UNHEARD OF SNOWSTORM MAKES LIFE IN GREECE A MISERY

                                                                        

 

The severe snowstorm that hit Greece continues to make life a misery for the residents throughout the country. The snow has turned into ice, so people are in a weather lockdown because the streets and pavements are like skating rinks

 

Northern Athenian suburbs such as Holargos, Penteli, Agia Paraskevi, Kifissia and Ecali to mention a few continue to face acute problems with citizens trapped in their homes.  The situation is much more difficult in Central and Northern Greece.  At the same time, the frost and ice have destroyed all the vegetables in cultivated areas and the prices have gone sky-high.  Another problem caused by the severe weather are fallen trees that could not stand the weight of the snow, so many power loads were destroyed and several areas in Greece are still in black down conditions, with people freezing and conserving food in the snow.  It is extremely difficult and perilous to take sick people to hospitals which is perhaps the worse. And life goes on, births and deaths, it is very difficult for both, under these circumstance, the beginning and end of life, euphoria and tragedy, congratulations, and condolences  

 

I have never experienced such extreme weather conditions in Greece during my long life.  Neither do I remember such conditions in Britain, Ireland and Switzerland where I went to school and college when I was young.   The big freeze that might have very serious results such as deaths.    

 

Fortunately, the sun came out and most of the snow melted!

 

Please do be vaccinated against Covid 19 so that your beloved families, friends, the world and you will remain healthy and safe, despite the omicron 2 and Delta variants.

 

 

AN ODE TO ATHENS

:

                                   

                                   Lost somewhere in the alleys of Filopapou

                                   The city manages not to hurry

                                   The round of death began Saturday night

 

                                      A wind is piercing my body

                                      I am wetter than my trench coat

                                       But I am desperately looking for you in my Athens

 

                                        I can smell smoke from the park

                                        And from the balcony jasmine and honeysuckle

                                        And I can hear Tsitsanis from an untuned instrument

 

                                         So many years every night and it is not enough

                                         Someone might say it's my love

                                         But I am desperately looking for you in my Athens  

                                       

                                         Chamenos kapou sta stena to Philopappou 

                                         Edo pou i poli katafernei na min biazetai

                                         Sto kentro archizei o gyros thanatou, brathi Sabbatou kai

                                         Enas aeras na trypaei to cormi mou

                                         Ego vrergmenos pio poly ap tin kabartina mou

                                         Ma se psachno apegnosmna stin Athina mou

                                         Apo to parko me echei parei to doumani

                                        Apta balconia yiasemia ke nychtoloulouda 

                                        Mia xekourdisti laterna pou pianei Tsitsani

                                       Tosa chronia kathe vradi pou den fathanei 

                                       Kapios tha elege pos psaschno apegnosmena yia tin Athina mou.  

  

                                            

 

SOUPS

                                                                                                                                                                S

 

There can be nothing more comforting on a cold day than a bowl of hot scup

 

 

                           POTATO AND COURGETTE SOUP FROM SANTORINI             

                                                                                           

6 medium-sized courgettes, cut into cubes

6 potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes

960 ml (4 cups) chicken stock

1 tbsp olive oil

2  tbsp parsley

45 g ( ½ cup) kefalotyri or Parmesan grated

1 sprig of dill

2 egg yolks

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Sauté the courgettes, potatoes, and dill in olive oil for a few minutes,.  Then pour in th stock and simmer until tender.  Remove the saucepan from the heat and discard the dill. Beat the egg yolks with the cheese and very slowly add about ¼ of chicken stock into the eggs, stirring quickly. Pour the mixture slowly into the saucepan, stirring constantly.  Return to the fire with the saucepan uncovered.  Don’t let it boil! It’s a full meal.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                               ARTICHOKE SOUP

                                                

 

You could use frozen artichokes for this soup

 

4 large artichoke hearts

1 medium onion, peeled and finely chopped

1  tbsp olive oil

Juice of ½ a lemon

960 ml (4 cups) or more chicken stock

1 tbsp butter

2 tbsp chopped dill

1 heaped tbsp cornflour

250 ml (1 cup) cream

2 egg yolks

Salt and pepper to taste

 

