Cookenjoy: October 2021

Sunday, 31 October 2021

SEAFOOD AND OTHER GOURMET DISHES

PAN-SEARED FILLETS OF SALMON

4 X 180 g (6 oz) fillets of salmon, boned

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tsp capers soaked overnight to remove extra salt and patted dry

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

4 lemon slices and chopped dill

Preheat a large frying pan over medium heat, for about 3 minutes. Coat salmon fillets with olive oil and place them on the pan and increase the heat to high.

Cook for 5 minutes and sprinkle with capers and salt and pepper to taste. Turn the salmon fillets over and cook for 3 minutes until brown or until they flake when tested with a fork.

Transfer to individual plates and serve with lemon slices and chopped dill.

GREEN SHRIMPS

2 tbsp olive oil

2 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped

½ cup of chopped spring onions

500 g (1 lb) shrimps, shelled, deveined, thoroughly washed, and patted dry

½ cup o parsley chopped

½ cup of Parmesan, grated

Sauté onions and garlic briefly in olive oil but do not brown the garlic. Toss the shrimps over and sauté until pink and opaque in the center. Stir in the parsley and heat through.

Remove from the heat and sprinkle evenly with grated Parmesan.

BLACK BEANS STUFFED SWEET POTATOES

4 medium-sized sweet potatoes

½ cup Greek yogurt

1 tsp lemon juice

Salt and pepper to taste

½ a medium-sized onion, finely diced, (about a cup)

1 ½ tbsp olive oil

¼ tsp cumin

450 g (15 oz) black beans, boiled in salted water until soft and drained

1 avocado, peeled, stoned, and diced

½ cup chopped parsley

Yogurt

Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F) and bake the potatoes on a lightly greased tin for 55-60 minutes or until a fork can easily be inserted into the flesh of the sweet potatoes.

When the sweet potatoes are almost ready, sauté the onion in olive oil until translucent. Add the spices, stir and cook for an additional 3 minutes.

Add the black beans and toss to combine. Continue to cook until the beans are thoroughly heated for about 5 minutes, take off the heat, set aside, and keep warm. When the sweet potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut them in half and spoon the flesh out of the skin, mash until smooth, and place on a dish. Evenly spread the black bean mixture, avocado, parsley, and yogurt on top of the potatoes and serve immediately.

BEEF AND BROCCOLI

2/3 cup soy sauce

½ cup chicken stock

¼ cup honey

2 tbsp vinegar

2 tbsp brown sugar

3 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp corn flour

1 tsp spicy red pepper sauce

1 tsp ginger powder

¼ tsp red pepper flakes

1 tbsp olive oil

500 g (1 lb) steak, thinly sliced across the grain

1 head broccoli cut into florets

In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, chicken stock, honey, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, olive oil, cornflour, spicy sauce, ginger powder, and red pepper flakes, and ½ a cup of water and set aside.

Sauté the steak in olive oil, over high heat, flip over and cook until brown, 4 minutes on the first side and 3 on the other.

Stir in the broccoli, soy sauce mixture and simmer until tender and the sauce thickens slightly. Serve immediately.

PLEASE DO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID – 19 SO THAT YOUR BELOVED FAMILIES, FRIENDS, THE WORLD AND YOU WILL REMAIN HEALTHY AND SAFE

Saturday, 30 October 2021

THE RESTISTANCE OF GREECE TO THE AXIS FORCES IS THE LONGEST IN EUROPE

Greece’s resistance to the axis forces during the Second World War was the longest in continental Europe.

According to historical records, Greece resisted for 219 days against Italy and Germany from the autumn of 1940 to spring 1941.

By comparison, Norway resisted for 61 days, whereas France which was a superpower of the time managed to resist the Nazi powers for only 43 days.

During those terrible days Greece recorded 13.325 dead, 62.662 wounded and 1.290 missing in action.

There couldn’t be anything more tragic than war when thousands of young people die fighting bravely for their countries which unfortunately politicians decide.

Humans have a greed to have more than they possess, which creates friction that leads to war; so it is greed, grudge, politics, and religious and racial discrimination, like in world war II, that make things so evil possible.

PLEASE DO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID - 19 SO THAT YOUR BELOVED FAMILIES, FRIENDS, THE WORLD, AND YOURSELF SO THAT YOU REMAIN HEALTHY AND SAFE.

Friday, 29 October 2021

THE ORACLE THAT STOPPED ALEXANDER THE GREAT'S INVASION OF INDIA

Alexander the Great’s planned invasion of India was stopped in 326 BC by the oracle prophesy he received from the Indian sadhu Calanus.

Anyone familiar with the history of Alexander the Great will easily recognise the name of Kalanus (Calanus, Kalana, Kalanos) the ascetic Brahman from Taxila who accompanied Alexander during his campaign in India.

Arrian writes “I have mentioned Kalanos because no history of Alexander would be complete without the story of Kalanos.

