Greece the tenth star on the E.U. flag.
12th July, 2015. The night was dark and restless and matched our deep anxiety and a profound sense of foreboding concerning our country's economic and social devastation.
13th July 2015 – 2.2 am. This is another sleepless, dramatic night.
Yesterday, the Eurogroup with the meeting of the nineteen finance Ministers of the Eurozone, Mr.Draghi of the Central European Bank and Mrs. Lagarde of the International Monetary Fund came to a second standstill. There was no press communiqué, showing that they were far from an agreement.
Rumours leaked out, which were later confirmed, that the German side distributed non-papers indicating that there should be a five-year GREXIT and that Greek assets, valuing up to 50 billion Euros, should be accumulated in a fund in Luxembourg in order to repay our debtors. Fortunately, most of the others did not agree with this disgraceful proposal.
As incongruous, dramatic events are changing from moment to moment, allow me to present them to you, chronologically.
Please refer to my previous post, The Greek Referendum, the results of which were 61.2% OXI – NO, a great shock to many Greeks and other Europeans. According to analysts, not only did SYRIZA and their junior partner ANEL vote OXI - NO for Europe, but so did Golden Dawn, a party of the extreme-right and various eurosceptics, such as the big capital, certain banks and opportunists who thrive on chaos and anarchy.
On the 8th July, 2015, Mr. Tsipras attended a plenary session of the E.U. Parliament, in Strasbourg , concerning Greece .
He first gave a speech, where he explained to the Euro-parliamentarians the Greek Government’s aims.
He said that the OXI - NO referendum result mean that 61.2% of the Greek population voted NAI - YES for the E.U. and the Eurozone.
The Greek Government should be the only one to determine the financial policy that will be followed in Greece .
He insisted that the deal should include a debt relief and that the Greek economic crisis was also a European problem.
Amongst boos and applauds, he continued that “ the money given to Greece , never went to the people. The money was given to save Greek and European Banks".
Mr. Tsipas’ speech urged mixed responses from the E.U. M.P.s.
Mr. Manfred Weber, the European Popular Party’s leader, made a scathing assault
against Mr. Tsipras, accusing him of deceiving the Greeks and trying ardently for a rift with Europe , despite his pretensions to the contrary. Although, I did not vote for SYRIZA, I agreed with certain of the issues that Mr.Weber presented and I’m accustomed to political jargon, I was extremely angry with him, because he insulted the Greek Prime Minister and with a stentorian voice, he sounded like harsh and very rude Public Prosecutor.
The leaders of the French and English Europhobic parties of the extreme right, both urged Mr. Tsipras to a GREXIT, for very obvious reasons.
Mr. Guy Verholfstatd the Belgian ex- prime-Minister presented his opinions and asked his colleague, Mr. Tsipas, if he wanted to be remembered “as an electoral accident …. or as a revolutionary reformer?”
Gianni Pittella of Italy , struck another chord. “For us, Social Democrats,” he said, “Europe without Greece is unthinkable.”
In his reply to the E.U. M.P.s, Mr. Tsipras, maintained that the Greek crisis was a European problem. He urged on a Greek debt reduction, and reminded his audience that, the strongest example for solidarity was, when in 1953, many Western European governments, including Greece , decided to write off 60% of Germany ’s post-war debt. This action allowed the country to overcome “the devastations of war and enjoy a long period of prosperity”.
On the 9th July, the Government Council gave the Prime Minister, Mr. Tsipras, the authority to present the Greek proposals to our creditors. The Prime Minister told his cabinet that he decided to choose an agreement, because otherwise a GREXIT would be inevitable.
The MPs of all the political parties are in a state of emergency.
On the 10th July, the Greek Parliament initially authorized the Prime Minister, Mr. Tsipras, the vice-President of the Government, Mr. Dragasakis and the new Minister of Finance Mr. Tsakalotos to negotiate the Greek proposals with our creditors.
The Eurozone Finance Ministers’ meeting came to a standstill, (please see above).
The Eurozone Top Level meeting, after seventeen long, tedious hours sealed an agreement. which Mr. Dusk called an AGREEKMENT. A beam of hope?
17th July 2015.
In the early morning hours (2 a.m.) the plenary session of the Greek Parliament with 229 for, 64 against and 6 “present”, passed the bill “Urgent reforms for the negotiations and contracting an agreement with the European Stability Mechanism (E.S.M)”. This will facilitate an agreement between the Greek Government and the E.S.M. and the allowance for the much hoped for liquidity, through a new loan.
SYRIZA had huge losses from the "left platform" of the party, 39 M.Ps. (32 voted No, 6 stated “present” 1 absence). The paradox is that the M.P.s of the opposition parties of NEW DEMOCRACY, PASOK and POTAMI voted YES and passed the bill of law. The Speaker of the House, Mrs Zoe Konstantopoulou and, the ex-finance Minister, Mr. Varoufakis both responded with a resonant OXI (NO).
Although this is a dramatic period for the country and we are all anxious and very sad, we still have to eat. So let's prepare a few cheap but tasty dishes and serve them with style.
Although this is a dramatic period for the country and we are all anxious and very sad, we still have to eat. So let's prepare a few cheap but tasty dishes and serve them with style.
