I hope all of you had a nice Happy Thanksgiving and you wore your fat pants and enjoyed every single bite! I know we did here! YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY IN OUR TUMMIES!!!! We had a very small crowd..... actually two small crowds (5 of us at a 1:00pm sitting) and then (4 more at the 5:00 sitting and a couple of the first crowd went back for heat-ups), so it was kinda on the quiet side, but it was nice all the same.
I made everything from scratch and while I say this every year...... this year was definitely my best yet! The homemade pie crust and apple pie were the only changes, yet..... wow..... what a difference! I roasted a turkey stuffed, Joe rubbed down with cajun seasoning and injected cajun seasoning to his turkey and then deep fried it. Both were fabulous!!! I had dressing on the side as well, along with, mashed potatoes, giblet gravy, plain gravy, sweet rolls, green beans (that my Mom canned), corn (that my Mom put up and froze), sweet potato casserole, derby pie, apple pie, and pumpkin pie. Joe and I barely had enough leftovers for one meal the next day between us. We have had plenty of turkey sandwiches, but all the sides were gone after Friday. I sent one carcass home with for my Mom to make soup with and I am boiling the other now for soup tomorrow.
I absolutely LOVE making Thanksgiving dinner.... it is my favorite meal to cook and while I am in the kitchen from dawn til after the dishes are done and the kitchen is clean, I enjoy every single moment and fall into a heap totally exhausted after all the company has left. I just remember smiling all day!
This year was a year of when we were more aware of what we are truly thankful and our many blessings than typical years (although we are ALWAYS full of thanksgiving and gratefulness every year). My stepfather had a heart attack on the Monday of Thanksgiving week. There were several times in the time between when he actually had the heart attack and when he started getting treatment for it that he coulda/shoulda dropped over from a massive heart attack. He, and we, are so truly blessed that he is still with us! He is the answer to my Mom's prayers and I have never seen her happier than since she has been with him. He is feeling good and recovering nicely after his cath procedure and the insertion of two stints. He has 6 weeks of therapy ahead of him, but...... that will be a good thing and I hope he keeps it up after his therapy is complete. I'm also very grateful for the turn in my own health..... I too am feeling good and recovered nicely.
And last but not least..... I'm also grateful for each person who reads my blog or has read any of my blog posts. This has been such fun and very therapeutic! I've love when my blog comes up in conversation! It always makes me smile!
May our Holidays continue to be Merry!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Nestle's Crunch Hotline
Oh my goodness, this is hysterical :D Need a laugh? Call the Nestle Crunch Hotline at 1-800-295-0051. When you are asked if you want to continue in English or Spanish, just wait quietly for about 10 seconds and you will smile. I Promise! I went through the entire menu and giggled at every single one...... and I am still giggling!!!
I personally get soooooooo frustrated with calling any business and just wanting/needing to talk to a real live person...... but...... you spend 10 minutes punching numbers in several menus before you get to a real live person...... which by that time I usually want to just throw the phone out the window, and then by the time whoever the poor dear is that picks up my call, I wanna scream and yell at them over how frustrating it was to get to them...... which it totally isn't their fault, they are just doing their job and don't deserve to be screamed at...... so I take a big breath and try to solve whatever problem I'm having that prompted the phone call in the beginning.
Gotta tell you businesses/companies....... if you are really interested in better customer service, get rid of the computer operated menu's and have real people answering the phones. I know there are many people who are qualified to do this job, because there sure are a lot them working for companies who call you all day and especially during dinner trying to sell you this or that! I think the world would be much better to get rid of those people who call us all day and at the most inconvenient times to sell us something and put them on the switchboard/phones to answer phone calls of people needing/wanting assistance. Everyone would be much happier at the end of the day! And I don't think I'm alone in this thinking either!!!!
So to Nestle's and their very clever phone menu...... I give you a big whopping shout out of WELL DONE!!!!!! Thank you for the much needed giggles!!!! But of course...... lest we forget........ and don't forget to sing this next statement.... but..... N-E-S-T-L-E-S..... Nestle's makes the very best....... chocolate! LOL
I personally get soooooooo frustrated with calling any business and just wanting/needing to talk to a real live person...... but...... you spend 10 minutes punching numbers in several menus before you get to a real live person...... which by that time I usually want to just throw the phone out the window, and then by the time whoever the poor dear is that picks up my call, I wanna scream and yell at them over how frustrating it was to get to them...... which it totally isn't their fault, they are just doing their job and don't deserve to be screamed at...... so I take a big breath and try to solve whatever problem I'm having that prompted the phone call in the beginning.
