AMPHIPOLIS

In early August 2014 the international community was informed that the archaeological dig in Casta, Amphipolis, N. Greece, unearthed two very beautiful sculptures depicting two sphinxes made out of Thassos marble.    They have been standing there for over twenty three centuries, silent sentries of a tomb of a very significant person.

  

Since then, two caryatids have been found, that support the entablature of the second chamber of the tomb.  These elegant female figures, 2.27 metres in height, standing on pedestals, are absolute masterpieces, from their sensual faces to their draped chitones, to their beautifully chiseled toes.

On the 12^th of October, Greek archaeologists discovered a large floor mosaic depicting Pluto’s abduction of Persephone.  It has beauty and motion  and according to the Greek Ministry of Culture it is “stunning, superbly rich in colour and artistic detail.”

Renowned archaeologists and art historians presume that the tomb might be a cenotaph of a very influential person, even Alexander the Great.   But, there will be no end to our tormented curiosity, no answer to the enigma until the excavations discover the truth.

We are, all, so very proud of these admirable, hardworking experts, who, with sources from ancient historians and local tales, try to find the locations and, then, the means to dig and bring to light these hidden treasures.  We wish to thank them so very much. 

For ancient Greeks frugality was a virtue.   They ate grains, pulses, vegetables, fish, garon (a fish sauce), meat and poultry on rare occasions, cheese, nuts, olive oil, olives, fresh and dried fruit.   The sweetening agents were honey, dried figs and a syrup prepared with grapes (petimezi?).  They drank water and of course wine.  It was considered barbaric for adults to consume milk.

As there are no recipes of ancient Greek food, I will give you a few traditional recipes using the ingredients mentioned above.

  

                                                           TRAHANA SOUP

                                                        

Trahana is a Greek pasta made by the Greek pasta industry and small cottage industries all over the country.   We first tasted this delicious traditional soup, on a very cold day in Arahova, a ski resort.

Pasta:

1 kg (2 lb) strong flour

1 egg

250 ml (1 cup) milk

200 g (1 tub) yogurt

½ tbsp salt

Water

Soup:

1.750 litre (7 cups) tasty meat, chicken or vegetable stock or water

250 ml (1 cup) tomato juice

2 tbsp olive oil

(Salt if using water)

1 cup trahana pasta

1/8 tsp Cayenne pepper

125 ml (½ cup) hot milk

Salt if necessary and freshly ground black pepper

Crumbled feta, or grated kephalotyri or pecorino, for serving

If you want to make the pasta, place the flour and salt in a large bowl, and stir in the egg, milk, yogurt, and enough water to make a stiff dough. Shape into small balls, the size of walnuts and let them dry for 2-3 days. Then divide them and shape into smaller balls the size of hazelnuts and allow them dry for a few days more.   Then either sieve the dough, pressing it through a special sieve, or rub it with the palm of your hands until it is as fine as oatmeal.  Dry again and store in jars.  It will keep for many months.

 For the soup, boil the stock or water for five minutes, with the tomato juice, olive oil and salt (if using water).  Sprinkle the trahana over and stir until it comes to the boil.  Lower the heat, add the Cayenne pepper and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the pasta is soft, stirring often to prevent sticking.  Just before serving pour in the hot milk and stir.  Taste and sprinkle with salt (if necessary) and freshly ground black pepper.    Serve the soup, steaming hot, with a bowl of crumbled feta or grated cheese on the side.



                                                       

                                                                CHEESE PIE

                                                                     Tyropita

 You could, use 1 cup of bechamel sauce instead of the yogurt.

Pastry:

150 g (5 oz) whole meal flour

150 g (5 oz) plain flour

Pinch of salt

¼ tsp mustard powder

1 egg

1-2 tbsp water

2 tbsp dried breadcrumbs for sprinkling over the pastry before adding the filling

 Filling

500 g (1 lb) feta cheese, soaked in water for 5-10 minutes if salty

250 g (½ lb) anthotyro or ricotta cheese

2-3 tbsp kephalotyri or Parmesan or Cheddar, grated

1 large onion, finely grated

4 eggs

200 g (1 small tub) strained Greek yogurt

Salt if necessary, nutmeg and freshly ground black pepper

First prepare the pastry.  Blend the two flours with the mustard powder and salt.  Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.  Add the egg and very little water until the dough forms a ball around the hook. .. Cover and refrigerate for ½ hour at least.