Place the artichokes with the onion in a saucepan with the chicken stock, olive oil, and ½ tbsp of lemon juice. The artichokes should be completely covered by the liquid  Simmer the vegetables until tender. Add the butter and dill and correct the seasoning if necessary,  cool, and blend the vegetables until smooth and set aside,

 

Just before serving, bring the artichoke mixture to a boil. and remove from the heat. Mix the cornflour with 3 tbsp of cream until smooth. Whip the egg yolks with the remaining cream and the cornflour mixture and continue beating   Slowly pour a ladleful or two of the hot artichoke liquid into the egg mixture and pour it into the soup stirring thoroughly.  Simmer gently, stirring constantly until it thickens,  Check to season and adjust accordingly.  If the soup is too thick add some stock and serve immediately.

 

 

 

                                                    ASPARAGUS SOUP

 

500 g (1lb ) asparagus, trimmed

1 clove garlic

1 onion, chopped

720 ml (3 cups) chicken stock

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp plain  flour

1 bay leaf

250 ml (1 cup) cream

Salt and pepper to taste

1 ½ tbsp chopped parsley 

 

Snap each asparagus and keep the tougher parts for further use. Cut off the asparagus tips and set them aside. Chop the remaining asparagus into small pieces. Bring the chicken stock to the boil add the asparagus and simmer for 25 minutes then remove and discard

 

Finally add the chopped asparagus, onion, garlic and simmer for 20 minutes and set aside to cool. Blend the vegetables and sieve Return the soup to the saucepan and keep hot. 

 

Melt the butter and stir in the flour, salt pepper, and bay leaf and cook gently for4 minutes add the milk to the roux and cook, stirring constantly, and correct seasoning if necessary.  Then add the cream and simmer ever so gently.  Serve garnished with chopped parsley and asparagus tips.        

   

 

 PLEASE DO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID 19 SO THAT YOUR BELOVED FAMILIES, FRIENDS, THE WORLD, AND YOU REMAIN HEALTHY AND SAFE DESPITE THE PANIC ABOUT THE OMICRON  2  AND DELTA VARIANTS 

 

 

HARVARD IS COMING TO ATHENS

                                                                                    =  

 

What are the driving forces behind population movements?  What are the effects of climate change on migration flows?  What is the idea of the media in shaping population mobility? Ho are ethical rules for dealing with humanitarian crises defined?  

 

At what stage is the debate on the new asylum and immigration policy in the European Union?  These are important global questions, including for Greece, which due to its geographic location, its membership in the European Union, and the shape of its borders is one of the countries to receive and will continue receiving large waves of refugees and immigrants.

 

Harvard University, one of the leading universities in the world, is coming to Greece to collaborate with the Center of Excellence for Asylum and Immigration founded by the University of Athens.

                       

“Given the university’s role and position in the Greek and international academic community the creation of such a research hub is entirely expected,” Athens University Rector,  Thanos Dimoulis told the press.  “Havard’s decision to collaborate with this research structure by creating a summer school that we hope will become a reference point in the field is no coincidence: It is another sign of our university’s  place in the forefront of scientific research and creative orientation.”

 

“We hope to make the hub the most important research center for these issues in Southeastern Europe and the wider Mediterranean area,” notes Maria Gavoudeli, professor at Law at the Athens University and the hub’s director.

 

In recent years, about 1.5 million refugees and migrants are estimated to have arrived on the Greek islands the majority in 2015.  On the other hand, Greece has been a country of outward migration for many years, recently contributing to the “brain drain” phenomenon.

 

“Based on these data and developments a large volume of scientific studies, research and publications have been produced, while in recent years graduate programs in the field of refugees and immigration have been activated.”     

HEAVY SNOWFALS HIT GREECE

                                                                                                                                

 

. 

\

Heavy snowfalls hit Greece since early Monday, with blizzards and sub-freezing temperatures all over the country.  Authorities have warned the public to limit their movements  Heavy snow and ice covered the columns of the  Acropolis.

 

A traffic jam extending for many kilometers has been reported on the Attiki Odos motorway at the exit of Pallini, due to the heavy snowfalls.  According to motorists on the motorway, the situation is desperate and thousands of cars are at a standstill for very many hours.

