Yo no soy solita!

...it's good to know that I'm not writting just for me...8 followers already after 2 weeks of opening my blog.

Here's a little something from me to you all.

Fue una cita...

....10:00 pm....we were the first ones!!

...and then a stroll around the neighborhood....

...a chilly but warm night out...Only in Athens people book a table for dinner after 10:00pm!...It's the city that doesn't sleep...driving at 2:00am there's traffic in the streets!

...the food tonight was...not so good...but the hand that held me was warm...therapeutic...loving.

I just love Athens! There's an inexplicable energy...culture...and "kefi"...a word that cannot be translated in any other language...it has to do with good energy...high spirits...hospitality....and allot of fun.

...today I can be thankful for good wine...sincerity...compansionship.....bonding....and pizza! (for having afterwards, because as I said the food was terrible!!!)

Mi ciudad!

..took a midnight stroll in the center of Athens....

...while the Athenians were sleeping I was reminiscing...

...when I was a daughter...

...when....then....

....the essence is still there...

....so peaceful...I could easily close my eyes and pretend...

Relajar...

...and so it's Thursday....sweets have been delivered...the one child has surrendered to fever...too much work to be done around the house.

...snow has surrounded the city of Athens...one more day to live the weekend. There's nothing more beautiful than being in comfy clothes...having good music on...reading an inspiring book...being next to the ones who sparkle your eyes...eating comfort food....feeling warm inside and out. What is the perfect weekend for you?

...here's pancakes:

225gr flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

pinch of salt

2 tablespoons sugar

2 large eggs beaten

30gr butter melted and cooled

300ml milk

butter for frying

In a bowl, make a well in the flour, baking powder, vanilla, salt and sugar, beat in the eggs, melted butter and milk. Mix. Let it stand for 20-30 minutes and then spoon the batter into the pan.

All you need to remember when you cook the pancakes is, that when the upper side of the pancake is bubbling it's time to cook the other side, and this needs only a minute.

You can sprinkle cinnamon on top, honey, maple syrup, some lemon with icing sugar, whipped cream, or just eat them plain with some jam.

...the most import, though, is to sit together around the kitchen table and let the magic happen!

...have a simple and warm weekend...

Trabajaba, trabaje y estoy trabajando!

If my oven had a mouth it would of screamed!!!!

I have been working non-stop these past few days with very few sleeping hours. I have no energy....but I'm happy for people who are celebrating their birthdays and chosen me to be part of their happiness.

It's so difficult for a diabetic to be surrounded by so much sugar and such smells!

I get joy when I see people's reaction after tasting my sweets....it's the applause to an actor. I instantly forget the hours that I've put in, the lack of sleep or the frustration. Vale la pena..

There's always good music in the kitchen, no matter what the hour. Sometimes I peek out the window to see if a neighbor is watching, because there have been times when I have taken a wooden spoon and put on my own show!!! ...and boy was I good!!!!

As I'm watching my three cakes been baked, thinking that the night will be veeery long... I'm saying "good night"to all of you who have the patience to read my blog ... and leave you with a taste of what I'm listening right now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMIt8dhh4pg

Soy rica...muy rica!

She's so happy...sitting under the table...listening to what we're saying...watching us...smelling the food....listening to our music....trying to make herself as comfortable as she can...just to be under the table. If only I knew what she's thinking....!!

Abundance comes in the form of small things...simple things....just by knowing that she's there under the table, we feel good...happy, she's family...we are all family...all there...laughing, talking, arguing...all together...feeling fortunate for having each other...for being healthy...for feeling fullfilled...we don't have alot but it's so much!

I felt happy for putting a new tablecloth on the table..little stawberries...butterflies...yellow daisies. My kitchen, my little place in the world looked so happy...we had our "adopted daughter" over for lunch...we laughed, we cried, listened to beautiful music, baked cookies.

Tonight, Spanish music took me away again...flew me...filled me. Someone has told me that if you want to speak to God you have to speak to Him in Spanish... I have been so thankful for that!

...before I switch off the light I need to let a happy tear go...

Yael, you have been sent to me from heaven, you have come into my life to make me and others happy...thank you.

Soniar....I couldn't have asked for a better "wife". You are always there for me...no matter where you are I know that I can always reach out for you and find you...you're a gift.

Lynnaki mou...I have missed you so much...you have been and you are comfort....you are my history...my memories...there's soooo much space for you in my heart.

....Cheryl.....sweet Cheryl.....you cannot imagine how much good you have done to me!

....Daphne du Maurier wrote: "Happiness is not a possession to be prized. It is a quality of thought, a state of mind".....so I leave you all with that....good night...

No po' creer!