In a large bowl, crumble the feta and anthotyro and stir in the grated cheese and onion.    Beat the eggs with the yogurt, nutmeg and freshly ground black pepper, add to the cheese mixture and stir until well combined. Taste for seasoning and add more salt, pepper and nutmeg, if necessary.

Preheat the oven to 180 C (350 F).   Cut the pastry in half and roll out two thin pastry sheets.    Line a buttered baking tin with one of the sheets and sprinkle evenly with the dried bread crumbs.   Spoon the filling carefully over, cover with the remaining pastry and  join the two sheets attractively together.   Score the top of the pie and bake for about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

(Serves 8-10)

  

                                                A SALAD FROM THESSALONIKI

 I presume that our ancient forefathers didn't cultivate red cabbage.   Also, peppers were unknown in Europe before the end of the 15th century, so all the ingredients could not be found when the Amphipolis tomb was erected.  To honour the region, I'm giving you this recipe for a colourful salad from N Greece..      

½ kg (1 lb) white cabbage, finely shredded

125 g (4 oz) red cabbage, finely shredded

Ice cold water

62.5 ml (¼ cup) white wine vinegar

2 celery stalks, trimmed and finely sliced

3 carrots, coarsely grated

½ a yellow pepper cut into julienne strips

½ a red pepper cut into julienne strips

2 spring onions, finely chopped or 8 chive blades, snipped 

1-2 sweet gherkins finely chopped

½ cup parsley, finely chopped

½ tsp salt

Dressing:

2 tbsp good wine vinegar

6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

½ tsp Dijon mustard

Juice and zest of an orange

1 tbsp honey

Salt and pepper to taste

Whisk all ingredients until the sauce thickens.

Season the red cabbage with half a teaspoon of salt, mix well and refrigerate for about an hour.    Then rinse thoroughly with cold water.

Fill half a large bowl with ice-cold water and the vinegar, add the red cabbage, cover and refrigerate for half an hour, at least.   Then strain, dry and arrange it in a cold salad bowl.  Add the remaining ingredients, the salad dressing, toss thoroughly and sprinkle with chopped parsley.

 (Serves 6) 

                           

                                                             FRUIT SALAD

This fruit salad could have easily been prepared in Greece, in the fourth century B.C.

1 melon, peeled, seeded and cubed

2 cups seedless grapes

4 pears, peeled cored and, cubed

The juice and grated rind of 1 orange mixed with

The juice and rind of ½ a lemon and

2 tbsp honey

Garnish:

2 figs peeled and cut in four,

½ cup walnuts coarsely chopped

2 sprigs of mint

Mix the first three ingredients together, sprinkle with orange/lemon/honey mixture and lightly toss together.   Arrange in an iced bowl and garnish with figs, walnuts and sprigs of mint.     

LITTLE SOPHIA

                                            

                                A baby is cuddles
                                And tickles on toes
                                The sweet scent of powder
                                A kiss on the nose ................

On the 16^th October 2014, in Copenhagen, our grandson Alex and his lovely wife Tina had their second daughter, Sophia, a tiny, loving sister for two-year-old Janna.    Our very best wishes and deep affection to the jubilant parents, the “big” sister and the extremely proud grandparents!

                             

                               Tina and Alex:                              

                               

                               They are little bits of sunshine

                               They are smiles to light your days

                               They will steal your heart and keep it

                               In their warm, endearing ways

                               They’re your precious little daughters

                               With a sweetness from above

                               They will fill your years with laughter

                               And your lives, with lots of love.

Let us celebrate!