Gotta tell you businesses/companies....... if you are really interested in better customer service, get rid of the computer operated menu's and have real people answering the phones. I know there are many people who are qualified to do this job, because there sure are a lot them working for companies who call you all day and especially during dinner trying to sell you this or that! I think the world would be much better to get rid of those people who call us all day and at the most inconvenient times to sell us something and put them on the switchboard/phones to answer phone calls of people needing/wanting assistance. Everyone would be much happier at the end of the day! And I don't think I'm alone in this thinking either!!!!
So to Nestle's and their very clever phone menu...... I give you a big whopping shout out of WELL DONE!!!!!! Thank you for the much needed giggles!!!! But of course...... lest we forget........ and don't forget to sing this next statement.... but..... N-E-S-T-L-E-S..... Nestle's makes the very best....... chocolate! LOL
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Sunday Roast
Late this afternoon Jessica and Winston joined Joe and I for a Sunday roast dinner. I wanted to try my apple pie recipe on these willing participants to see if it would make it on the Thanksgiving Day menu. And it is now officially a definite for Thanksgiving Day.
The day started out slow and relaxed.... I made breakfast for Joe as he read all of the big sales for the Friday after Thanksgiving to me. I cleaned up the kitchen, went through all the coupons he so sweetly cut out for me, and headed off to Kroger to gather all my ingredients and turkeys for my big Thanksgiving dinner. It is absolutely my favorite meal to cook and I look forward to it all year long. I can already smell my sweet yeast rolls baking!
We have two turkeys at Thanksgiving. One I stuff, and one Joe rubs down in cajun seasoning and deep frys..... both are amazing. We have all the 'traditional' side dishes..... gravy, dressing/stuffing mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, corn, rolls, apple pie, pumpkin pie, derby pie. And no matter how good it all is the first time....... and it is good!!!!!...... warm-ups in the late afternoon/early evening are sooooooo much better!
One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving dinner is the leftovers. We make two turkeys just so we have enough leftovers to share with the girls. I am not a big fan of leftovers in general, but...... Thanksgiving leftovers are just that good. And I am one of those who saves the bones and make turkey soup out of them. I can't believe this week is Thanksgiving!!!
This year started out with a serious health issue that resulted in pretty serious surgery...... but 9 months later.... life is so much better and I am soooooo blessed! This year of being forced to rest and recoup made me do a lot of reflecting about myself and life in general. It turned out to be a bump in the road that helped me see the path in front of me sooooo much clearer. It was a big challenge for me to rest and recoup for that long of a period, but in the end it has been a big blessing that I'm very Thankful for. This Thanksgiving will have a very special meaning for me and I look forward to celebrating everything I am truly thankful for with several of my loved ones at my table.
And........ OF COURSE....... I'm thankful for my discoveries of Julia Child this year....... I read several of her cookbooks and biographies while I was recuperating and I have been completely smitten with her ever since.
Bon Appetite!
The day started out slow and relaxed.... I made breakfast for Joe as he read all of the big sales for the Friday after Thanksgiving to me. I cleaned up the kitchen, went through all the coupons he so sweetly cut out for me, and headed off to Kroger to gather all my ingredients and turkeys for my big Thanksgiving dinner. It is absolutely my favorite meal to cook and I look forward to it all year long. I can already smell my sweet yeast rolls baking!
We have two turkeys at Thanksgiving. One I stuff, and one Joe rubs down in cajun seasoning and deep frys..... both are amazing. We have all the 'traditional' side dishes..... gravy, dressing/stuffing mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, corn, rolls, apple pie, pumpkin pie, derby pie. And no matter how good it all is the first time....... and it is good!!!!!...... warm-ups in the late afternoon/early evening are sooooooo much better!
One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving dinner is the leftovers. We make two turkeys just so we have enough leftovers to share with the girls. I am not a big fan of leftovers in general, but...... Thanksgiving leftovers are just that good. And I am one of those who saves the bones and make turkey soup out of them. I can't believe this week is Thanksgiving!!!
