Hey it sounds like Rich and I are the only ones keeping up the traditions of our ancestors. Rich I made piggies for a beach party one Sunday. The cultures were mixed. It was comprised of English (UK), Scots, French, West Indians and of course the 3 Americans.(My boys and I). Those piggies went like mad. (The foreigners especially the French and West Indians usually snub anything with ground beef. I mix my ground beef with ground pork. It turns out really good.) My youngest sons friends always want to come over our house for dinner because I make foods that they have never dreamed of let alone heard of. I even make Phili cheese steaks. You should see how these West Indian guys go for them. Baked ziti is another fav. They make dishes here like mac and cheese, bar-b-que chicken, bar-b-que pig tails etc. They also eat dishes like green fig (green bananas) with chicken backs in a coconut sauce. I make a killer mac and cheese. Once you taste it you'll never make our normal mac and cheese again. Dorothy, don't you make all these great foods??? Lee, didn't Terri learn from her mother? Lee, eating Mrs T's is sacreligious. I'm sure Sister Heloise is going to come after you with her pointer. *laughter* When our girls come home the first foods they ask for are piggies, halushki, pierogies and baked ziti or lasanga. Roast beef our way (American), then they hit the West Indian foods.

Rich we are coming home about the 18th of Dec and leaving on the 5th of Jan. It would thrill my boys and my husband to be able to be in any seats at the Bucs game. Like I said, when we first moved to Florida, we lived in New Port Richey. Not a great place, but surburban enough along with being close to Tampa. We have been great Bucs fans since. I am a bit annoyed since they let Tony Dungey go. I wasn't impressed with the one huge pre-season loss. But we'll see how they turn out this season.

I'll be coming down to Tampa to see a good friend. I would love to be able to meet up with you. And I would be most grateful to get any tickets to the game on the 23rd of Dec. It's the only Bucs home game playing during the time we will be home.

My parents spoke Lithuiaian. I can only remember a few words. Of course you can all imagine what I can remember.

Rich it appears we will need to organize a Eastern European food reunion with cooking demos and classes for all and sundry who don't make our ethnic foods! I have been looking around for some recipies for kielbossi. My husband has never tasted fresh kielbossi. Or homemade horseradish with red beets. If I could grow horseradish here I would. I'm hoping to get a root for when I arrive in Orlando and I am going to get everyone involved in grating it and learning how to do it. My girls already know how to make halushki, pierogies etc. We still follow the 7 dishes on the table with no meat for Christmas Eve. My daughters and I make the pierogies either a few days before or fresh Christmas Eve morning. It is a great tradition and they can now pass on the recipies to their children.

I also make nutroll. I can't make poppyseed because I can't get it here. And Italian cookies. Again, when I make nutroll or Italian cookies, my husband can't keep his hands off of them. I always end up making one loaf of nutroll for him to eat that night. He even happily grinds the walnuts and grates fresh coconut for me. It turns out superb.

If any of you want recipies for any of these foods email me and I will send them. I may even be enticed to video tape or web cam a class.

Jay you forgot to include a stop at your home for spiedies!