                                       

                                                     CHOCOLATE DESSERT

                                          Little Janna loves this dessert





You can prepare this delicious dessert, drenched with a chocolate cream sauce, garnished with strawberries or any other fruit of your choice.   You can, also serve it as a cake, dusted with icing sugar.

200 g (6 2/3 oz) good quality dark chocolate cut in small pieces

200 g (6 2/3 oz) butter

300 g sugar, halved

6 eggs, separated, whites stiffly beaten with a pinch of salt and half the amount

                                                                       of sugar, a teaspoon at a time 

1 scant tsp vanilla

100 g (3 1/3 oz)) self-raising flour mixed with

1 tsp baking powder

Chocolate Cream Sauce:

100 g (about 3 1/3 oz) dark chocolate, cut into small pieces

100 g (about 3 1/3 oz) cream

1 tsp honey

Melt the chocolate and butter over simmering water and stir until thoroughly mixed.   Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

Beat the egg yolks with the remaining sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy, pour in the cool chocolate/butter mixture and stir.   Sift in the flour and baking powder, and stir the batter lightly, until well combined.  Carefully fold in the whipped egg whites and pour in a buttered cake tin, lined with baking parchment.

  

 Bake in an oven preheated to 180 C (350 F) for about 40-50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the middle of the cake, comes out clean.  Remove from the oven.  With a flexible knife detach the sides of the cake from the baking tin.   Reverse the cake on a dish, discarding the baking parchment, and set it aside to cool.

For the sauce, place the chocolate pieces in a bowl.  Heat the cream just below boiling point and pour over the chocolate, add the honey and stir very well together until the sauce is cold, smooth and glossy.

     

Place the cake on a platter, spread the chocolate sauce evenly over the top, and garnish, either, with fresh strawberries dipped in melted chocolate or marrons deguises, or chocolate curls or nuts.

(8-10 servings)

                                              
                                                   CHOCOLATE CUP-CAKES

Cup cakes are trendy and very popular with both children and parents alike. 

210 g (7 oz) self-raising flour, sifted with

1 tsp baking powder

33 g (1/3 cup) cocoa powder

Pinch of salt
210 g (7 oz) icing sugar

100 g (½ cup – 1 tbsp) butter, at room temperature

3 eggs

150 ml (an ample ½ cup) milk

Vanilla

1 tbsp yogurt

Icing:

100 g (1 ½ cup – 1 tbsp) butter

180 g (6 oz) icing sugar

25 g (2 tbsp) cocoa

Vanilla

A suspicion of salt

Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F).

Place the sifted flour/cocoa/sugar mixture in a large bowl, add the butter and rub gently with your fingers until the mixture resembles crumbs.

In another bowl beat the eggs, milk, vanilla and yogurt until well combined.  Gently mix the liquids into the dry ingredients and stir well, until the batter is smooth and shiny.

Line a 12 socket cup-cake with paper cups.   Fill each paper cup half full with the cake batter, bake for 20-25 minutes until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cakes comes out clean.   Remove from the oven and allow to cool.   Then remove the cupcakes, in their paper cups, from the tin.

Meanwhile prepare the icing.   Whip the butter with the icing sugar, cocoa salt and vanilla until smooth and glossy, and garnish the cupcakes.

You could, alternatively, add about 150 g (5 oz) chopped white chocolate into the batter before baking.  Serve without icing.        

 A FEW COMFORTING FIRST DISHES

Unfortunately the heavy air strikes against the ISIS extremists have failed to halt the advance of this murderous group.   They have taken control of the industrial zone of the key strategic city of Kobani, on the Syrian -Turkish border.   Right now, the Jihadists are engaging into fierce street to street fighting with the outnumbered, underequipped, but very brave Kurdish defenders.   The Kurds are fighting alone, without the help promised by Turkey, who seems reluctant to attack.   Naturally, there is a large flow of civilians who are crossing the border, in search of safety.

Due to the prevalent chaos on the Syrian -Turkish border, there is a suspicion that ISIS might send terrorists into Europe, disguised as refugees, who, provided with fake passports, could strike horrific attacks all over the continent.