The Greeks called him gymnosophist, meaning naked philosopher. Kalanos gained a great reputation as an oracle philosopher (sophist) in Alexander’s camp.

Kalanos was in a group of monks belonging to a cult that practiced extreme ascetism. They neither built homes nor wore clothes. They displayed their complete contempt for property and the comforts of civilized life by discarding both clothes and shelter. The monks who lived in Taxila were usually exposed to the harsh elements of nature.

The first appearance of Kalanus in front of Alexander was like a theatrical performance, the monk's main concern was to convert Alexander to his ascetism.

PLEASE DO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID - 19 BECAUSE YOUR BELOVED FAMILIES, FRIENDS, THE WORLD AND YOU WILL REMAIN HEALTHY AND SAFE

Thursday, 28 October 2021

28TH OCTOBER 1940

28^TH OCTOBER 1940

Today, the 28^th of October we commemorate the beginning of the 2^nd World War in Greece.

Meanwhile, in 1940, a terrible war waged in Central Europe between Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg on the one hand and nazi Germany and fascist Italy on the other. It was a devastating war that is still considered the deadliest combat in human history.

Almost everyone in Greece was living in a fool’s paradise because they were certain that our country couldn’t possibly be attached by the Italians or the Germans, despite the fact that the Italians had sunk a Greek warship “Elli” the previous summer at the harbor of Tinos. Greek thought that all problems could be solved through diplomatic channels. Wishful thinking!

On the 28^th of October Mussolini issued an ultimatum to Greece demanding the session of Greek territory, which the Greek Prime Minister, Ioannis Metaxas rejected. “Alors, cest la guerre,” he told the Italian ambassador Grazzi who conveyed the message. Metaxas expressed the Greek popular sentiment which was a definite denial of allegiance. The denial was expressed by the Greek press with the word OXI (no).

The Italian army invaded Greece on the 28^thof October 1940 before the ultimatum expired but was stopped by the brave, robust and persistent resistance of the Greek army who moreover conquered part of Albania. The Italian army failed to achieve its objectives and lost prestige in this war. As Greek independence and national sovereignty were at stake the Greeks were determined to drive the invaders outside the borders.

According to British historian, professor Mark Mazouer: “It was the first Axis setback of the entire war.”

Unfortunately, the Italians were helped by their German allies, and they occupied Greece and raised the swastika on the Parthenon

PLEASE DO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID -19 SO THAT YOUR BELOVED FAMILIES FRIENDS, THE WORLD AND YOU WILL REMAIN HEALTHY AND SAFE

Wednesday, 27 October 2021

SAINT DEMETRIOS

SAINT DEMETRIOS – THE HISTORY OF THESSALONIKI’S PATRON SAINT

Saint Demetrios or Dimitrios of Thessaloniki is one of the most popular Christian saints not only of Greece but of all the Orthodox Christian world, with millions of people bearing his name, in all of it beautiful variations.

Saint Demetrios is also the famous patron saint of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city and millions of Greeks hold a special place in their hearts for this important Christian martyr for this reason.

His feast day is celebrated on the 26^th of October, which also coincides with Thessaloniki’s most important day in its modern history: the liberation from the brutal Ottoman Turks in 1921. Understandably, the Thessalonians all over the world consider this day the most important of the whole year, since they do not only celebrate the feast day of their patron saint but also their liberation from the barbarian Ottoman rule after five long and painful centuries.

Saint Demetrios was born in 280 AD, in Thessaloniki, a city that was an important urban center of the Roman Empire.

The “Miracula Santi Demetrii”, the earliest written evidence about the martyr’s life is a collection of stories illustrating the miracles he had done.

The work indicates that millions of people across the Roman Empire honored the saint from the very early stages of Christianity since many recollections of his miracles had already been known to believers across the Empire.

Saint Demetrios died at the very early age of 26. Because of his faith in Jesus Christ, he was arrested, imprisoned, and tortured to death by the Romans.

PLEASE DO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID - 19 SO TNAT YOUR BELOVED FAMILIES, FRIENDS

, THE WIRLD AND YOU WILL REMAIN HEALTHY AND SAFE

Tuesday, 26 October 2021

SAINT DIMITRI'S DAY

Today, my two nephews Dimitris N. Cocalis, Dimitris P. Cocalis, and Joy’s sister Dimitra are celebrating their name days. May they always be healthy, happy, and loved.

GREEK SWEETS

GREEK SWEETS

Greek sweets are famously decadent and delicious. There are a number of sweets that remind us of bygone days.

OLD LADY’S HAIR is a tremendous treat that is also known as cotton candy, fairy floss and candy floss. No matter what you call it there is no denying that this spun sugary delight conjures images of childhood joy.

LOUKOUMADES is a heavenly fried dough served warm with honey, chopped walnuts and cinnamon.

GALAKTOBOUREKO is a divine custard baked in phyllo pastry.

BACLAVA is a phyllo pastry, filled with chopped nuts and drizzled with syrup or dusted with icing sugar as is done in the Ionian Islands.

