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Kiki’s Corner: Grandchildren’s weekend

(Kiki's Corner by Kiki Angelos - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

Have you heard the expression “if I knew how much fun grandchildren were, I would have had them first?” Well, I truly believe that for sure I love being a grandmother since day one and I’m sure you agree with me. Our first grandchild was a boy back 21 years ago and then the mold broke and we got seven granddaughters one after the other.

It was so much fun babysitting and seeing them grow day by day to watch them eat baby food and see the expressions they made trying new veggies and trying to convince them that it is delicious. I knew better especially when they tried the spinach. It looks so horrible I knew it was good for them but opening the jar it smelled so yuck and I was expecting for my grandchild to eat it. LOL.

I will never forget their first steps and first words. I can close my eyes and see them playing and laughing at the same time, I was trying to teach them little Greek songs and how to do their cross in Church.

How exciting it was to see them develop and watch each one be a happy and healthy child with their own personality. At the same time, two or three came from the same parents but they were so different. Of course, I have told you before I can’t imagine how boring the world would have been if we were all the same.

We are all so SPECIAL because we are so different, and that is the reason we love them all the same regardless of their abilities.

One sad thing, those adorable babies that we shared everything with from day one, don’t stay babies very long. It seems like overnight they grew up and they are teenagers except our last one and she will be a teenager in a couple years.

I love them all, and I try to pay attention to each one and listen to them and advise them separately or together. So we have one granddaughter that will be going into middle school this year, three in high school and four in college. How can it be possible, what happened to those little ones, I can’t figure out how fast they grew.

So this past weekend I had them all for a sleepover weekend. It was so much fun, I enjoyed every minute of them. We laughed and cooked and shared stories after stories. I try my best to share family traditions. Francis brought out the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” to make sure that everybody watched it and we all laughed because we do so many similar things in our family like they did in the movie. LOL.

I cooked before they came and cooked the whole time they were here because I asked them ahead of time what they had missed from Grandma’s (Yiayia’s) kitchen.

Knowing that soon they will probably not be coming to spend the night and bring their pillows and favorite stuffed animals and blankets, and to me it will be very sad.

All night they were laughing and making TikTok and before they knew it was 4 a.m. But I had invited the rest of the family for breakfast so I knew I had to get up early, to prepare pancakes and French toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, fruit of all kinds, feta cheese, bagels, jams and variety of juices and milk, and several Greek specialties, so they called it “Yiayia Kiki’s Breakfast buffet.” LOL!

Life is always good when you share it with family and especially with grandchildren! We did go to the Belpre Homecoming, after we came home I surprise them with homemade Greek donut holes that I had to make right then and drizzle with homemade honey syrup, and they had a choice of the Greek donut holes or brownie ice cream sundaes with chocolate syrup and sprinkles.

Big Decision!

But trust me, besides all that I always find time to preach about family traditions, religion, church, praying, generosity, caring and be kind to others and always tell them to make sure they make the right decisions in their lives and to stay away from bad temptations.

SAVE THE DATE

* West Virginia Symphony Leaque-Parkersburg, we are having our annual membership meeting at the new Resiliency Center on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 6 p.m. with delicious appetizers and refreshments prepared by the league members and entertainment, also a tour of the beautiful building.

* The West Virginia Symphony Leaque-Parkersburg is getting ready for our annual biggest fundraiser that you don’t want to miss, the Fashion Show on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 6 p.m. at the Parkersburg Art Center!

So mark your calendar, more information to come as it gets closer.

Till next week.

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TERIYAKI BEEF STRIPS

1 1/2 pounds top sirloin steak cut thin in 1/4 inch strips

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon accent

1/4 teaspoon spoon pepper

1 teaspoon ground ginger

2 cloves garlic minced

2 tablespoons Wesson oil

Thread meat strips accordion style on wooden skewers. Place in large Pyrex dish. Combine remaining ingredients for sauce, stir and pour over beef strips. Marinade covered in refrigerator for six hours or longer, steering occasionally. Allow meat to marinate at room temperature one hour before cooking. Drain and save sauce, broil over hot coals for 5 to 6 minutes basting with sauce, turn once, serve immediately. Serves 6 to 8 people.

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HOT CHIPPED BEEF DIP

1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

11 ounces cream cheese softened

2 tablespoons of milk

1 (21/2 ounce) jar, dried beef

1/4 cup chopped green pepper

1 small onion, grated

Pepper

1 cup sour cream

Oven toast pecans in butter and salt, mix cream cheese, milk, beef, green pepper, onion, and pepper. Fold in sour cream and half of the nuts, place in baking dish and sprinkle remaining nuts on top. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes. Serve in chafing dish with Melba rounds.

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