Recipe: Perfectly Plum Elixir

Fun-Da-Mentals Kitchen Skills

• mash :

  to reduce food, like potatoes or bananas, to a soft, pulpy state by beating or pressure.

• measure :

  to calculate the specific amount of an ingredient required using a measuring tool (like measuring cups or spoons).

• stir :

  to mix together two or more ingredients with a spoon or spatula, usually in a circle pattern, or figure eight, or in whatever direction you like!

Let's Learn About Romania!

• Romania is a country in Southeastern Europe. Ukraine is on its northeast border, Moldova is to the east, Hungary to the west, Serbia is southwest, Bulgaria is south, and the Black Sea is on its southwest border. 
• Bucharest is the capital and largest city in Romania. The official language is Romanian. Several other European languages are also recognized in the country. 
• Romania belongs to the European Union; however, its currency is still the Romanian "leu." They plan to adopt the "euro" in 2029. 
• Romania's total area is 92,046 square miles, the 12th largest country in Europe. That is a little smaller than the state of Oregon. The population is over 19 million. 
• The name "Romanians" refers to citizens of Romania and an ethnic group native to Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. The people of this ethnic group mostly live in Romania and Moldova and have a shared ancestry and culture. They speak Romanian, one of the Romance languages. 
• Transylvania is a cultural and historical region in central Romania. It became famous as the setting for Bram Stoker's novel, "Dracula." Due to the book's popularity, the area became associated with vampires.
• The geography of Romania has a mix of forests, hills, mountains, plains, and plateaus. The Carpathian Mountains go through its center, and Moldoveanu Peak is the highest at 8,346 feet.
• The delta of the Danube River lies primarily in Romania, with a small portion in Ukraine. The Danube is the second-largest river in Europe. 
• There are nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Romania. Five of these are cultural sites, and four are natural sites.
• The country's economy is supported by agriculture, forestry, information technology, and construction, manufacturing, and service industries. 
• Notable Romanians include poet, novelist, and journalist Mihai Eminescu; inventor and early airplane designer Traian Vuia; sculptor, painter, and photographer Constantin Brâncuși; music composer, professor, and violinist George Enescu; airplane builder, pilot, engineer, and inventor Aurel Vlaicu; and Olympic gymnast Nadia Comăneci.
• Romania's cuisine has Austrian, Balkan, German, Greek, Turkish, and other European influences. Many dishes have pork as the meat, and cheese (or "brânză" in Romanian), especially from sheep's milk, is popular. 
• "Sarmale," stuffed cabbage rolls, are considered the national dish. "Ciorbă," a soup with different varieties, is made of meat, vegetables, and herbs. "Mititei," also called "mici," are grilled ground meat rolls, like caseless sausages. "Salata de vinete" is a roasted eggplant salad served as an appetizer. A "cornuleț" is a crescent-shaped bread roll, sometimes filled with jam and dusted with powdered sugar. 

What's It Like to Be a Kid in Romania? 

• Families and traditions are important in the life of Romanian children. Kids may experience vast differences in education and opportunities depending on whether they live in urban (city) or rural (countryside) areas.  
• Popular sports include football (soccer), basketball, tennis, gymnastics, handball, and swimming. Kids may also play "oinǎ," a ball and bat game similar to baseball.
• For recreation or vacation, families may visit "Mamaia," a popular resort at a Black Sea beach. Ski resorts, castles, and preserved medieval Transylvanian cities are also popular attractions. Bran Castle is one of the most famous and is frequently publicized as Dracula's castle.
• Snacks for Romanian kids may include "covrigi" or Romanian pretzels, "plăcintă," a traditional pastry, and "gogoși," a cheese, chocolate, or jam-filled doughnut. For dessert, "amandine," a chocolate cake with almond and chocolate filling, is well-liked.