MELOMACARONA are made with flour, orange juice, olive oil, orange zest, nuts shaped into patties and baked and drizzled with syrup of honey.

KOURABIEDES signify the beginning of the Christmas season, like melomakarona and are sugar-dusted butter biscuits.

DIPLES to prepare this dessert, dough is rolled out thinly, cut into strips, fried in olive oil, drained on kitchen paper, drizzled with honey and sprinkled with chopped nuts.

BOUGSATSA comes in sweet and savoury variants. This phyllo pie, commonly filled with custard cream or cheese and is particularly popular in northern Greece.

REVANI is a delicious cake made with semolina and yogurt and drizzled with a lemony syrup. Serve with ice cream.

HALVA three types of halva are popular in Greece. Semolina halva, tahini halva and halva Pharsalon. Semolina halva is flavoured with cinnamon and cloves and is made with raisins, nuts and sugar. Tahini halva is a vegan delicious cake with chocolate, pistachios and other nuts.

PORTOCALOPITA. The flavour of oranges blends perfectly with the aroma of cinnamon in this syrup drizzled cake,

KATAIFI is a shredded pastry cut in fine strands is bought and made into sweet and savoury dishes.

PLEASE DO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID - 19 SO THAT YOUR BELOVED FAMILIES, FRIENDS, THE WORLD AND YOU REMAIN HEALTHY AND SAFE

Monday, 25 October 2021

GREEK SKELETONS

SHACKLED GREEK SKELETONS MIGHT TELL THE STORY OF THE RISE OF ANCIENT ATHENS

Archaeologists studying ancient Greek shackled skeletons at the cemetery of the ancient city of Palaion Faliron, in order to understand the rise of the Athens city-state

The Faliron cemetery is of the largest of such sites that have been excavated in Greece as it contains more than 1.500 ancient Greek skeletons and dates back to the 8^th – 5^th centuries BC.

Skeletons of people with their hands tied behind their backs, in mass graves, are considered important in understanding the policies of Athens at the time and how the city-state was established.

Excavations of the graveyard in Faliron started a century ago. But large-scale works were carried out between 2012 – 2016 by the Department of Antiquities of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture led by archaeologist Stella Chrysoudaki

Several ancient Greek skeletons were removed in blocks for future micro-excavation Digitization of archaeological field records, photographs and maps have also been done. However, Preservation and analysis have been done by specialists in bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology.

The report says that the skeletons were buried in a variety of ways. Most were buried in simple pit graves but nearly one-third of the infants and children were buried in large jars. About 5% of the remains found are from cremations complete with funeral pyres and there are a few stone-lined cyst graves. One person was buried in a wooden boat like a coffin.

The skeletons have puzzled researchers as there were instances of shackled deaths in the ancient world and could indicate punishment, slavery or death sentence.

Examining and analyzing 1.500 skeletons by the archaeobiologists and geoarchaeologists is a time-consuming and costly process and significant funding is needed.

The research team believes that the analysis of the skeletons can give us a window into a critical time of ancient Greek history, just before the rise of the city-state.

The four major objectives following conservation of skeletons are:

1. To investigate the structure and other deviant burials, including the individuals tossed into mass graves, and decide whether they are casualties of the political upheaval that preceded the rise of the Athenian democracy.

2. To study the burials of children, to learn more about infancy and childhood in the ancient world.

3. To learn more about people’s diet in the ancient city and to find out if its inhabitants succumbed to diseases easily passed through sailors and other travelers from distant lands.

4. To go beyond the analysis of elite individuals buried with elaborate grave goods by focusing on more simple burials, to shed light on the social classes of ancient Athens.

Elite Grave

Simple Grave

PLEASE DO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID – 19 SO THAT YOUR BELOVED FAMILIES, FRIENDS, THE WORLD, AND YOU REMAIN HEALTHY AND SAFE

Sunday, 24 October 2021

ROYAL WEDDING IN GREECE

Former Prince Philippos of Greece and billionaire’s daughter Nina Flohr exchanged wedding vows for a third time in Athens, yesterday. The ceremony was particularly lavish, even by royal standards.

Philippos, the youngest son of the former King of Greece Constantine is married to the Swiss billionaire businessman Thomas Flohr’s daughter Nina Flohr. The 3^rd ceremony was conducted yesterday at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens.

It will be the third wedding for the couple, who first wed last December in a small civil ceremony in Saint Moritz, Switzerland, followed by a high society celebration in Cambridgeshire.

Both were intimate affairs indeed, with the two fathers as witnesses. but this wedding had the makings of an extravaganza. Many important personages were invited. All relatives of both sides, members of the Royal families of Europe, and many friends. Other guests were Vogue editor Alice Naylor-Leyland and her husband Tom, who hosted the couple’s second wedding at their house at Stubbington House in Cambridgeshire. Also, another editor of Vogue, Violet Henderson was invited.

The guest list was made by Philippos and Nina.

The Royal Arms of Greece: