Heart of Gold

I’ve not yet dedicated a post to this very special person in my life. But tonight I feel that I must.

I want to introduce to you my Yaya. She is my paternal grandmother and the matriarch of my big fat Greek family.

This past October she celebrated her 93rd birthday. That’s right NINETY-THREE!

She was born in 1915 in New Jersey to Greek immigrants who were in the chocolate manufacturing business. (Oh how I wish that was still the family business!)

She married Papou (my grandfather) in 1938.

She’s the mother of three, the Yaya to 8, and the Great-Yaya to 10.

There is so much more I could tell you about her, but I am choosing to share her in photos:

Summer 2008

The Princess and her name sake

Her kids: Nick (my father), Yaya, Maria, George

My brother’s graduation from the Naval Academy 2000

Yaya with almost all of her grandkids at her 90th birthday

Yaya with all the great-grand kids

Yaya and me on her 90th birthday

And the reason I want you to meet her?? Tomorrow at 7:30am this woman with a heart of gold will be undergoing open heart surgery to replace a bad valve in her heart.

Believe me, I KNOW how crazy it sounds to operate on the heart of a 93 year old woman. I do!

However, surgery is not an option. If the valve is not replaced she would spend the rest of her life in the hospital.

I am asking for everyone here to lift up Yaya in your prayers as she undergoes this surgery and as she recovers.

Please pray for the entire Greek family.

Pray for the doctors, nurses and everyone else who will be caring for her.

My heart is heavy tonight, and I think I can say the same for the rest of the family.

I know God is in control of this situation.

One Bible verse comes to my mind:

1 Peter 5:7,

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

The GRITS family will be leaving early Friday to spend the weekend with my family. Thank you for your prayers and I will keep you posted.

‘Fro Me to You – Christmas Pageant

I bring to you week 3 of my ‘Fro Me to You Christmas spectacle spectacular.

Once again brought to you by our dear Texas hostess with the mostest, Kristen over at We are THAT family.

This week’s photo comes from 1976. Which might make you think of star-spangled celebrations in honor of our great country’s 200th birthday celebration. Of course, it might not remind you of anything since you weren't born......sheesh, don't rub it in either.

It’s ok to think those things; however, from here on out, I want you to think of the Greek Orthodox Christmas Pageant of ‘76.

Think of children dressed as angels (who ought not be), shepherds, and lambs sitting on a stage covered with hay. And said children surrounding the precious baby Jesus in a manger!

Now close your eyes and go to your happy place and envision such beauty.

Are you there?? Can you see the sweet children dressed as in the day of Jesus?? Do you see the lambs too??

Did you envision something like this:

I thought so.

What???

Me???

OHHHH, you want to know which one is me….. seriously, you can’t find me without help.

OK, fine.

Yes, yes….there I am in my angelic glory, the rosy cheeked one 2nd from the left. The cute little blonde in the middle would be my little sister! I think my twin sister is peeking at the right middle edge of photo.

So, if somebody asks you what the first thing that comes to your mind when they say 1976….don’t say “bicentennial”. The answer should be “the best little Greek Christmas pageant ever”.

To see many more photos that have never graced the pages of any scrapbook, click here to head over the Kristen’s site. If you’re new here, dig out those photos and join in the Thursday fun!

Merry Christmas ‘Fro Me to You!!!!

Food Critic Numero Uno

I’d like to think my skills as a food critic began way back in my college days. Perhaps, Teresa would be willing to share and verify this memory.

I don’t like to brag, but I am almost positive I was solely responsible for Rick, the dining hall manager, removing all comment cards from the premises.

I didn’t want to shut down the only place to eat on campus, I just wanted change. I wanted my newly found “voice” to be heard.

You must agree there is something inherently wrong with ham that is served in a tray whilst submerged under a watery liquid. And wouldn’t you say that pimento’s sprinkled in every vegetable for “presentation” is a bit much.

My ability to critique food has only improved as time has gone by.

Which brings me to my most recent restaurant critique.

Imagine the excitement and palpitations I experienced as I saw the Greek flag flying outside a newly renovated restaurant that is less than 2 miles from my house.

I watched and waited….and this weekend the sign went up. NOW OPEN!

And tonight was the night…..the night I realized I am a Greek food snob.