This year started out with a serious health issue that resulted in pretty serious surgery...... but 9 months later.... life is so much better and I am soooooo blessed! This year of being forced to rest and recoup made me do a lot of reflecting about myself and life in general. It turned out to be a bump in the road that helped me see the path in front of me sooooo much clearer. It was a big challenge for me to rest and recoup for that long of a period, but in the end it has been a big blessing that I'm very Thankful for. This Thanksgiving will have a very special meaning for me and I look forward to celebrating everything I am truly thankful for with several of my loved ones at my table.
And........ OF COURSE....... I'm thankful for my discoveries of Julia Child this year....... I read several of her cookbooks and biographies while I was recuperating and I have been completely smitten with her ever since.
Bon Appetite!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Recipe for pastry crust and apple pie filling
Just in case any of my blog followers are interested in making the apple pie and pastry crust for Thanksgiving that I have been jabbering about since learning how to make it in class, I thought I would post the recipe and methods on how it is made. It is actually quite simple and very DELISH!!! I will be adding this pie to my own Thanksgiving menu...... just because it is that good!
Pate Brisee (pastry crust)
10-1/2 oz all purpose flour
7 oz butter, cubed and cold
1 tsp salt (table salt, not kosher)
1 tbsp milk, cold
1 egg
In mixer (stand-up mixer) with paddle attachment, combine flour and butter and mix on low (speed 2) until the butter resembles small breadcrumbs.... this process takes about 5 minutes..... but do not over mix which would heat and soften the butter too much. Add salt, milk, and egg (beat the milk with the egg slightly before adding to mixture), and mix until dough forms a ball. Stressing again..... DO NOT OVER MIX!
Remove dough from mixer and quickly shape into a ball and place between two un-floured sheets of parchment paper. Roll out dough inside the parchment paper to 1/8" thickness..... lifting parchment paper when necessary to smooth out wrinkles. Place rolled out dough in the parchment paper in refrigerator until chilled.
Remove dough from refrigerator and carefully lift off parchment paper on both sides of dough. Let dough warm to room temperature slightly (about 5 min). Place dough inside pie pan, reserving extra dough for making lattice top on top of pie filling.
Apple Pie Filling
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cut into 1" chunks
3 McIntosh apples, peeled and cut into 1" chunks
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/8th tsp nutmeg
dash ground cloves
1 tbsp cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar (to be mixed with nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon)
1/2 cup sugar (to be mixed with cornstarch to prevent lumping)
3 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
2/3 cup water
1 tbsp butter
egg wash - 1 egg beaten with 1 tsp water
Toss apples with lemon juice to prevent browning. Mix spices and first measurement of sugar to distribute ingredients evenly. Toss sugar-spice mixture with apple mixture.
Mix together 2nd sugar measurement and cornstarch to prevent lumping. Add 1/2 of water to sugar-cornstarch mixture to make a slurry. In a saucepan, stir together the sugar-cornstarch slurry, butter, and remaining water, cook over low heat until it thickens to a gloppy goo and is well mixed. Stir continuously, scraping sides and bottom of pan often. Remove from heat once it is at the gloppy gooey stage. The mixture should seriously glop off the spoon into the pan when a spoonful of mixture is held over the pan.
Add apple mixture and stir well until all is combined and warmed. Let cool briefly (5 minutes). Fill pie shell with the apple mixture and top with lattice dough work. Lightly brush egg wash over dough lattice and top with a sprinkle of sugar. Bake in preheated 400 degree oven until crust is golden brown, apples are tender when pierced with a fork and filling is thick and set. Baking time is about 30 minutes.
Let pie set and cool for several minutes before serving. Can be served warm or cold. ENJOY!!!!
Next week we are learning how to make Lemon pie, Pate Sucree (sweet pie crust) and Italian Meringue!!! Stay blogged in for future recipes, techniques and methods!
Pate Brisee (pastry crust)
10-1/2 oz all purpose flour
7 oz butter, cubed and cold
1 tsp salt (table salt, not kosher)
1 tbsp milk, cold
1 egg
In mixer (stand-up mixer) with paddle attachment, combine flour and butter and mix on low (speed 2) until the butter resembles small breadcrumbs.... this process takes about 5 minutes..... but do not over mix which would heat and soften the butter too much. Add salt, milk, and egg (beat the milk with the egg slightly before adding to mixture), and mix until dough forms a ball. Stressing again..... DO NOT OVER MIX!