 

Meanwhile, the Fire Brigade has requested the Traffic Police to reduce the flow of vehicles at the entrance of the Attiki Odos in order to facilitate their efforts to free the stuck vehicles and the snow and ice from the road.

 

According to reports from Greek TV Channels the Fire Brigade warned that the calls to its Emergency Call Centre will increase in the coming hours and it will need to offer assistance on several fronts as a deterioration of the weather is expected in the coming hours.

 

Water and biscuits were offered to people in stranded vehicles and the sick were transferred to the closest hospitals despite the fact that streets and pavements are like skating rinks. 

 

And something personal, Zena the girl who helps me at home wrang me up and told me that she could not come for two weeks and my sons Spiros and Yiannis are stuck and cannot visit me until the snow that has hardened into ice melts, and allows them to come.           

CREAMY PESTO SHRIMP PASTA

                                                                                                                                 

 

 

Ingredients :

500- g (1 lb) shrimps

1 cup pesto

1000 g (2 lb) spaghetti

2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced

4 tomatoes, peeled and chopped

1 cup heavy cream

Salt and hot red paprika to taste

Fresh basil

Grated Parmesan

 

Shell and devein the shrimps, halve the tomatoes and chop the basil. Cook the spaghetti in salted water until al dente.      Meanwhile, sauté the garlic in olive oil until fragrant.  Then add the pesto, cream. and red hot paprika and stir until well combined.  Then add the shrimps and cook 2 minutes per side until they are cooked through.

 

When the pasta is finished cooking reserve ¼ cup cooking liquid, then drain in a colander.  Return the pasta into the pot with the reserved liquid.  Add the basil, pesto sauce, chopped tomatoes, and toss to combine

 

Divide between bowls and garnish with basil and Parmesan.

PLEASE DO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID 19 SO THAT YOUR BELOVED .FAMILY, FRIENDS, THE WORLD AND YOU WILL REMAIN HEALTHY AND SAFE DESPITE THE PANIC ABOUT THE OMICRON 2 AND DELTA VARIANTS      

 

 

PYTHAGORAS OF SAMOS

              

 

Pythagoras of Samos, was an Ionian Greek philosopher, mathematician and founder of the cult Pythagoreanism  (570-485 BC).

 

Most of the information about Pythagoreanism was written centuries after he lived so very little is known about his life.  He was born on the island of Samos and traveled to the rest of Greece, Egypt, and India. Around 530 BC he moved to Croton in Magna Grecia and established a school there and in 520 BC he returned to Samos,

 

We do not know about the beliefs of the religious mathematical cult called the Pythagoreans and we do know that Pythagoreans made great advances in  mathematics

 

When the cult started it was very secretive.  After Pythagoras died many secrets started to be revealed.

 

The Pythagoreans were a sect whose beliefs were based on the power of numbers: honesty, living a simple life, and generally trying to show kindness to people and animals.

 

 

                                                           TETRACTYS 

To Pythagoreans 10 was the supreme power.  10 can be made by adding the first four numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4.  These numbers form a perfect equilateral triangle the Tetractys.

 

Rations of numbers from the Tetractys are important in musical scales, which the Pythagoreans also thought had mystical powers.  The Pythagoreans prayed to the Tetractys and swore oaths of faith to it

 

Pythagoreans believed that everything could be reduced to numbers.

 

Modern physicists seeking the ”theory of everything” or the “Grand Unification“ are Pythagoreans who believe that the universe can be understood by mathematical equations.

 

Philolaus was the first Pythagorian to write about their cults and beliefs. He said:

 

 

 

ATTIKI ODOS IN CHAOS

 

Hundreds of motorists are stranded for more than 8 hours on Attiki Odos in Athens, for a distance to cover in 20 minutes they need over 5 hours to reach their destination.

A motorist told the press that she had been stranded for 12 hours.  She had a bottle of water which she sipped with great care.  Like her, there were hundreds if not thousands of motorists stuck on the 70 km long highway with elderly and children on board.  Many motorists just abandoned their cars and started walking towards their homes if relatively nearby, others stayed in the cold, turning the engine off and on to get some heat, and at the same time keeping an eye that all the fuel is not used. 

