Combine the flour, semolina, baking powder, cinnamon, and cloves; beat into the fluffy mixture alternately with the orange juice.
As the mixture thickens, turn out onto a floured board and knead into a firm dough.
Pinch off tablespoonfuls of dough and form them into balls or ovals. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden. Cool on baking sheets until room temperature.
Syrup
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the water, white sugar, honey, cinnamon stick, and lemon juice.
Bring to a boil and boil for 10 minutes.
Remove the cinnamon stick. While the mixture is boiling hot, dip the cookies in one at a time, making sure to cover them completely.
Place them on a wire rack to dry and sprinkle with walnuts. Place paper under the rack to catch the drips.
Keep finished cookies in a sealed container at room temperature.
Keftedes
Yields about 25 meatballs
This fried meatball—with its unique flavor provided by the herbs—is a versatile dish that can be served in many ways: on a platter of mezedes---small plates of food served in Greece with ouzo that are often compared to tapas---with pasta, or as a main meal with salad, tzatziki, and chips. Keftedes are especially good when served with a little bit of mizithra, a traditional Greek cheese, grated on top. That’s the Greek way!
For meatballs:
2 pounds ground meat （combination of veal, pork, and beef）
4 pieces torn up white bread, or a half a cup of bread crumbs, or a half a cup of crushed saltines
2 eggs
1 onion, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
? cup fresh mint, finely chopped
? cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 teaspoon oregano
? teaspoon allspice
Salt and pepper
? cup olive oil
For sauce:
? onion, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons salt
2 cinnamon sticks
6 cloves
16-ounce can plain tomato sauce
4 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 cup water
Meatballs
Mix all ingredients together and form the meatballs.
Heat olive oil on medium heat in a skillet.
BRIEFLY fry the meatballs, about 20-30 seconds on each side.
Set meatballs aside.
Sauce
In the same pan you used to fry the meatballs, sauté the onion and garlic.
Add salt, cinnamon sticks, and cloves.
Add tomato sauce and tomato paste.
Bring all of the ingredients to a low boil for about 5 minutes or until it’s all blended.
Add the apple cider vinegar and water. Sauce will be thin. This is normal!
Return the meatballs to the pan. Cover. Cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 45 minutes.
Uncover and cook for 15 more minutes. Serve with the pasta of your choice.
Recommended Reading
Here are a few of the books that helped me understand the lives of American soldiers—both at war and at home—and their families. I thank all of these authors for sharing their personal stories with readers.
The Other Side of War by Jessica Caputo
Courage After Fire by Keith Armstrong, L.C.S.W., Suzanne Best, Ph.D., and Paula Domenici, Ph. D.
Once a Warrior, Always a Warrior by Charles W. Hoge, M.D.
While They’re at War by Kristin Henderson
Band of Sisters by Kirsten Holmstedt
The Lonely Soldier by Helen Benedict
Nowhere to Turn by Daniel Hutchison
You Know When the Men Are Gone by Siobhan Fallon
Reading Group Questions
In the prologue of Home Front, we see Jolene’s early life and the incident that leads up to her parents’ deaths. How does this scene lay the groundwork for her personality and her choices in the remainder of the book?
When Michael says, “I don’t love you anymore,” he wonders fleetingly if he’d said the words so that Jolene would fall apart or cry or say that she was in love with him. What does this internal question reveal about Michael? About Jolene?
When Jolene learns of her deployment, she is conflicted. She thinks that she wants to go （to war）， but that she doesn’t want to leave （her family）。 Can you understand the dichotomy she is experiencing? Discuss a mother’s deployment and what it means from all angles—honor, love, commitment, abandonment. Can you understand a soldier/mother’s duty? Do you think it’s harder for a mother to leave than a father? Is there a double standard?
Jolene and Michael’s twelve-year marriage is on the rocks when the novel begins. Did you blame both of them equally for the problems in their relationship? Did your assignment of blame change over the course of the novel?