Homemade Pizza Crust

The pizza crust that they sell in the refrigerator section of Mercadona is great in a pinch, but if you have a little extra time why not make your own? It is a real treat and much faster and easier than you probably imagine.

Homemade Pizza

Ingredients:

3 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 package yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm water (120º to 130º F or 50º to 55º C) I use a meat thermometer I bought in the United States to measure the temperature.
2 tablespoons olive oil

This is the yeast that I use:

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl combine 1 1/4 cups of the flour, yeast and salt. Add the warm water and olive oil.  Mix it together very well with a spoon, add the remaining two cups of flour and mix together until well blended.  With the dough hooks knead the dough together for about five minutes adding as much extra flour as needed to form a nice, stiff dough.  (you can also knead by hand on a floured surface if desired.)

Divide the dough in half, place on a lightly floured surface, cover with plastic wrap and let rest for ten minutes.

Grease a baking sheet with olive oil, place one of the dough halves on the baking sheet and with the palm of your hand pound the dough into a thin, circle shape.  Top with sauce (I love the jarred tomato with oregano and basil pasta sauce from Mercadona), toppings and cheese. Bake in a preheated 425º oven (220ºC) until the cheese is brown and bubbly, about 12 minutes.

Easy and delicious!

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

Recipe: White chocolate macadamia nut cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (125 g.) butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup finely minced coconut flakes
1 egg
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 ounces (3 - 75 g. bars) white chocolate, chopped into small pieces
1 cup macadamia nuts, chopped

Directions:

Cream together the butter and sugar, then add the coconut, egg, milk and vanilla and mix well.

Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt, and mix together with the electric mixer until a dough is formed.

Mix in the white chocolate and macadamia nuts.

Drop by spoonfuls onto a baking sheet. Bake in a 300º oven ( 150º C) for 12-14 minutes. They should be starting to brown around the edges but be soft in the center.

Enjoy!

Apple Coffee Cake recipe

Apple Coffee Cake

2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 apples, peeled and finely chopped (food processor works great!)
1 egg
1/2 cup applesauce (I used one container of baby applesauce)
1/4 cup chopped walnuts

1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon (15 grams) butter
1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Butter and flour a 9-inch round baking pan.

Mix together the dry ingredients (2/3 cup flour, 1/2 cup whole wheat flour, baking soda, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, salt and granulated sugar).  Add the finely chopped apple, the egg, the applesauce and 1/4 cup chopped walnuts and stir until combined.  Pour into the prepared pan.

Mix together the brown sugar, the 1 tablespoon flour, the 1 tablespoon whole wheat flour and the 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.  Cut in the butter and stir in 1/4 cup chopped walnuts. Sprinkle over the batter.

Bake for 30-35 minutes in a 350º (175ºC) oven until a wooden toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

Help needed for young Roma students

The U.S. Embassy  has given a grant to the Fundacion Secretariado Gitano-FSG to fund the program “Aulas Promociona Inglés” – roughly translated as “Classes to get a Passing Grade in English”, which aims to provide a foundation of English language skills to disadvantaged Roma students through after-school intensive remedial classes and activities.   FSG is a respected Spanish NGO, active since the 1960s, whose mission is to promote the access of Roma to rights, services, goods and social resources on an equal footing with the rest of the population and on the basis of respect and support for their cultural identity.
 
This is a great opportunity to teach these young people about U.S. culture and to develop a deeper understanding of American society.  Protecting and promoting the human rights of Roma is a priority of the United States.  The Obama administration has repeatedly expressed the US commitment to work with civil society groups and governments to make a real difference in the lives of Roma.  Despite some significant progress over the past decade, many Roma still live in Spain on the margins of society.  This program is intended to give young Roma students the opportunity to have a better and brighter future, encouraging them to continue their studies, and providing them with skills that can make them more competitive in the work force.  

Last year, two Fullbright English Teaching Assistants based in Madrid participated in the program, which was held only in Madrid.  This year we are expanding the program to also include Valencia and are looking for three volunteers.  There is a small honorarium to support their efforts.  Here are some details:

Program Description:

·         Student Selection: A maximum of 40 Roma students’ participants will be selected by the FSG among 11-16 year olds Roma primary and secondary education students.   The students will be tested to check their level of English in order to group them accordingly and provide them with an individualized attention.  The Teachers will coordinate their work with a FSG Counselor/coordinator, a key element of the program as he/she will be in close contact both with the school and the students’ families to ensure that the students attend class and take full advantage of the program.  Classes will promote the students’ active participation and values such as team work and gender equality.

·         Facilities:  The After-school classes will take place at the FSG local premises in Valencia and a two schools holding a large percentage of Roma population according to the following schedule:

CLASSES LOCATION	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY
FSG Valencia	Group 2 17:00 to 18:00 7th to 10thgraders 12 students		Group 2 17:00 to 18:00 7th to 10thgraders 12 students	Group 1 17:00 to 18:00 5th and 6th graders 8 students
Santiago Apostol School			Group 3 15:00 to 16:00 7th to 10thgraders 10 students	Group 3 15:00 to 16:00 7th to 10thgraders 10 students
CEIP Les Arenes	Group 4 16:30 to 17:30 7th to 10thgraders 10 students	Group 4 16:30 to 17:30 7th to 10thgraders 10 students

Each group will be composed by a maximum of 12 students to ensure quality and individualized attention.  Evaluation will be constant to ensure the positive impact of the remedial courses and make decisions about revising its contents or methodology.  Classrooms will be equipped with at least two computers with Internet access.

