Menu:

Bruschetta

6 or 7 ripe plum tomatoes (about 1 1/2 lbs)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

6-8 fresh basil leaves, chopped.

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 baguette French bread or similar Italian bread

1/4 cup olive oil

Roman Salad

1/2 head lettuce

3/4 c. celery, chopped

1/2 (10 oz.) frozen peas or cauliflower

1/4 c. onion, chopped

2 tsp. salad dressing

1/3 lb. bacon, fried crisp and chopped

1/3 c. Parmesan cheese

3/4 c. Hellmann's real mayonnaise

Roman Tomato Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 medium (150 g) onion, chopped finely

445 g can condensed tomato soup

400 g can tomatoes, undrained, crushed

3 cups (750 ml) water

2 cups (210 g) small fusilli (spiral pasta)

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh basil leaves

2 bacon rashers, chopped finely

Spaghetti Amatriciana

8.5 ounces (250 g) Guanciale cut into 1/4″ batons

1 medium shallot minced

2 tablespoons finely grated carrot

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/4 cup dry white wine

26 ounces (750 g) stewed tomatoes (preferably from San Marzano)

1 ounce (30 g) pecorino romano, finely grated

16 oz spaghetti

Roman Style Bean Soup

4 slices bacon, cut up
2 green onions (with tops), sliced
1 can (16 ounce size) stewed tomatoes
4 frankfurters, cut diagonally into slices
3 cups water
3 teaspoons instant chicken bouillon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 can (17 ounce size) kidney beans
1 1/3 cup uncooked shell macaroni

Roman Pizza

2 (8-ounce) pieces of purchased or homemade pizza dough, recipe follows

1/3 cup homemade or purchased marinara sauce

1/3 cup (lightly packed) shredded smoked mozzarella cheese

1 cup (lightly packed) shredded Fontina cheese

2 ounces mushrooms, thinly sliced

2 ounces pancetta, chopped

Roman Apple Cake

2 (8-ounce) pieces of purchased or homemade pizza dough, recipe follows

1/3 cup homemade or purchased marinara sauce

1/3 cup (lightly packed) shredded smoked mozzarella cheese

1 cup (lightly packed) shredded Fontina cheese

2 ounces mushrooms, thinly sliced

2 ounces pancetta, chopped

Party Invitation

Under The Sea
Where: The Gregg Home
Date: December 10 
Time: 6:00 - 9:00
Special Guests:

Horatia Kyle

Publius Poling

Priscilla Cleavenger

Urbana Donegia

Pomponia Suder

Balbina Cline

Agrippina Nuzum

Servius Stuart

Caecilia Blake

Sextus Terwilliger

The School System in Honduras

      The school systems in Honduras are not too different from those in the U.S. To pass any academic subject, students must achieve at least the 60 percent mark. They can repeat the same course several times during the year, but low achievers may be required to repeat grades. Education is compulsory from ages 7 to 13, and after finishing primary education, students are required to teach two adults in literacy. Dropout rates are high in both primary and secondary education, especially in the rural areas. While more than 90 percent of students enroll in primary schools, less than half complete their studies. Of those who do finish primary school, only one-third goes on to secondary schools. Primary school lasts six years, followed by five years of secondary education.  Parents dream of sending their kids to school, but even putting their children through secondary school requires an effort. The private schools are very up to date and some have all American teachers. The transportation is also provided. For the public schools, it depends on the community and how much money the school system has.  Families must provide uniforms and school supplies. The school year runs from February to November. Private schools, on the other hand, attend school from August through May.  In school, they attend classes in either the morning or the afternoon, with courses in language, sociology, math, art, and natural sciences. The teacher will change rooms while the students remain with their high schools. Students and teachers are said to be very intelligent so the education is taken very seriously and it’s very helpful. In the U.S, lunch is eaten in school, but in Honduras, you go home to eat.  

Tsokolate

Tsokolate

Ingredients:
1 pound (2 cups) of chocolate
6 cups of milk
6 eggs

Instructions: 

     Your first step in creating a brisk cup of Tsokolate is to separate the egg yolks from the whites; you'll need only the yolks for this recipe, so save the whites for something else. Put the yolks aside in a bowl.

      Next, chop the chocolate into small pieces of a uniform size, so that it will melt evenly. You can skip this step if you're working with chocolate chips (which are ideal) or chocolate coins. Heat the milk in a saucepan, adding the chocolate and stirring continuously until it begins to boil and the chocolate is completely melted. (Be careful; chocolate scorches very easily.) Once the mixture has thickened a bit, add the egg yolks and stir it all briskly with a wire whisk until it's foamy.

For best results, serve your creation immediately, while it's still piping hot. You'll end up with about six servings of incomparable Filipino Tsokolate.

Tagalog Lang !! (Merry Christmas!)

•  The Christmas celebration starts on December 16.
• The Filipinos decorate their homes with lanterns, other lights, and streamers.
• Christmas cards that illustrate scenes in the Philippines are pinned on red and green ribbons. The cards are then hung in the sala, or living room, for all to enjoy.
• Christmas Eve is a night without sleep. It is a celebration that goes all the way until Christmas morning.
• As December 24 dawns, the Noche Buena feast begins.