Remove dough from mixer and quickly shape into a ball and place between two un-floured sheets of parchment paper. Roll out dough inside the parchment paper to 1/8" thickness..... lifting parchment paper when necessary to smooth out wrinkles. Place rolled out dough in the parchment paper in refrigerator until chilled.
Remove dough from refrigerator and carefully lift off parchment paper on both sides of dough. Let dough warm to room temperature slightly (about 5 min). Place dough inside pie pan, reserving extra dough for making lattice top on top of pie filling.
Apple Pie Filling
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cut into 1" chunks
3 McIntosh apples, peeled and cut into 1" chunks
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/8th tsp nutmeg
dash ground cloves
1 tbsp cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar (to be mixed with nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon)
1/2 cup sugar (to be mixed with cornstarch to prevent lumping)
3 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
2/3 cup water
1 tbsp butter
egg wash - 1 egg beaten with 1 tsp water
Toss apples with lemon juice to prevent browning. Mix spices and first measurement of sugar to distribute ingredients evenly. Toss sugar-spice mixture with apple mixture.
Mix together 2nd sugar measurement and cornstarch to prevent lumping. Add 1/2 of water to sugar-cornstarch mixture to make a slurry. In a saucepan, stir together the sugar-cornstarch slurry, butter, and remaining water, cook over low heat until it thickens to a gloppy goo and is well mixed. Stir continuously, scraping sides and bottom of pan often. Remove from heat once it is at the gloppy gooey stage. The mixture should seriously glop off the spoon into the pan when a spoonful of mixture is held over the pan.
Add apple mixture and stir well until all is combined and warmed. Let cool briefly (5 minutes). Fill pie shell with the apple mixture and top with lattice dough work. Lightly brush egg wash over dough lattice and top with a sprinkle of sugar. Bake in preheated 400 degree oven until crust is golden brown, apples are tender when pierced with a fork and filling is thick and set. Baking time is about 30 minutes.
Let pie set and cool for several minutes before serving. Can be served warm or cold. ENJOY!!!!
Next week we are learning how to make Lemon pie, Pate Sucree (sweet pie crust) and Italian Meringue!!! Stay blogged in for future recipes, techniques and methods!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Pastry Crust and Apple Pie
Today was my first day, of my last class for my Chef Certificate. Baking 1....... I LOVE my pastry instructor!!!! Great teaching methods and a very warm and kind person as well. Had a blast in class today!
I must admit I was a teeny bit anxious about Baking 1, since cooking is my field of expertise, and baking..... not so much. And I was worried about all the metric vs U.S. weight conversions..... but I need not worry.... we are allowed to use either method of measurements of our choice, which is going to make this class MUCH easier! Math just isn't my thing, especially the metric system.
We started out learning how to make pastry crust, how it should feel, how it should look, how to roll it out between two pieces of parchment paper instead of dusting with flour. That was really cool...... soooo much easier and less messy! Then we made the apple filling, but instead of putting the cold raw ingredients into the crust, we cooked the filling first and after filling the crust with the apple mixture, we then took the scraps of crust and made a lattice work covering.
I am very proud to say I received an 'Excellent' in the remarks and an A for my grade. One class down and only 8 more to go! On the way home from school, I just had to text my daughters and husband to proclaim my proud A..... and of course..... my husband's remark back was...... "I want one for tonight!".... so I stopped by Kroger on the way home to purchase the correct apples. If I don't make it for dinner tonight, I will definitely make it for tomorrow night. It's really hard to come home from a 6 hour cooking class and start cooking again.
My Aunt is well known for her DELISH pies and she can whip out a pastry crust quicker than you can sneeze, and my Mom is known for her many cakes she bakes.... I think they would both be proud that I can now make a really good pie too. Pastry crust/dough has ALWAYS intimidated me.... and actually.... it just ain't that hard! LOL Yes...... I used the word 'ain't' on purpose!
I'm already looking forward to class next week and whatever delicious goodies we will be baking. And I hope we get into bread making..... I would love to conquer french bread.... and there is nothing that smells better or tastes better than fresh baked bread!!!
Now it's time to go do my on-line homework and start reading the chapters for next week's class.
