Poland- part 1

77 years ago my great grandparents left their everything for a new life. 14 Years ago my family, my immediate family embarked on a journey. 12 years ago I embarked on a personal journey.

Today, I reminded myself

About the journeys I started 14 & 12years ago. 

Check how one goes from happiness to sadness. On one side of the world is all happiness, the circle has been completed. Dad became an American! Could not been more happy! All the hard work, al the efforts had paid off.

If my great grandparents would not have decided to leave just in time today we would not be here, would

Not be able to celebrate.

On the other side of the world, here I am, sitting in the middle of Treblinkax. There is over 200 people here and you do not hear a single soul. You hear the wind blowing, the trees moving, some birds cheeping, but there is not a single sounds. The sun makes his way out in within the clouds showing that there is a light, that there is always something to look forward too, that in every bad moment, there is a ray of light.

Today I been remind of who you are and where we come from.

12 years ago I participated in the Taglit-Birthright Israel trip and March of The Living to Poland and Israel. I went to the camps, I witnessed the horrific nightmares that the nazis made OUR family, OUR people feel. I had promised my self to come back, to be able to share, to talk, to feel, to empower others.

Today I am back, I am here, I am in Treblinka a place I had never felt, a place I had wished no one would ever have to feel.

Today, I am back.

As bad or unimaginable as it could be just picture 16,000 Jews in Auschwitz to say never again, to say WE are here and WE are standing strong.

Friends+ asado+ Alfajores= fun times

Alfajor de maizena y cubanitos

Nothing is more Argentinean that an Alfajor and an Asado. When combining the two becomes the perfect setting to share with friends and have a good time and eat great food.

Spent an entire afternoon reading Nucha and Doña Petrona cooking books. Combine and tweak both recipes and came out with this soft, savory and yummy alfajor. 

Ingredients:

• 140 grams Butter
• 2 egg yolks
• 40 grams of All purpose flour
• 80 gr of Sugar
• 1 tbsp of water
• Orange zest
• 300 gr of Corn Starch
• 150 gr of chocolate

Instructions:

1. Combine butter, orange zest, corn starch, sugar, and flour in food processor until dough is form.
2. Add the egg yolks and water. 
3. Mix until dough is form
4. Place dough in refrigerator for an hour
5. Using a rolling pin stretch the dough.
6. Using a round cookie cutter of no more of 6 cm of diameter make cookies
7. Place a parchment sheet on the tray
8. Cook for 10 minutes at 335 F
9.  Let cool down for 30 minutes
10.  Using a pastry bag, place dulce De Leche and put it on the cookie.
11.  For the conitos: Melt chocolate in 30 secs intervals in the mirowave. Dip cookie with dulce de leche and then let cool down.

Old flavors new taste

On February 2001, my dad left Argentina with the hopes of building a new life, full of benefits, better quality, in United Stated.

The rest of us, mom, brothers, and myself, left in june 2001. Life here, in Miami has been a roller coaster. Work has been hard, meeting new people and making freinds a challenge, learning the way a country functions even a greater challenge. But nothing has brought us, the Naparstek family down.

As every immigrant, we also has a story share when it comes to the "immigrations papers". Fourteens years ago becoming a US citizen was a dream, was a light at the end of the tunnel that we were not even able to see, imagine, or think off.

We took little, even tiny steps. Everyday was a challenge, everyday was a mistery, everyday was unique, but we knew we wanted to be here, we knew that together life is better, and we were hopeful that things were going to happen, and ONE DAY all pieces of the puzzle will come together.

That day came. It was April 2. After 14 years all of 5 of us are American Citizens. Who would have thought?

Grandparents (3 out of 4) were Polish, my parents and us were Argentinean, and just like that one day we are American. 3 generations, 3 nationalities. Who would have said!

To honor dad, his work, his efforts, and his vision we made him his favorite dessert: Sambayon


Ingredients:

• 8 yolks
• 10 tbsp of sugar
• 1 tsp of corn starch
• 1 cup of milk
• 1 egg white with to form stiff peaks 
• 12 tbsp of Oporto wine
• 200 ml of heavy whipping cream

Steps

1. Using a double boiler (make sure water does not touch upper bowl) mix egg yolks, sugar, milk, and corn starch. Stirring constantly until well mixed (around 8 minutes)
2. Add to egg whites mixing from bottom to top.
3. Let cool down. 
4. Whip the heavy whipping cream until you get soft peaks.
5. Add to the mixture.
6. Put on freezer for 5 hours.
7. Once ice cream in hard, cut into smaller pieces. Using a blender put the ice cream there for 2 minutes.
8. After an hour is ready to serve

Enjoy!