Romania
Soviet occupation following World War II led to the formation of a Communist "peoples republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power by a fractious coalition of center-right parties. Today the Communist Party, renamed the Party of Social Democracy, rules in cooperation with the ethnic Hungarian minority rights party. Much economic restructuring remains to be carried out before Romania can achieve its hope of joining the EU.

Romania is slightly smaller than Oregon. The climate is temperate with cold, cloudy winters accompanied by frequent snow and fog. The summers are sunny with frequent showers and thunderstorms.

Recipes

Romanian Chicken Breasts - Main

Ingredients
3 x Chicken breasts, halved
1/4 cup Oil
Salt and pepper
1 cup Diced Beef
1 cup Chopped onion
3/4 cup Chopped celery
1/2 tsp Basil
2 can (6-oz) tomato paste
1 can (13.75-oz) chicken broth
1 tbl Parsley
1/2 lb Spaghetti

Directions
Brown breasts in oil. Season well with salt and pepper. Remove from pan. To oil, add beef, onion, celery and basil; simmer 5 minutes, stirring. Add paste and broth. Return chicken, cover and simmer 1 hour or until done.
Turn occasionally. Add parsley and serve over cooked spaghetti.


Romanian Sausage Rolls - Side Dish

Ingredients
3 lb Meat,1-1½ lb beef and 1-1½ lb lamb or veal
1/2 tsp Baking soda
Salt and pepper, to taste.
1/2 cup Meat stock or bouillion
Garlic clove, or more, taste

Directions
Mash garlic with a bit of salt and stock. Strain over meat with other ingredients. Add teaspoon of summer savoury chopped and roll as small sausage. Broil over charcoal. Mix day before so flavours will blend. Add bread crumbs if meat is fatty.