In W. Africa, the number of the deceased, due to the Ebola epidemic, has grown to 3400.  In Madrid, a nurse, who treated two victims of Ebola, has been tested positive for this very dangerous disease. Four more people, including the nurse’s husband have been admitted into hospital for observation.   The World Health Organization said that “Europe would certainly see more cases”.

We certainly need tasty food to comfort us during these very difficult times.

                                   

                                        

                                                          COURGETTE BAKE

This is an easy and delicious first dish.

2 cups grated courgette

4 rashes bacon, cut in small pieces, sautéed and drained on kitchen paper

1 large tomato, skinned, deseeded and diced

½ cup self raising flour

1 large onion, grated

4-5 eggs

Salt and pepper

¼ tsp or less Cayenne pepper

150 g (5 oz) cubed feta

1 cup grated bland kefalotyri, cheddar or Parmesan

An oven-proof dish, greased with:

A knob of butter and sprinkled with

Dried bread crumbs

Preheat the oven to 180C (350 F).

In large bowl mix the first eight ingredients well together.   Fold in the feta gently and spoon the mixture into the prepared dish.   Sprinkle evenly with grated cheese and bake  for 45-50 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the middle of the bake, comes out clean.   Serve with a green salad, crusty warm bread and a glass of wine.

                                                    

                             SAVOURY CARROT CAKE WITH CHEESE AND HERBS

Try this interesting recipe.

500 g (1 lb) carrots, coarsely grated

3 heaped tbsp soft butter

2 spring onions, finely chopped

1 tsp coriander seeds, crushed and sieved

4 eggs, separated, egg whites whipped into stiff peaks, with a pinch of salt

3 tbsp self-raising flour

1 tbsp chopped parsley

Salt and pepper

Filling:

210 g (7 oz) anthotyro crumbled, or ricotta cheese,

1 tsp chopped dill,

3 spring onions, finely chopped,

3 tbsp chopped parsley,

1 tsp chopped fresh marjoram,

1 tsp chopped fresh thyme

250 ml (1 cup) or low fat cream,

Salt and pepper,

3 tbsp San Mihalis or Parmesan, grated.

Saute the carrots, spring onions and coriander in butter for about five minutes and set aside to cool, in a bowl. 

Add the egg yolks, flour, parsley, salt and pepper to the carrots, and mix well.  Gently fold in the egg whites and spread the batter evenly in two 23 cm (9 in) diameter cake tins, lined with baking parchment.  

Bake in a moderate oven, preheated 180 C (350 F) for about 20 minutes.  When ready turn out and set aside to cool.

In the meantime make the filling.  Combine the anthotyro, herbs, spring onions, cream, salt and pepper and two tbsp of the grated cheese and mix well together.   Taste for seasoning and adjust with salt and pepper if necessary and add a little more cream if the mixture seems dry.    The filling should have the consistency of cream cheese. Taste and add more salt pepper or herbs , if necessary.

Finally sandwich the two carrots cakes with the filling in between.  Reserve a little filling to spread over the top and sprinkle with the remaining grated cheese and freshly milled pepper     Serve on salad leaves, and garnish with marjoram, parsley and thyme sprigs

               


                                               
                                                            COURGETTE TART

This is a delectable savoury tart.

Pastry:

240 g (8 oz) self raising flour mixed with

½ tsp salt

120 g (4 oz) soft butter

1 egg yolk
Enough thick Greek yogurt to obtain a soft dough

1½ tbsp fine dried breadcrumbs and

2 tbsp grated cheese for sprinkling over the pastry shell

Filling:

1 tbsp olive oil

600 g (1 lb 3 oz) courgettes, thickly grated

3 medium carrots, grated

1 medium onion, grated

2 spring onions trimmed and finely sliced

2 tender celery stalks, trimmed and finely sliced

500 ml (2 cups) low fat cream, 

For the top

90 g (3 oz) bland kasseri or Emmenthal, grated

90 g (3 oz) Naxos graviera or Gouda, grated

90 g (3 oz)  Parmesan grated

Freshly grated white pepper

For the pastry rub the butter into the flour until it looks like fine bread crumbs. Add the egg yolk and enough yogurt to obtain a soft dough.  Wrap in cling film and let it rest for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the filling. Sauté the vegetables in olive oil, add salt and pepper, lower the heat and let them sweat gently until they resemble a puree.  Add the cream and simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated and the vegetables are thoroughly cooked and set aside to cool. 

