Israeli...It's What's For Dinner Tonight

I don't know what it is about the temperatures but I crave Israeli food when it's in the 90's. 

I couldn't resist the urge to turn up the heat a little more and keep my oven at 450 degrees for a while.

Tonight we had tabouli, Israeli salad, hummus, tzatsiki, olives and pita. 

Everything is homemade since I have no shuk around the corner. I've had to learn

to make these things myself. (well, not olives)

I tried a new pita recipe and like it just fine. Still trying to refine and tweak the recipes to my liking.

Here's the step by step process.

Proof the yeast and let stand for 10 minutes. 

Add dry ingredients and mix with wooden spoon.

Knead on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes.

Love that you can feel the dough change with this step.

It will need to rise until doubled. Mine rose quickly because...

you guessed it...it's hot in Texas!

I let it continue rising 1 1/2 hours before punching down.

  

Next you begin dividing. I cover my dough balls with a damp towel and let them rise 20 more minutes

while my oven heats to 450. I placed my baking stone and cookie sheets in to heat up as well.

Roll into circles (or if you're like me you free form).

I kinda like the homemade look of free circles.

In the HOT HOT HOT oven they go for 5-8 minutes.

Sometimes mine puff and sometimes the don't. 

I'm liking them softer and thicker these days and can't resist butter on the first one.

I think I made 16 today and to my dismay there are only 5 left.

Sad thing is...it's just my husband and I eating. 

I was seriously craving Israeli fare.

Enjoy!

Stefan's Senior Prom

Senior Prom

Paris High School 2012

Suits, tuxedos, short dresses, long dresses, wrist corsages and boutonnieres.

Classic cars, fast cars, double-decker buses, limousines.

Styles are changing and you can see just about anything these days.

The event wouldn't be complete without pictures downtown at Culbertson Fountain and

Holy Cross Episcopal Church. This year we were reduced to just over 30 minutes to

take all the pictures that will have to suffice and keep these memories of our children dressed to the nines; finishing one more hurdle as they leave high school life behind. 

Here are some of the shots I took.

Fun arrived with the young man on the left. One of the Special men God created and the

life of the party. He had everyone laughing. Special thanks to his teacher Liz who sees to it that the special needs students always take part and dress up for prom.

Stefan and Trey, friends through all their high school years.

A fourth generation of friends with our two families.

Part of the crowd that would come and go as the students moved around from

site to site. You bring your chairs and watch the show.

Candace and I used to buy our favorite pizza, grab a Dr. Pepper and make this a night.

She was homeschooled but knew some of the kids so it was always a fun night for us.

Having graduated from private Christian school I never went to prom but as one former

public school classmate said, "I don't think kids looked like movie stars in our days." 

And because he's mine, I post mostly about him.

So proud of Stefan who made the decision to buy a suit that will last him through the years instead of renting the traditional tux and losing his $200. for one night of wear....so maybe that homeschooling stuck with him more than he thinks.

Ancient Ports & Modern Cities

Just a quick post as I look through my photos.

From where I stand you will see Tel Aviv to the right; the second most populated city in Israel. 

It was formed in 1909 by the Jewish community of Jaffa. Soon it grew larger than Jaffa and the two were merged in 1950 after Israel's statehood.

It is incredibly modern yet still holds the old world charm in many neighborhoods along the beach line.

 Between both worlds you see real life. 

Fisherman can most usually be seen along the shore.

And the lady who feeds the cats of Israel. I've never seen so many cats as here.

To my left is the ancient port city of Jaffa. It is one of the oldest working ports in the world. You'll remember its Biblical affiliation with Jonah.

The home of Simon the Tanner is also located in Jaffa.

One of my favorite memories from Israel comes from the walk along the Mediterranean Sea. We accidentally made this trip one night after getting off our bus at the central bus station and I wanted to walk back to out apt. instead of taking a taxi. Whew! what a lesson.

My next time was a purposeful walk to Jaffa and back to Tel Aviv with my feet in the sand.

Oh, I could walk these shores often.