The problems of Attiki Odos created chaos also on major roads of Athens, during the day. Prior to the prosecutor's investigation order the Minster for Climate and Civil Protection, Christos Stylianides, accused the management of Attiki Odos of not keeping the highway open.

Also, the state mechanism decided to deploy the Armed Forces to help evacuate the stranded motorists. .   

HEALTH ALERT

                 

 

Enormous queues are forming for rapid tests, for people who came in contact with suspected patients with COVID – 19.   The schools will reopen on the 6^th of January.  Meantime students are studying through E-Learning which costs a few Euros for the teachers and is free for the pupils. 

 

It is very worrying because despite the fact that most Greeks have been thrice vaccinated against this terrible disease the number of cases is rising.  This is mostly due to the deniers, and to thoughtless youngsters who attend parties without knowing who will be present.

PLEASE DO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID - 19 SO THAT YOUR BELOVED FAMILIES, FRIENDS, THE WORLD AND YOU WILL REMAIN HEALTHY AND SAFE, DESPITE THE OMICRON 2 AND DELTA PANICS         

SNOW COVERS THE WHOLE OF GREECE

Snow covers the whole of Greece, even at low elevations.   The Civil Protection Ministry has sent SMS using the EU-wide emergency number to residents of Greece warning of dangerous ice-cold weather which will last for several days and counseling against unnecessary trips.  

         

ICONOGRAPHY

      

Iconography, from the Greek iconographia,  refers to the making and liturgical use of icons pictorial representations of Biblical scenes of the life of Jesus Christ, and portraits of the saints.

 

Icons are usually made with paint, mosaic, embroidery, weaving, engraving, and other methods. The people who make icons are called iconographers.

 

Images have always been a vital part of the Church. But the place was the subject of iconoclastic controversy in the 8^th and 9^th centuries, especially in the East.  The Sunday of Orthodoxy the first Sunday of the Great Fast Lent every year celebrates the reestablishment of the Orthodox veneration of icons. The use of iconography is considered most distinctive by Byzantine Rise.

 

From the first centuries of Christianity, icons have been used for prayer.  Orthodox tradition tells us for instance, of an icon of Christ during his lifetime was not made by hand and the icon of Theotokos was painted by the Apostle and Evangelist Luke.   

Famous Greek iconographers are Victor (1665-1695) was a painter active during the 17th century, and represented the late Cretan school he was influenced by Michael Dakaskinos and he kept his style simple and followed the lines of the improved maniera Greca,  and was heavily influenced by the Venetian school.

According to the Neo-Hellenic Institute, 95 of his paintings and one fresco survived. Modern Greek iconographers are the famous Fotis Kontoglu,  Dimitrios Moulas, Panayiotis Markopoulos, and Ioannis Sanidopoulos  

PLEASE DO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID 19 SO THAT YOUR BELOVFRED FAMILIES, FRIENDS, THE WORLD AND YOU WILL REMAIN  HEALTHY AND SAFE DESPITE THE OMICRON 2 AND DELTA VARIANTS  

                                               GREECE IS FREEZING                                 

Icy temperatures, gale-force winds, and heavy snowfalls are expected in Greece from the weekend due to the severe weather called ELPIS by the National Metrological Service EMY.  

The first such system arrived on Saturday followed by a more severe one on Monday   Temperatures dropped on Saturday and will plunge even lower between Monday and Wednesday when the maximum temperature will not exceed 2-3 C while /Central and Nothern Greece especially will experience a powerful freeze,

Many areas will have snow even at low altitudes starting in Macedonia and Thrace and then all over Greece even in Crete and the Dodecanese Islands, Schools, are shut to the pleasure of young children.