Preheat the oven to180 C (350 F).   Roll out the dough between two pieces of baking parchment and line a  buttered 25 cm /10 inch round ovenproof dish.   Prick the pastry all over with a fork and sprinkle with bread crumbs and cheese.  Carefully spoon in the filling, and level the surface.  Mix the three cheeses with the freshly ground white pepper and sprinkle evenly on top.  Pinch the dough around the edge into a pretty shape and bake for about 40 minutes or more, until the pastry is crisp and filling golden and bubbly.

               

                                                             QUICHE LORRAINE

Ages ago, when I was newly married, I had read this recipe in Vogue magazine.   I promptly prepared it and, to my suprise and joy, my husband and our friends found the crust exceptionally crisp and custard creamy and luscious.

Pastry:

240 g (8 oz) plain flour

1 tsp salt

120 g (4 oz) iced butter, cubed

1 egg

2 tsp iced water

Filling:

8 rashers smoked bacon, cut in pieces, sautéed and drained on kitchen paper

90 g (3 oz) grated Gruyere or bland Cheddar

2 whole eggs

2 egg yolks

275 ml (1 cup + 2 tbsp) double cream

Salt and white pepper to taste

A little iced butter for the top

Mix the flour with salt and rub with butter until it looks like fine breadcrumbs.   Add the egg and mix well together.  If the dough crumbles, add a little iced water until it comes together.  Shape into a ball and flatten it, then cover with cling film and refrigerate.   

Roll out the dough, between two pieces of baking parchment, to form a circle.  Line a buttered 20 cm (8 inch) flan tin with the pastry, gently press it into the bottom and the sides of the tin and chill for one hour. Prick the tart all over with a fork.

Preheat the oven to 180 C (350 F).   Cover the pastry with tin foil, to prevent it from puffing and bake for 15 minutes in the centre of the oven.   Discard the foil, bake for 10 minutes more and remove from the oven to cool.

Sprinkle the grated cheese over the cold pastry shell and cover with bacon.   Beat the whole eggs, egg yolks, cream and the seasoning and pour over the bacon and cheese.   Dot the tart with butter and bake in the top of the oven for 20 minutes until puffed and golden.   Serve hot or warm.

.

                               SPINACH, PRAWN AND MUSHROOM AU GRATIN

My friend Michele Nemtzoglou made this lovely dish for our bridge group.  I replaced chicken by prawns and added feta cheese to give it a Greek touch.   It is, really, a full meal, but if you bake it in appropriate, individual dishes, it’s a starter.

1 kg (2 lb) frozen spinach leaves, chopped

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp butter

1 medium onion, grated

1 large leak, white part only, slit in four lengthwise, thoroughly washed and chopped

2 tbsp dill

Salt and pepper

1½ kg (3 lbs) prawns, shelled, intestine removed (about 1 kg / 2 lb, when shelled)

2 sprig rosemary

1 tbsp olive oil

A little salt

Freshly ground black pepper

500 g (1 lb) button mushrooms, cut in quarters

1 garlic clove, sliced

A little olive oil
Salt and pepper

150 g (5 oz) feta cheese (if salty soaked), finely sliced

White sauce:

500 ml (2 cups) hot milk

250 ml (1 cup) single cream

A few gratings of nutmeg

3-4 heaped tbsp cornflour

1 small bay leaf

1½ cup grated cheese, Cretan Graviera or Gruyere or a bland Cheddar

3 eggs, separated, whites whipped to the soft peak stage with a pinch of salt

Yolks mixed with

2 heaped tbsp yogurt

A knob of butter for greasing the baking dish/dishes

2 tbsp dried breadcrumbs for sprinkling over

Cook the onion and leeks in olive oil, with a pinch of salt and a little water, until soft.  Stir in the butter, spinach, pepper and simmer gently until cooked and dry. Add the dill and mix until well combined.