I must admit I was a teeny bit anxious about Baking 1, since cooking is my field of expertise, and baking..... not so much. And I was worried about all the metric vs U.S. weight conversions..... but I need not worry.... we are allowed to use either method of measurements of our choice, which is going to make this class MUCH easier! Math just isn't my thing, especially the metric system.
We started out learning how to make pastry crust, how it should feel, how it should look, how to roll it out between two pieces of parchment paper instead of dusting with flour. That was really cool...... soooo much easier and less messy! Then we made the apple filling, but instead of putting the cold raw ingredients into the crust, we cooked the filling first and after filling the crust with the apple mixture, we then took the scraps of crust and made a lattice work covering.
I am very proud to say I received an 'Excellent' in the remarks and an A for my grade. One class down and only 8 more to go! On the way home from school, I just had to text my daughters and husband to proclaim my proud A..... and of course..... my husband's remark back was...... "I want one for tonight!".... so I stopped by Kroger on the way home to purchase the correct apples. If I don't make it for dinner tonight, I will definitely make it for tomorrow night. It's really hard to come home from a 6 hour cooking class and start cooking again.
My Aunt is well known for her DELISH pies and she can whip out a pastry crust quicker than you can sneeze, and my Mom is known for her many cakes she bakes.... I think they would both be proud that I can now make a really good pie too. Pastry crust/dough has ALWAYS intimidated me.... and actually.... it just ain't that hard! LOL Yes...... I used the word 'ain't' on purpose!
I'm already looking forward to class next week and whatever delicious goodies we will be baking. And I hope we get into bread making..... I would love to conquer french bread.... and there is nothing that smells better or tastes better than fresh baked bread!!!
Now it's time to go do my on-line homework and start reading the chapters for next week's class.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Back To School Shopping
OMGOODNESS...... it's really here!!!.....this is the week!!! I start back to school in just two days! Baking 1 for Restaurants.... and then..... I graduate!! WOO HOO!!! Does this make me an official Senior?!!??....... and........ should I be experiencing Senoritis!??? LOL And is there really anything more fun than "Back To School Shopping"??? Pencils and paper and binders.... OH MY! LOL I'm skipping down my own yellow brick road on my way to see the Wizard for my diploma!
When I went to my advising session with my Chef.... he suggested I get a few things to add to my knife bag, so I went shopping at Target this afternoon in search of baking gadgets. I bought a candy thermometer, a long flat and a short pastry spatula, a couple of rubber scraping spatulas and a pastry scraper. I have my new fresh notebook, my mechanical pencils and sharpie markers in my book bag, my uniform is cleaned, pressed and waiting for me to put it on and I'm ready for the first day of school again.
Because I am taking this class in the "Late Fall" term, I get the benefit of having the Christmas Holidays fall right in the middle of the term.... thus.... I go 6 weeks, off 2 weeks and back to school for 4 weeks, which will fly by with the hectiness of the holidays. I am currently reading as many chapters in my textbook as I can. I want to be ahead of the game because of the stress and hectiness of the holidays.... which will include my youngest daughter, Lauren, moving home from LA Dec. 20th. She graduates from FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) Dec. 16th. She has been in LA almost 3 years and that time flew by like a flash. We are for this moment..... Seniors together! Awwwww!!!!! Guess we will have to have a big blow out Graduation party for the two of us! I graduate Jan. 27th..... just 5 weeks after she graduates.
Back to reading of the text! Have two chapters of homework completed already.... (there is no homework for chapter 3) I am in the middle of chapter 4.... which is the longest chapter in the book (50 pages), and I want to get through chapter 5 before school starts because according to the syllabus, we will be studying chapters 1-5 the first day of class. I like to be prepared! : )
Happy Monday!
When I went to my advising session with my Chef.... he suggested I get a few things to add to my knife bag, so I went shopping at Target this afternoon in search of baking gadgets. I bought a candy thermometer, a long flat and a short pastry spatula, a couple of rubber scraping spatulas and a pastry scraper. I have my new fresh notebook, my mechanical pencils and sharpie markers in my book bag, my uniform is cleaned, pressed and waiting for me to put it on and I'm ready for the first day of school again.