·         Budget

- Honorarium – One Teacher FSG Valencia (3 hours/week/7.5 months)    2,520€  -  Monthly payment will be 336€ for 3 teaching hours plus 3 hours for preparation and assessment

- Honorarium – One Teacher Santiago Apostol School (2 hours/week/7.5 months) 1,680€  -  Monthly payment will be 224€ for 2 teaching hours plus 2 hours for preparation and assessment

            - Honorarium – One Teacher Les Arenes Primary School (2 hours/week/7.5 months) 1,680€  -  Monthly payment will be 224€ for 2 teaching hours plus 2 hours for preparation assessment

·         Dates: October 14 2013 to May 31^st, 2014  

If you are interested in volunteering please contact the American Club of Valencia: americanclubvalencia@gmail.com

Thanksgiving Dinner

We are pleased to invite everyone to join us for an authentic Thanksgiving meal! 

Where: Portland Alehouse, Calle Salamanca, 10
When: Sunday, November 18th
Time: 1:30 PM
Price: Adults 13 and up: 18 euros
          Kids 3-12: 10 euros
          Kids under three are free

The menu will include:
Turkey
Honey baked smoked ham
Potatoes and turkey gravy
Dressing made with ham and mushrooms
Sweet potatoes
Cranberry sauce
Green Beans

Bread

Assorted Desserts

Please note that this price does not include beverages. Drinks can be purchased for a reasonable price at the bar.

We are assuming kids will be eating from this same menu, but there will also be pasta with tomato sauce as a kids' option.

We need to know if you will be attending by Friday November 16th. Although everyone is to pay at the door, we need to know your attendance ahead of time, Please RSVP to americanclubvalencia@gmail.com

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Book Release Party

Ranabooks is hosting the book release party for Dana Gynther’s novel, “Crossing on the Paris”, a work of Historical Fiction which takes place on an ocean liner in 1921 (Simon & Schuster).   The author is from the US, but is a long time resident of Valencia and has worked at American Institute as an English teacher for nearly 20 years.  The party will be on Saturday, November 24^th, from 7-9pm. Cocktails and tapas will be served. 

Ranabooks is an English language bookstore located just off of Avda. Reino de Valencia
http://www.ranabooks.es/

Halloween Party

Come Celebrate Halloween with the American Club of Valencia

When:  Sunday October 28th at 1:00 PM

Where:  Andy’s Farm 

Directions are as follows: Unfortunately there is no address for GPS

From Castellon take AP 7 towards Valencia and get off at the exit for Ademuz /Feria (the first one after Bétera).  Bear immediately to the right towards Ademuz. And keep straight on the autovia towards Ademuz and Lliria.
Exit at Olocau and Marines (Exit A25). 

From Valencia take the CV-35, the Pista de Ademuz, straight to Lliria.
Exit at Olocau and Marines.

From both directions (Castellon and Valencia) once at the turn off mentioned above follow that road (passing on your right the Parque San Vicente) and also passing Marines on your left where there is a roundabout with a petrol station. Keep straight on towards Olocau.  You will pass the polideportivo on your right. At the next roundabout turn right towards Más de Capellá and follow the dirt track for 1 km until you come to the farm on your right. There is a big drawing of pigs on the wall.

Very Important:  We are very thankful and fortunate that once again Andy MacLeod is hosting the party this year at his farm.  Andy´s farm is completely disease-free
so it is very important that we obey his 2 requests:

• We must stay in the designated area for the party. No wandering off to see
  the pigs.
• Everybody must wipe their feet, children and adults on a non-toxic sponge
  pad before entering the farm. Therefore, do not wear sandals, Your feet will
  get wet.

 What to Bring:  

• This year we will be having a pot luck dinner again.  Please bring an appetizer, side dish, or dessert to be shared.  Each person, couple or family should bring an item.  If you are inviting anyone to the party please make sure they bring a dish as well.  Remember to provide a serving utensil for your dish if needed.  Very important, please bring enough food as all will come hungry.  Also, we would also like to ask each family to bring one package of hotdog buns.  The club will be providing hotdogs.

• Please bring a bottle of soda pop, a brick of juice and or water.  Bring all drinks chilled to share. If you wish to drink alcohol you are also welcome to bring your own and may want to bring a small cooler. 

• We also ask that you bring a bag or 2 of individually wrapped candy to be given out to the kids for tick or treating and  all children should bring a plastic pumpkin or bag for when they trick or treat

• If you would like to share a carved pumpkin you have made we would love to see it and use it as a decoration for the party, this is optional of course. 

• Because we have limited chairs you may want to bring your own and are welcome to bring a folding table as well to be used.

• Everyone dress up please: There will be adult and children prizes!

Price:  3 Euros per person or 12 Euros per family. If you are a couple and have more than 2 kids the price will only be 12 Euros.  All other family members such as cousins will need to pay the 3 Euros.  Children under 2 years of age are free.

RSVP  by email: americanclubvalencia@gmail.com  We will need to know not only how many will be attending but if you will be bringing a side dish, appetizer or dessert.  

***We still need more volunteers for the party.  Please let us know if you can help.  We look forward to seeing you all there!***