WATERMELON BITES
This is a cheap and comforting gourmet hors-d’oeuvre-salad, very appropriate for these difficult days.
1 kg (2 lb) watermelon, de-seeded and cut in equal bite-size pieces
250 ml (1 cup) orange juice
250 ml (1 cup) orange juice
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp freshly snipped chives, optional
250 g (½ lb) feta cheese or anthotyro, cubed
Mint sprigs for garnish.
Dip the watermelon pieces in orange juice, sprinkle with a little salt, freshly ground black pepper and snipped chives, if using. Garnish with mint, feta or anthotyro and serve.
TOMATO SOUP WITH BASIL
Try this lovely, easy soup that can be served hot or iced.
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, grated
1 clove garlic
1 large apple, peeled seeded and chopped
3 large, ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
1 tsp sugar or more, according to the acidity of the tomatoes
1 litre (4 cups) chicken or vegetable stock
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tbsp chopped basil
1 tbsp cornflour diluted in 3 tbsp water
250 ml (1 cup) cream, low fat, if preferred
210 g (7 oz) feta cheese
Basil leaves for garnishing
Sauté the onion, garlic and apple, in olive oil until soft. Add the tomatoes, sugar and stock, and bring to the boil, stirring constantly. Lower the heat, cover and simmer gently for about 10 minutes. Add the chopped basil and simmer 5 minutes more. Remove from the fire and set aside to cool.
Process the soup, sieve it and return to the heat and simmer. Add the diluted cornflour, cook and stir until the soup thickens. Finally add the feta cheese and cream and heat well, but do not boil! Check for seasoning, and adjust accordingly. Serve in soup bowls and garnish with small basil leaves If you prefer to serve the soup iced, omit the feta and cream.
ROAST VEGETABLE SALAD
This is a different way of preparing roast vegetables. If you omit the potatoes, it becomes a fabulous vegetable sauce for pasta. My family prefer spaghetti or orzo.
2 onions, peeled and cut in sixths or eighths
2 red peppers, stalks and seeds removed, cut in bite-size pieces
1 large aubergine or two smaller ones, cut into bite-size pieces
2 large potatoes, cut in bite-size pieces
2 courgettes, sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tbsp thyme,
Salt, pepper and Cayenne
½ cup olive oil
2 large tomatoes, skinned, seeded and cubed
1 cup tomato juice
¼ cup basil leaves or
1 tbsp fresh thyme
Mix the first 9 ingredients well together and place in a single layer, on a baking dish, double-lined with baking parchment. Roast in an oven preheated to 180 C (350 F) for about 35-40 minutes, until the vegetables are cooked, but still slightly crunchy.
Then add the tomato cubes, tomato juice and sprinkle with basil or thyme. Bake for 12-15 minutes more. Serve hot or cold.
CHICKEN WITH TARRAGON
This dish is popular with children and adults alike..
1½ kg (3 lbs) chicken, skin removed, cut in 8 serving pieces
4 tbsp plain flour, seasoned with ¼ tsp salt, freshly ground white pepper and a 1/8 tsp
ginger powder
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil
2 large- onions, peeled and sliced
525 ml (¾ of a bottle) dry white wine
250 ml (1 cup) hot chicken stock
2 tbsp fresh tarragon leaves, chopped
½ cup light cream
Dredge the dry chicken pieces in seasoned flour and shake to remove the excess flour. Over moderate heat, sauté the chicken in butter and olive oil, until it is slightly browned, on all sides. Add the onions, stir and simmer covered for 10 minutes. Pour in the wine, add the tarragon and cook, uncovered, for 3-4 minutes, until the alcohol evaporates. Place the lid on the saucepan, lower the heat and simmer very, very gently, for about 40 minutes, turning the chicken frequently and adding hot chicken stock, if required.
Check the chicken breasts and if cooked, remove them to prevent them from hardening. Cover the saucepan, simmer the remaining chicken until tender. Transfer the chicken to a dish to cool, and remove the bones.
Reduce the sauce a little, sieve through a fine strainer, pressing with a spoon to extract all the taste of the onions, and pour back into the saucepan. Add the chicken and check the sauce for seasoning, and adjust accordingly. It should have the thickness of single cream, so add more chicken stock or hot water to thin it down, if necessary. Simmer until the chicken is piping hot. Then add the cream but do not boil.
Reduce the sauce a little, sieve through a fine strainer, pressing with a spoon to extract all the taste of the onions, and pour back into the saucepan. Add the chicken and check the sauce for seasoning, and adjust accordingly. It should have the thickness of single cream, so add more chicken stock or hot water to thin it down, if necessary. Simmer until the chicken is piping hot. Then add the cream but do not boil.
Serve with saffron rice or smashed potatoes and garnish with a tarragon sprig.
YOGURT AND MOCK LEMON CURD CREAM
This is a light dessert and very easy to prepare.
One 397 g (about 13 oz) tin condensed milk
2-3 lemons, the juice
1 lemon, the grated rind or more
600-800 g (3-4 small tubs) Greek yogurt
Stir the condensed milk with the lemon juice and rind until thick and creamy. Add 3 tubs of yogurt and whip until well mixed. Taste and stir in more yogurt if preferred, then place in a bowl. cover and chill. Serve the cream sprinkled with extra grated lemon rind.
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