Sauté the prawns, on both sides, with the rosemary, in very little olive oil, until they just change colour.  Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper.  Discard the rosemary, remove for the heat and set aside for further use.

Also cook the mushrooms and garlic in olive oil, tossing frequently, until no cooking liquid is visible. Season with a little salt and pepper and set aside.

Prepare the sauce.  Place the milk and cream in a saucepan, grate in a little nutmeg, add the bay leaf, and stir in the cornflour.  Bring slowly to the boil, and simmer, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the sauce bubbles and thickens. It should, now, coat the back of the wooden spoon.  This should take 12-15 minutes.  Remove from the heat to cool a little, discard the bay leaf, and stir in the cheese.   Add a tbsp or two of the hot sauce into the egg yolk/yogurt mixture, stirring quickly to prevent the eggs from scrambling, then add it into the remaining sauce and mix well to combine.   Finally fold in the whipped egg whites, mixing gently, until no trace of white is visible.   Taste the sauce for seasoning and add salt, pepper and nutmeg, if necessary.

Preheat the oven to 180 C (350 F).

To assemble the dish, fold 1 cup white sauce, or more, into the spinach and stir well to combine. Taste once more to check the seasoning and adjust if necessary.   Spoon the spinach, carefully, into the prepared baking dish/dishes and add a layer of prawns and mushrooms, pushing them, slightly, to partly cover.   Then top with slithers of feta cheese and mask, evenly, with the remaining sauce.   Bake for 45 minutes, or until puffed and golden.  Kali orexi!

                                              MULTICOLOURED PEPPER TART

I have known Maria Korassides since she was a child, because her mother was a dear friend of mine.   Maria told me that she, recently, made a lovely pepper pie with phyllo pastry and thus inspired me into preparing this tasty and colouful tart.

Pastry:

250 g (½ lb) plain flour

1 tsp salt

125 g (¼ lb) iced butter, diced

1 large egg

1-2 tsp iced water

A knob of butter for the baking dish

1 cup coarsely grated kasseri or Cheddar

Filling:

500 kg (1 lb) multicoloured + Florina peppers and kerato peppers

1 tbsp olive

Salt and freshly ground pepper

½ cup finely grated Parmesan

250 ml (1 cup) milk at room temperature

250 ml (1 cup) thick cream, at room temperature

4-5 medium eggs

Salt, pepper to taste

For the pastry, mix the salt and flour and rub with butter, until it looks like bread crumbs.    Add the egg, mix the dough with you hands until it gathers together.   If it crumbles, add a little iced water.   Shape the dough into a ball, flatten it out, wrap with cling film and refrigerate for half an hour, at least.

 Roll out the dough, between two pieces of baking parchment, to form a circle.  Line a 30 cm (12 inches) buttered tart dish with the pastry, gently pressing it into the bottom and around the sides of the dish, and trimming off the excess.  Chill for one hour.

Preheat the oven to 180 C / 350 F.   Remove the tart from the fridge and prick it all over with a fork.     Cover the bottom of the pastry with tin foil and press it gently into the edges to support the sides, and bake for 12 minutes.   Discard the foil, prick the tart all over with a fork, and bake for 10 minutes more.   Remove from the oven to cool.

Meanwhile, slice the peppers and halve or quarter each slice.   Sauté the peppers in olive oil until limp, and sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper.  Remove from the stove to cool.

Sprinkle the tart shell with one cup grated kasseri or cheddar and arrange the peppers on top.   Sprinkle with Parmesan.  Whip the eggs with the milk and cream and pour over the peppers.   Bake for 35-40 minutes or until evenly puffed and golden.   Serve hot or warm, with a salad of your choice.