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A virtual Trip

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    My granddaughter Lily and I have been traveling and yet haven't left the neighborhood! You see we both took DNA test with Ancestry.com. I wasn't expecting to find much I didn't know about my family and my family roots but since Lily only knows a couple of people on her dad's side of the family we were anxious to see where her DNA originated. When I took a look at my results it was indeed as expected. Most of my DNA is from a small circle of places in Northwestern Europe, England, Wales and Ireland and Scotland. Now where I was surprised with my results was with  the percentages of each of the areas. From family stories, I thought I would be mostly German (10%) and Scottish (14%).  I am (64%) English, Welsh and Northwestern Europe?
    Lily's results were much more interesting. Of course hers would mirror mine but what about the other 75%? Well it spanned two continents and many varied regions on those continents. And that's where our travels have been. We have looked at the areas and are trying to learn a little history from each country or region. So looking at Lily's DNA we learned that 1% is from Spain. Now one percent isn't much but we thought we should honor it someway! Why not make a Spanish meal? (Yes, I always think about eating!) I decided to make a recipe from Woman's World  Low Carb Cookbook. Spanish Chicken and Chorizo Stew. This stew is smoked chorizo and chicken browned with onions and red bell peppers then simmered in crushed tomatoes and finished with olives and parsley. I served it with a risotto.
   The best thing about the DNA tests has been connecting with relatives that I didn't know or had lost touch with. I have talked on the phone to my fathers first cousins, now living in Idaho and California. And found and visited some of my first cousins on Mom's side that live in Georgia. Lily too has been contacted by cousins wanting to know exactly how they are related. Well that is a little tougher but we will work on it. Next though, my DNA is 1% Baltic. I think I will make Baltic Lamb and Rice Meatballs. Why not take a trip? 

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