GREECE IS A FURNACE - SCORCHING TEMPERATURES HIT THE LAND

           

 

A terrible heatwave is hitting Greece with very high temperatures reaching 45 C (113 F) in some parts of the country.  I heard the cicadas at 9 pm this evening!

 

Be very careful, drink plenty of water, stay in air-conditioned homes and eat light meals.

 

Here are a few recipes for dishes suitable for eating during a heatwave:

 

 

                                                     CUCUMBER SUSHI

2 cucumbers

½ red capsicum, cubed

½ an avocado, peeled and cubed

½ cup of rice

1 tsp of soy sauce for serving

 

Finely slice the capsicum and avocado.  Cook the rice according to the packet instructions, strain, and allow to cool.

 
Use an apple corer to hollow the centres of the cucumbers.  Pat dry with kitchen paper by pushing it through.

 

Stuff about 2 tsp of rice into the cavity of one cucumber and press with a knife to make room for the cubed vegetables.  Repeat the same procedure with the second cucumber, then slice thickly, cover, and refrigerate overnight.  Serve with soy sauce.

 

 

                                                      CHICKEN SALAD

2 chicken fillets, trimmed

½ a cabbage

4 spring onions

2 carrots, scraped

1 cucumber, peeled

½ bunch mint

½ bunch parsley

 

Dressing:

2 tbsp brown sugar

¼ cup lemon juice

¾ cup olive oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

 

Boil the chicken in salted water, with a celery stalk, 1 peeled onion, a few cloves, and a lemon slice until tender and remove from the heat.

 

Slice the cabbage and spring onions thinly, cut the carrots and cucumber into matchsticks and strip the leaves off the herbs and place in a large bowl and toss the salad together.

 

Place all the dressing ingredients into a bowl and stir until the sugar dissolves,

 

Remove the chicken from the pan and using two forks shred it into bite-sized pieces.  Place chicken over the salad in the bowl, drizzle with the dressing, toss, and enjoy.  (Use the delightful broth for preparing a tasty soup).

 

 

                                    WATERMELON JUICE WITH FETA CREAM 

1 watermelon, juiced

1 apple, peeled and cubed

2 oranges, the fillets halved

1 cucumber, peeled and cubed

Salt, freshly ground black pepper, and vinegar to taste

 

250 g (¼ lb) feta

250 ml (1 cup) cream

 

Place the watermelon juice with the fruit and the cucumber in a large bowl, season with salt, pepper and vinegar. Cover the bowl with cling film and refrigerate overnight.

 

When ready to serve blend the feta with the cream.  Ladle the watermelon soup and the fruit and cucumber into bowls, place a tablespoonful of feta cream and sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper.