Season's books for children

You have an idea for many years,you turn it in your mind over and over and one glorious day you start to execute this brilliant idea.

You see I have the most precious memory's of growing up, loving,tender memories,memories that warm my heart every time I think about my youth.

My wonderful parents are the reason,my father a simple man,with so much love for his little girls,and my mother a wonderful woman every child's dream mom.

They were the perfect team,one complimented the other and the outcome was so incredible for the little girls.

The Season's books are 4 hard cover books and the collection revolves around each and every season and the gifts they bring along year after year.

Winter a time for Chestnuts.

Spring Trees in Bloom

Summer the Magic Blanket

Autumn the In Between Season

Every book a little box of treasured memories and a lesson in finding contentment in the simple things of life.

Nature is filled with little miracles,like the colorful butterflies and the swallows that love to make their nests in the roof of my house and how they never forget to come to the same nest time after time!

The almond tree in full bloom and all the trees in that majestic stage are a true gift that should be enjoyed and we as parents have the privilege to give our young ones the opportunity to taste and see how wonderful nature is.

The collection of the 4 books will be available soon.

They are on their way to the books stores.Look for them at Amazon,ask for them at Barns and Noble .
Look for them at my site. http://hummingbirdpublications.com/

 

Little treasures! Lace and spice and everything nice

“Karidata” or Walnut sweets were my find in my last visit to Greece.

It never fails to amaze me that every corner of this beloved country has something different to offer.

Every place I visit I am like a little flavor detective always asking what the specialty of the place is and I always come away with something new and delicious.

Arahova is a wonderful mountainous city a very popular spot with Greek people and tourists as well.

It is a winter destination for the local people, because of the ski resort, the wonderful stone houses that blend so well with the landscape, the dairy products and all the home-made little treasures that the local women are very famous for.

Karidata is a very popular delicacy among other things. I love Boukitses (delicious little bites) done with all kinds of nuts and this one made with Walnuts I adore.

I also love them because they are so easy to do. They keep well and you can have something available all the time for the unexpected friend that drops by.

Greek ladies are very resourceful, no matter what the season they will find ways to work with the products of the land and create delicious little bites.

Their hands are always busy, producing wonderful lace, making preserves, cooking, baking and they enrich our lives in an amazing way.

Oh! How I love to spend time with women that are gifted and I can learn from them, their little secrets are so valuable to me!

Here is my recipe for Karidata!

Have fun!

Litsa!

Karidata: The wonderful taste of Greece.

Bake at 325 for 15 min.

1 pound Walnuts (ground)

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup bread crumbs

4 egg whites (large eggs)

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground cloves

The zest of 1 orange

2 tbsp liqueur Tia Maria

Icing sugar for dusting

Place all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix very well with your hands.

Place baking paper on your cookie sheet.

Make small crescents and bake.

While still warm dust with icing sugar

I welcome your comments and please visit our official site.

http://hummingbirdpublications.com/

http://litsab.wordpress.com/

Edo Montreal

http://greek-taste.com/

Edo Montreal

Litsa Bolontzakis,Author of "Take the taste of Greece with you" and "Boukia Boukia" 2 wonderful books about Greek cooking and entertaining is very Happy to announce that she is a part of Edo Montreal the TV program that focuses on the life of the Greek community of Montreal.


A delightful Hour full of excitement and useful information.

Entertaining with Litsa,at Edo Montreal,Sundays at 6:30 and Tuesdays at 2:00

PARIS JULY 1 2009

PARIS JULY 1 2009: .-CANADA WINS IN PARIS!

Canada wins 6 medals this year at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards against 10 last year.

102 countries entered books.
The best in the world winner this year is for Foreign Cookery, encouraging one of the many small independent publishers from Canada, who manages to be well distributed internationally:
- Take the Taste of Greece with You
Litsa Bolontzakis ,
(Humming Bird Publications)

Litsa Bolontzakis published Boukia Boukia in Greece. She can be considered as one of the builders of the cultural bridge between Greece and Canada.

There were 26 countries competing in this category.

In this picture excepting the award by Mr Cointreau junior.

PARIS JULY 1 2009

PARIS JULY 1 2009:

Taking it all in and really enjoying the event.
The Comedie Francaise theatre was packed to capacity
 with 800 guests from all over the world!
What a great privilege was to be able to attend.!
Many thanks to the Gourmand group and especially to
Mr Edouard Cointreau for being such a  gracious host.
Litsa!

GREECE WINS IN PARIS!
Two books from Greece won Best in the World at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.
The first (ladies first!) is from Canada, by Greek author Lisa Bolontzakis with a perfect title:
- Take the Taste of Greece with You
Litsa Bolontzakis
(Humming Bird Publications)
Litsa Bolontzakis published Boukia Boukia in Greece. She can be considered as one of the builders of the cultural bridge between Greece and Canada.
It gets the award for Best Foreign Cookery Book in the world. It is an excellent book, with an outstanding international marketing, which is unusual for small publishers. All small publishers should see how it is done, and search all international distributors for this book"

YouTube - Greek Island Skopelos,Mamma Mia movie Location

YouTube - Greek Island Skopelos,Mamma Mia movie Location

Almond cookies

2 cups butter unsalted (room temperature)
1 ½ cups sugar
2 eggs
5 ½ cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp almond extract
3 cups crushed almonds
1 egg for the egg wash

Place butter in mixer bowl and beat adding the sugar gradually until nice and creamy about 3 min.
Add the eggs and continue beating.
Replace the beaters with the paddle and add the almonds and the dry ingredients and knead until you have firm dough.
Take about 2 tbsp. of the dough in your hands and form into round balls, flatten and with a cookie cutter cut into the shape you like.
Place in a pan with parchment paper apply egg wash and bake in preheated oven at 350 for 15-20 minutes.
Let cool and enjoy them with a nice cup of coffee.
Love Litsa!