Because I am taking this class in the "Late Fall" term, I get the benefit of having the Christmas Holidays fall right in the middle of the term.... thus.... I go 6 weeks, off 2 weeks and back to school for 4 weeks, which will fly by with the hectiness of the holidays. I am currently reading as many chapters in my textbook as I can. I want to be ahead of the game because of the stress and hectiness of the holidays.... which will include my youngest daughter, Lauren, moving home from LA Dec. 20th. She graduates from FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) Dec. 16th. She has been in LA almost 3 years and that time flew by like a flash. We are for this moment..... Seniors together! Awwwww!!!!! Guess we will have to have a big blow out Graduation party for the two of us! I graduate Jan. 27th..... just 5 weeks after she graduates.
Back to reading of the text! Have two chapters of homework completed already.... (there is no homework for chapter 3) I am in the middle of chapter 4.... which is the longest chapter in the book (50 pages), and I want to get through chapter 5 before school starts because according to the syllabus, we will be studying chapters 1-5 the first day of class. I like to be prepared! : )
Happy Monday!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Greece - The rest of the story
Day 4 - Pam, Ted, Joe and I all met up at the lounge for breakfast and tour planning. The weather is gorgeous, and other than the one day of torrential rains, the weather was spectacular the rest of the week, ranging from high 70's to low 80's. We decide to head for the Acropolis and Parthenon first. Pam and I (seeing how we are now quite expert at getting to the metro and to the stops needed) lead the men onward. Of course men being men...... who don't like not being in the lead for long..... once we arrive at the Acropolis they take over as 'tour guides', which is perfectly fine with Pam and I.
It takes a good 45 minutes to walk up the very rough terrain of the Acropolis to reach the top where the Parthenon proudly sits. And of course of all the days for me to decide to be 'fashionable'....... was trying to 'represent' for my youngest fashionista daughter Lauren..... I wore wedges with my summer dress instead of flat sandals. So Pam with her bursitis hip and me on wedges.... we hold on to each other and help each other up the hill, which had to be a funny site! LOL But we made it to the top and then WOW, WOW, WOWZERS!!!!! Such a stunning site to see.
We spent a good hour at the Parthenon just looking at the site, taking photo's and enjoying the gorgeous weather. From there we traverse down to town and happened upon this really quaint side street that was built on the side of the hill and stop for a nice lunch. Delish-ee-o-so! Was the perfect spot to stop for a squat and refueling the tummies.
After lunch we continue to meander down the hill and walk into the market, where we started to shop for christmas gifts, which we were quite successful in our finds. However..... at one market shop, I felt like I was molested! Boy that guys hands were fast! Pam and I are strolling together, the fellas are just a couple steps in front. We are strolling slowly and just gazing at the wares on the street and in the windows when this Greek fella reaches out and drags both Pam and I into the shop wanting to show us hundreds of business cards of Greeks who have gone to America to work. After asking us where we are actually from, he finds business cards from the cities we live in. I grab Joe to come see..... hoping he will save me...... but nope..... the guys high tail it out of there and leave both Pam and I in this store trying to get out. Mr. Greek hands both Pam and I a 'lucky' greek penny..... he places the penny in Pam's hand, then places a penny in my hand and then reaches both his hand and mine deep inside my pocket on my dress....... I'm thinking...... WHAT are you doing!!!! and before I can recover from that Mr. Greek has my backpack purse off my shoulders and my sweater off my body before I can say WAIT!!!! I'm looking at Pam who was tossed my stuff to hold with a plea in my eye of 'help me!!!', we are both thinking...... what the heck is going on here and trying to get out of there. Mr. Greek was trying to sell me a woman's blouse to make me look Greek. Pam says she wants a shirt for her grandson, I grab my stuff and bail outta there. That guy had the quickest hands I have ever seen.... he literally had me undressed in 3 seconds flat before I had a clue what the heck he was doing. Pam and I have been cracking up ever since!
After that episode, we continue through the market.....me staying clear of any other doorways. The boys decide they are done with 'shopping' and spot a table near by to grab a beer. They tell us to shop at our leisure and join them when we are done.... which we do..... and as we sat there you wouldn't believe how many street vendors come up to push their wares on you, children gypsies playing instruments, mothers selling packets of tissues with their infants in their arms, all begging. It is sooooo sad and pulls on your hearts strings, but...... it is a big racket and the police are patrolling the area to shoo them all off. Plus the street people work in groups, those to distract and play on your pity, while the others pickpocket. You just can't help feeling your heartstrings being pulled tho.
