Greek Picture Book Sample Pages

During the summer, I spent some time writing several Greek picture books for The Greek American Preschool at Saint Paraskevi. The reason I wrote these books was to help students develop some Greek sight words by using repetitive text. I used pictures and words that our students are already familiar with and incorporated them into picture books. These books are used to teach our students how to read and also help build their self esteem. Our students feel a sense of pride that they are able to read a book in Greek. After the book has been read a few times during class, each student gets to bring the book home. Then, they read it with their parents and draw their favorite part of the story. At the end of the year, I will be compiling all of their pictures in a class book that each child will be bringing home.

Class is in session at The Greek American Preschool at Saint Paraskevi. The children are learning so much. We have 20 students this year and are starting a traditional Greek dance group Friday evenings. I am very excited for a fun a productive school year!

Nouno Yiannis at Halloween

We love our Koumbaro. He dressed up on Halloween as Batman. The boys had a blast!.

Easy Karidopita Cake

My husband and I will be baptizing yet another beautiful baby. We feel so blessed. Last week we were going over to see the baby and the boys and I made an awesome karidopita. It was so easy too. Here is the recipe.

3/4 cup walnuts very roughly chopped
2 1/2 cups finely grated walnuts
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 stick of butter
8 eggs
2 teaspoons baking powder
3 teaspoons cinnamon
5 tablespoons cognac
1 tablespoon bread crumbs

For the Syrup
2 cups sugar
3 cups water

Preparation
Beat the butter, sugar, cinnamon the yolks of the eggs in a mixer for 10 minutes.
Transfer the mixture to a bowl.
Clean the mixer bowl and beat the whites of the eggs in the mixer until it becomes a meringue.
Add half of the meringue to the yolk mixture.
Mix the baking powder with the 2 1/2 cups grated walnuts, gradually adding the flour.
Add this mixture to the egg yolk mixture along with the remaining meringue, stirring gently.
Transfer the whole mixture to a 13 by 9 pan which has been well buttered, and the bread crumbs sprinkled over the bottom.
Spread the 3/4 cup roughly chopped walnuts on top.
Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, put the sugar and water in a pan and boil for 15 minutes.
Pour the hot syrup over the the cool cake
Now the cognac.

So good! Let me knwo how it came out!

My Koumbaro Yiannis writes books about Spiderman, Batman ect. Whenever a new book is published he always comes over with copies for the preschool and my sons. He sits and reads the books to my boys over and over again. He even translates some parts into Greek. We are so proud of him!

Attached is the fall classes flyer. I can't wait for another productive year! Thank you everyone! I feel so blessed to be a part of this program. Thank you Agia Paraskevi for giving me this opportunity.