I do because now my stomach hurts from too much food).

I will try to walk some of this off – Charlie has his own way of dealing with it: napping!

One niece, three nephews

Tags

Austria, confidences, distance, generosity, gifts, Greece, nephews, niece, occasions, presents, Relationships, relatives, sisters, U.S.A.

Among all of our relatives – our relatives on Charlie’s side ALL live in the U.S., our relatives on my side ALL live in Europe, are three nephews and one niece (my sisters’ children). All are now teens or pre-teens.

The four of them are growing up with mothers that would jump off of cliffs for them, fathers that care deeply for them, grandparents who love them dearly, and aunts who are present, caring, concerned and know them well – all except for one: me!

When my niece (who is the oldest of the four) was born, I was already living in the U.S. The distance makes it impossible for me to have conversations with them about things that frighten them, intrigue them, interest them, or just things they don’t want to discuss with their mothers. All that is accomplished by their other aunts ….

I had decided to enter the race for “favorite aunt” status by sending a Wii for Christmas or Nike sweats at other occasions – not the smartest strategy, I know, but the only one available to me (I think).

Now, we (Charlie and I) are poised for a visit home, and I have asked everyone to send me a “wish list”. My oldest nephew sent an lengthy, very detailed list, while also noting that he did not want or expect every wish on the list to be fulifilled and very generously suggesting that I should also get something for myself. My niece’s list is extremely short and easy to fulfill. And my sister in Greece sent a list for the other two boys.

I love all four of the dearly and I of course would do everything in my power to fill each and every item on their lists – but here is my dilemma: I do not want to be the aunt that flies into town every couple of years bearing gifts that can ordinarily not be bought, and bringing with her the appearance of wealth and excess!

Charlie and I both work hard, and save hard for these trips and these presents. BHE, at 72 should only work at getting from bed to his recliner every day, but he still gets up each morning and works at maintaining our rentals, helps at the house and takes care of our little “zoo” (our three Shih-Tzus). Other than eating out some, we don’t go out, travel much or have expensive hobbies. We put money aside each month, so we can afford these trips and associated presents every couple of years. These facts are REALLY hard to communicate to four young adults when all they see is aunt Irene and uncle Charlie showing up with a magical suitcase, that when opened spits out these things that at home are way too expensive to be purchased!

We will try to explain to them that we are catching up for missed birthdays, Christmases and graduations, good grades and good behavior. How much of it will stick, I have no idea! And by the way, I still think my other sisters (Marina, Daphne, Rena and Christina) are getting the better end of the deal!

A taste from my Childhood Home

Tags

Athens, Austria, Cooking, cuisine, dessert, gastronomy, Greece, Greek cuisine, restaurants, traditional recipes

I was born in Greece and grew up in both Greece and Austria. I miss some things from home, and usually, just as I start feeling sorry for myself this envelope arrives in the mail. I know what it is without eve looking at the handwriting on the front or the stamps, because the envelopes from Europe are different.

In the envelope are usually two or three “Gastronomos” magazines. They are an insert, once a month, on A Sunday, in an Athens newspaper. My dad collects them for me and sends them.

Each magazine has a theme: one month it may be a herb, another it may be a holiday or yet another may be a region in Greece. it contains information on the Month’s theme, traditional recipes as well as variations on those traditional foods, and at the very end there is a comprehensive dessert section. There are profiles of accomplished chefs and descriptions of new tools and/or gadgets.

In addition to being a great cooking magazine, for me it is a great connection to home. The dishes of my childhood jump from the colorful pages inside, and the photos of restaurants and places remind me of walking through our neighborhood in Athens, past little restaurants, our local bakery, and smoke filled coffee shops (where only men could go), down to the corner store for an ice cream.

I don’t think I have ever told my dad how important those magazines have become, and how often I use them. I have never thrown a single issue away; they are placed in chronological order, in wooden magazine boxes on a shelf. The ones I refer to most frequently, are on my cookbook shelf in the kitchen.