If there is such a thing. I feel certain there is and I am.

The food was just all right with me. The portions were VERY small for the price they charged. I had to send my lamb back because when I cut into it the meat it actually baa’d. Really.

The menu selections were quite limited.

The kids menu, nonexistent. Although, they did charge kids entrees half price. But when the entree is almost $20 that a kids meal for $10!! Which is too much $$$$.

I’m not sure a mason jars over wall sconces are an official Greek accent. Might I suggest a few more white Corinthian columns spattered throughout. Or perhaps a few white statues in togas and definitely some Greek music playing just to help out with the ambiance.

Now for a few tips, you know, in case the owners happen to read my blog because they searched google for authentic Greek restaurant tips.

(Dad, you may want to look away now, because you may find all this shocking).

Contrary to popular opinion, Greek folks do not eat buttered Texas Toast spattered with oregano all over it as an appetizer.

Also, we do not traditionally eat Tsatsiki – the yogurt cucumber dip- on EVERY thing that comes to the table, especially spanikopita. It’s just wrong.

As best I know, HUMMUS is not a Greek dish, although I do love it. And when you serve it as a side dish, you need something for it to be spread on. And not the afore mentioned Greek style Texas Toast.

Last but not least, a “Greek pastry variety plate” for $3.99 should have more than 4 thumb sized pastries on your ginourmous green melamine plate. It should include baklava stacked in the shape of a the acropolis! Just my opinion.

MUCH to my dismay, I got a two for one trip tonight to our new “Greek” restaurant….my first trip and my last trip.

Mr. GRITS is willing to give it one more try. I’m out. With this Greek girl, you only get one shot to wow me.

I give the place 6 months.

And I’d be willing to bet this restaurant is not owned by anybody with a name ending in –opoulos or any other vowel filled name.

This Greek food critic is over and out. OPA!

Greek Goodness

Despite crazy gas prices, we threw caution to the wind and took a trip to the Birmingham Greek Festival. We left our city filled with crazy Alabama football fans and headed to the food fest.

Since Alabama and Auburn were playing night games, we thought the festival might be less crowded. Not! I think everybody and their Greek brother thought the same thing. So we waited in line to purchase our food tickets. But let me tell you it was well worth the wait. Because one thing Greek folks know how to do is COOK some food.

The hubby went with the Souvlaki (shish kabob lamb), I had the Pastichio (Greek style macaroni/cheese/beef ), and the kids both had the basic Greek chicken and rice pilaf. Each plate was served with a Greek salad and roll. The food was soooooo good.

While enjoying our meal, we were entertained by children doing traditional Greek dancing. My kids were highly disappointed that no plates were broken during the dancing. The hubby put that idea into their head. I had to inform Mr. Smarty Pants that I have not once seen a plate broken at any Greek function in my entire life, that I remember.

There was a shopping area with several Greek items. The Princess chose a Greek hip scarf, which is a LOUD scarf:

Lego-Man chose a Greek flag to hang in his room.

My husband was quite pleased when he found a T-shirt with this logo:

It completely verified the existence of a secret society that he firmly believes my family and I belong to.

Now he thinks just because he can throw a Greek fisherman’s hat on he can become a full fledged member.

Sorry, dear, I’m not teaching you the secret handshake or knock. Nor will I reveal the location of my secret decoder ring. I took an oath during Greek school and I’m a Greek woman of my word.

No Greek festival is complete without the goodness of traditional pastries. Unfortunately they were out of my favorite cookie, kourambethes, which is also known as a Greek wedding cookie. So, we all settled for my other favorite pastry, baklava.

Here’s where I have a little beef with my sisters in Greekness. Not only did they offer traditional baklava, they had chocolate dipped baklava. WHAT?! Even though I’m quite the chocolate lover, traditional baklava should NOT be dipped in it. No how. No way. Was there a vote taken or did somebody slip this past the Greek pope? I am almost sure that my Yaya, who was the queen of baklava, would not approve.

Before we took our traditional and not so traditional baklava home we toured the beautiful church.

The entire GRITS clan enjoyed getting in touch with their Greek side, except the hubby, he has no Greek side. He just married into it, mafia and all.

"There are two kinds of people - Greeks, and everyone else who wish they was Greek." --Gus Portokalas in My Big Fat Greek Wedding

OPA!