We head on back to the metro and hotel after the beer stop and get ready to head out to dinner. We all meet up at the lounge for a beverage before heading out to dinner and while we are in the lounge, in walks our newlywed friends (Vincent and Liz). Pam and I make the introductions to our husbands, we chat with them for a few minutes and then we all head out to our separate dinners. Dinner was just a short walk from the hotel, and out of all the meals we had, this was my least favorite. It was 'ok' and edible but that's about it.
After dinner, we walk back to the hotel and back up to the lounge for a 'final final'.... which means one more drink before we retire for the evening. The night was gorgeous, so we head out to the balcony to enjoy both the view and the fresh air. As we are sitting there laughing and talking, in walk Vincent and Liz and ask to join us, which we gladly accepted. What a great time we all had..... til we got kicked out because the lounge closed. Vincent and Liz reminded me soooo much of my daughter Jessica and her husband Winston, who are also newlyweds. It was a very lovely evening.
Day 5 - We all gather once again at the lounge for breakfast (for the last time) before our planned bus tour excursion for the day. We decided to go out to the coast to see the Temple of Athena, which is very similar to the Parthenon, except this one is on a hill overlooking the bluff of the seaside. It is just sooooo incredible to see these spectacular views. It was a bit of a wiggy ride up to the site because the bus driver didn't turn the air on til the very end, the roads were hilly and curvy and the woman sitting in front of me was wearing this horrendous heavy perfume. But the drive back was much better because the air was cooler and it was dark outside so you didn't see the windy curves of the road.
We were the first ones on the bus on the journey to the site, thus we were on the bus for an hour and a half before the tour even began. As we are picking up other passengers on the way, we notice how close we are to the Plaka and the metro and we decide to jump off the bus on the way back at the Plaka for dinner. GOOD MOVE!!!!! We meandered down the side streets and find another quaint little restaurant in the open air and settle in for a nice meal. Not only did this place have delish food, but it had live music and Greek dancers. I can't think of a more perfect way to end our trip than having dinner at this place.
After dinner, we bid adieu to each other and head up to pack for the long journey home in the morning that begins at 3:30am. Yep...... we were up at 3:30 to head out for the airport. We had a connector flight in Paris and let me tell you...... Charles De Gaulle airport is horrendous!!! OMGOSH..... our flight was delayed just trying to get all of us from the landing plane onto the Cincinnati plane. The flights were bearable and long, but we made it home again, home again, jiggity jig, safe and sound and extremely exhausted after being up for over 30 hours. When we hit the bed at 9:00pm I don't think either Joe or I moved all night.
And that...... is the rest of the story! The End! LOL
Yamis
It takes a good 45 minutes to walk up the very rough terrain of the Acropolis to reach the top where the Parthenon proudly sits. And of course of all the days for me to decide to be 'fashionable'....... was trying to 'represent' for my youngest fashionista daughter Lauren..... I wore wedges with my summer dress instead of flat sandals. So Pam with her bursitis hip and me on wedges.... we hold on to each other and help each other up the hill, which had to be a funny site! LOL But we made it to the top and then WOW, WOW, WOWZERS!!!!! Such a stunning site to see.
We spent a good hour at the Parthenon just looking at the site, taking photo's and enjoying the gorgeous weather. From there we traverse down to town and happened upon this really quaint side street that was built on the side of the hill and stop for a nice lunch. Delish-ee-o-so! Was the perfect spot to stop for a squat and refueling the tummies.