For those who know me, this is a shock! Me listening to Greek music! Last night after seeing a show with some of the members of this video....well....I decided to allow myself and bring out the Greek in me!!!

I'm thinking of all of you who live far from here...here's from my heart to your ears!

Please please please remember that after this video you are going to eat dinner so keep your plates in your kitchen cabinets!!!!!!!!!

Galletas y galletitas!

My gift to you today, is the recipe for delish chocolate chip cookies!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Ingredients
• 3/4 cup sugar• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar• 1 cup butter, softened• 2 large eggs,beaten• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour• 1 teaspoon baking soda• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips• if desired, 1 cup chopped pecans, or chopped walnuts


Preheat oven to 170C (350F) degrees. Mix sugar, brown sugar, butter, vanilla and eggs in a large bowl by hand. Stir in flour, baking soda. The dough will be very stiff.
You can even use a mixer for this first step. Just be sure that the dough is well mixed before moving on.
Stir in chocolate chips. You can add the pecans, or other nuts, at this time if desired.

Bake for 12 min or until light brown


* * * * * * * *

Such simple recipe can give such pleasure! The smell in the kitchen, the coziness our loved ones feel...we don't need much to be happy in life...plain sweet things and nothing more. Enjoy!

Una mama orgullosa!

I'm so proud of my Angel Girl! She has been a fighter all her life...fighting against all obstacles and sour mouthed people. She's my Ariel, my Celine, my Jane Austin, my Julia, my Aurora...her fingers dance on the piano keyboard like fairies. She's determined to be a winner and to conquer all her dreams. Heaven sent gift to me...life is difficult...sometimes ugly...painful. I know you can be strong and succeed. I'm proud of you for all your fights and triumphs....mom is proud...mom breathes for you...mom is always there...

Que paso?

...what is wrong with 2010? There is an air of change...dramatic change...big change. My heart always told me that change is good....for better...for improvement. These new changes, though, have tears, bad tears....is it my eyes and ears...or is it yours, too?

Today I'm thankful for being able to comfort someone and give hope.

De la repostera...

...my inheritance from my mom....diabetes....On a daily basis I play "hide and seek" with the devil. I touch my "killer"...without tasting it, but smelling it...working with it...dreaming of it...little balls of mercury in my hand...so innocent looking and yet so dangerous. How can something so harmful be my escape to another world...to serenity...to creativity...to fullfilment? Last night's treats...pistachio apricot biscotti, pistachio biscochitos and espresso walnut toffee.

...driving today I was thinking that every day we should find something to be thankful for. There are so many "gifts" around us that we completely ignore...walk by...take for granted...never take the time to think of.

So...to my teacher...sos mi inspiracion, gracias por un mundo magico...me das fuerza y esperanza. Te quiero mucho.

Lo que me mata es la humedad...

Moody Sunday here in Athens. It drizzled and it didn't. The cafes were as usual full with Sunday newspaper readers...Friends were arranging lunch gatherings in hip town spots....kids woke up late today and ate breakfast after noon....dogs were taken for their morning walk much later than their usual...a grandmother cooked lunch for her grandson and his girlfriend...a little girl got a soar throat...someone far away celebrated his birthday...a man's spirit kneeled...a woman's thought rised...

What are really the things that lift us? A cup of coffee in a beautiful mug...a song...baking a cake...a movie...a phone call to a friend...a lit candle...a cozy talk with your child...a comforting note from a friend...an inspiring book...the smell of homemade food...a gathering around the table with the family...a mother's scent....

How many times have we looked at the sky and said "thank you"? How many times have we cried out of relief?

Have we ever looked at our pains and felt gratitude? Have we ever listened and looked with the ears and eyes of our soul?

Today was a beautiful day....I woke up, walked, drank from a glass, saw the clouds, heard every noise...and touched....my loved ones...my cat, my dog...dropped a piece of butter on the floor...mopped...did my laundry....cut my finger and cried....cried because I was alive.

Soy yo!

...this afternoon a million pictures and ideas were dancing in my head....the feeling was strong to come accross to reach...now my hands are sweating, the mind is blank...blog virgin!

For those who are wondering...I'm a mom, a wife, a sister, an aunt, a singer, an actress, a pastry chef, a broken heart, a bitch, a witch, a friend, a soon to be author, a book worm, a sweet tooth, a Dean Martin believer, an Elvis freak, a recipe collector, a 60's lover, a student, a dreamer, a chocolate lover, an anything to do with Spanish lover, a grouch, a nag, a music lover, a cat... a woman.

...my city is Athens...where the Parthenon stands...I never lend my books, I dream under the sounds of a bandoneon, and I cherish peoples wisdom.

....welcome.