I HAD HELP

today was the day to finish my cookie baking - two more to make and i do not think i would have dome it with out help.
I had help Friday, but today i had 2 to help.


Daughter



mother











Koulourakia and my own style of Kourambiethes.
light and airy was the result.






Kourambiethes



Koulourakia




My friend Irene, is very experienced in the kitchen, but with Indian food.  Her daughter was very good as well and i could not have done this with out them

the recipe is as follows...

Kourambiethes

(Joe's version)

1 cup whipped butter

1/3 cup raw sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon TANG

1 teaspoon orange peel (candied is okay) or zest

1 teaspoon anise flavor

1 teaspoon water

4 cups flour

1 1/2 cup pecans

1/4 cup powdered sugar

Beat the butter 30 seconds then add sugar and TANG and beat till fluffy.

Add zest or peel, nuts, orange and anise flavor and water.

Continue to beat until the mixture begins to  “ball” into clumps. (Sometimes I need to add more flour)

You may shape the cookie, keep in balls or “squash down”.  Your choice

Roll into balls and place on a baking tray and cook for 20 minutes at 350º F.

The cookies will have the edges just brown.

They must cool before removing from tray (but not cold).

Place on tray and cover with powdered sugar.

Eat at room temperature.

Contradictions

Like last night having 2 strong Margaritas and feeling better today than I had in awhile.
Or finding that the beach survey was published this month (July) in the Journal of Environmental Health, instead of August (especially since they pushed so hard for the drafts).
Or finding a new friend and making sure she is only a friend, but having some good feeling about her.
(Why only a friend? Well she does exhibit real signs of schizophrenia, but she also went through the same kind of operation I did at the same time, that why!)
(I told you that I would rather deal with people with real diagnosed mental illness (she does) than some of the undiagnosed people in the world!)
Finding the courage to ask Jenny out and not getting a negative responce (that was good enough),
No more than that, but it is enough.

Back to the city

Yesterday was one of the hardest workouts I have had. Of course it was for my eyes and it was at SUNY school of optometry. New exercises that really worked my eyes and at the end, the glasses did not work for maybe 10 minutes. I feel asleep on the train back easily. The strain in the eyes and the muscles were worth it and I expect good things soon. I probably will start on the home exercises tonight and sleep well.
I wanted to post about a friend, but can not do it yet, too emotional in too many ways, but my heart goes out to her because of what she must do to provide for herself and her children.
My other friend came back from a 2 week vaction and we will catch up hopefully, tomorrow, she looked fabulous.