After lunch we continue to meander down the hill and walk into the market, where we started to shop for christmas gifts, which we were quite successful in our finds. However..... at one market shop, I felt like I was molested! Boy that guys hands were fast! Pam and I are strolling together, the fellas are just a couple steps in front. We are strolling slowly and just gazing at the wares on the street and in the windows when this Greek fella reaches out and drags both Pam and I into the shop wanting to show us hundreds of business cards of Greeks who have gone to America to work. After asking us where we are actually from, he finds business cards from the cities we live in. I grab Joe to come see..... hoping he will save me...... but nope..... the guys high tail it out of there and leave both Pam and I in this store trying to get out. Mr. Greek hands both Pam and I a 'lucky' greek penny..... he places the penny in Pam's hand, then places a penny in my hand and then reaches both his hand and mine deep inside my pocket on my dress....... I'm thinking...... WHAT are you doing!!!! and before I can recover from that Mr. Greek has my backpack purse off my shoulders and my sweater off my body before I can say WAIT!!!! I'm looking at Pam who was tossed my stuff to hold with a plea in my eye of 'help me!!!', we are both thinking...... what the heck is going on here and trying to get out of there. Mr. Greek was trying to sell me a woman's blouse to make me look Greek. Pam says she wants a shirt for her grandson, I grab my stuff and bail outta there. That guy had the quickest hands I have ever seen.... he literally had me undressed in 3 seconds flat before I had a clue what the heck he was doing. Pam and I have been cracking up ever since!
After that episode, we continue through the market.....me staying clear of any other doorways. The boys decide they are done with 'shopping' and spot a table near by to grab a beer. They tell us to shop at our leisure and join them when we are done.... which we do..... and as we sat there you wouldn't believe how many street vendors come up to push their wares on you, children gypsies playing instruments, mothers selling packets of tissues with their infants in their arms, all begging. It is sooooo sad and pulls on your hearts strings, but...... it is a big racket and the police are patrolling the area to shoo them all off. Plus the street people work in groups, those to distract and play on your pity, while the others pickpocket. You just can't help feeling your heartstrings being pulled tho.
We head on back to the metro and hotel after the beer stop and get ready to head out to dinner. We all meet up at the lounge for a beverage before heading out to dinner and while we are in the lounge, in walks our newlywed friends (Vincent and Liz). Pam and I make the introductions to our husbands, we chat with them for a few minutes and then we all head out to our separate dinners. Dinner was just a short walk from the hotel, and out of all the meals we had, this was my least favorite. It was 'ok' and edible but that's about it.
After dinner, we walk back to the hotel and back up to the lounge for a 'final final'.... which means one more drink before we retire for the evening. The night was gorgeous, so we head out to the balcony to enjoy both the view and the fresh air. As we are sitting there laughing and talking, in walk Vincent and Liz and ask to join us, which we gladly accepted. What a great time we all had..... til we got kicked out because the lounge closed. Vincent and Liz reminded me soooo much of my daughter Jessica and her husband Winston, who are also newlyweds. It was a very lovely evening.
Day 5 - We all gather once again at the lounge for breakfast (for the last time) before our planned bus tour excursion for the day. We decided to go out to the coast to see the Temple of Athena, which is very similar to the Parthenon, except this one is on a hill overlooking the bluff of the seaside. It is just sooooo incredible to see these spectacular views. It was a bit of a wiggy ride up to the site because the bus driver didn't turn the air on til the very end, the roads were hilly and curvy and the woman sitting in front of me was wearing this horrendous heavy perfume. But the drive back was much better because the air was cooler and it was dark outside so you didn't see the windy curves of the road.
We were the first ones on the bus on the journey to the site, thus we were on the bus for an hour and a half before the tour even began. As we are picking up other passengers on the way, we notice how close we are to the Plaka and the metro and we decide to jump off the bus on the way back at the Plaka for dinner. GOOD MOVE!!!!! We meandered down the side streets and find another quaint little restaurant in the open air and settle in for a nice meal. Not only did this place have delish food, but it had live music and Greek dancers. I can't think of a more perfect way to end our trip than having dinner at this place.
After dinner, we bid adieu to each other and head up to pack for the long journey home in the morning that begins at 3:30am. Yep...... we were up at 3:30 to head out for the airport. We had a connector flight in Paris and let me tell you...... Charles De Gaulle airport is horrendous!!! OMGOSH..... our flight was delayed just trying to get all of us from the landing plane onto the Cincinnati plane. The flights were bearable and long, but we made it home again, home again, jiggity jig, safe and sound and extremely exhausted after being up for over 30 hours. When we hit the bed at 9:00pm I don't think either Joe or I moved all night.
And that...... is the rest of the story! The End! LOL
Yamis
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About Me
- Vickie G
- I am a short little lady with a passion for cooking and pilates. I have been married for 31 years to my high school sweetheart (my soulmate and love of my life!!!) and we have 3 amazing daughters. I am 50 years old and love living life with as much zest as possible.