PLEASE DO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID - 19 SO THAT YOUR BELOVED FAMILIES, FRIENDS, THE WORLD AND YOU WILL REMAIN HEALTHY AND SAFE DESPITE THE OMICRON 2 AND DELTA VARIANTS      

CHEESE PIE

                                                       

 Ingredients:

150 g (5 oz) wholemeal flour

150 g (5 oz) plain flour

Pinch if salt

¼ tsp mustard powder

150 g (5 oz) butter, cubed

1 egg

Just enough water to make a soft pliable dough

2 tsp dried breadcrumbs fir sprinkling over pastry

 

Filling:

500 g (1 lb) feta cheese, soaked in water for10 minutes if salty and drained

250 g ( ½ lb) anthoty

2 tbsp Parmesan, grated

1 large onion, peeled and finely gr

200 g (1 small tub) Greek yogurt or

1 cup bechamel

Salt, if necessary and nutmeg and freshly ground black pepper to taste

 

First, prepare the pastry.  Blend the 2 flours with the mustard powder and salt. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.  Add the egg and very little water and pulse until the dough forms a ball around the hook.  Cover and refrigerate for ½ an hour at least.

 

In a large bowl, crumble the feta and anthotyro and stir in the Parmesan and onion.  Beat the eggs with the yogurt, nutmeg, and black pepper and mix with the cheese mixture until well combined. 

 

Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F).  Roll out 2 thin pastry sheets one larger than the other.  Line a buttered dish with the larger sheet and sprinkle evenly with breadcrumbs.  Spoon the filling evenly over.  Cover with the remaining pastry sheet and join the two sheets attractively together.  Score the top of the pie I serving pieces and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, 

                                        PRAWNS IN TOMATO SAUCE

                                                             Wild Rice 

 

Ingredients:

2 tbsp olive oil plus extra for drizzling over

1 onion, peeled and sliced

2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced

400 g (93 oz) tomatoes, halved, deseeded, grated skins discarded

Salt and paprika to taste

1 tsp sugar or more according to the acidity of the tomatoes

A handful of fresh coriander and boiled rice for garnish.

 

Sauté the onion in olive oil until transparent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add all the other ingredients except the prawns and cook until the sauce thickens.  Add the prawns and cook for 2 minutes more. 

 

Garnish with wild rice and coriander before serving.

                                                      SPANAKOPITA 

 

Ingredients:

2 tbsp olive oil

20 ml vinegar

10 g sugar

Salt to taste

210 ml water

200 ml olive oil

Filling :

1 tbsp olive oil

3 spring onions

1 kg  (2 lb ) spinach, washed

1/2 cup chopped mint

1/2  cup Mediterranean hartwort

1/3 cup chopped dill

Zest of 1 lemon

500 g ( 1/2 lb) feta

200 g cream cheese 

Salt and pepper to taste 

In a mixer pulse for 5 minutes the flour, olive oil, vinegar sugar,  salt, and water  When the dough forms a ball around the hook Remove from the mixer the dough should be soft and pliable place in a bowl and cover with cling film and set aside for 30 minutes.  Roll out the dough into 2 sheets one larger than the other.

Saute the spring onions in olive oil until soft.  Add the spinach, cut it into small pieces and cook until the cooking liquid evaporates. and place in a bowl. Add the Mediterranean hartwort, chopped dill lemon zest, feta, cream cheese, and salt and pepper to taste. 

Line a round baking dish with the larger dough sheet, spoon in the filling and cover with the remaining sheet.  Score the top of the pie and bake in an oven preheated to 180C (350 F) and bake for 30 minutes or until crisp and golden.     

]

\

\

PLEASE DO BE VACCINATED AGAINST THE COVID -  19 SO THAT YOUR BELOVED FAMILIES, FRIENDS, THE WORLD AND YOU REMAIN HEALTHY AND SAFE DESPITE THE OMICRON 2  AND DELTA VARIANTS 

 

     

MEET THE SECRETIVE GREEK MILITARY UNIT THA NATO SPECIAL OPERATIONS HEAD QUARTERS JUST RATED AS "COMBAT READY AND EXCEPTIONAL"

Greece’s tire – one special operations unit earned top marks from NATO’s Special Operations Head Quarters.  The Special Operations Forces Headquarters and the Special Paratroopers Section, known as ETA is intended for the most difficult and most important operations.

 

NATO’S rating puts the ETA into an exclusive club alongside special-operations powerhouses, like the US Delta Forces and Seals. 

PLEASE DO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID - 19, SO THAT YOUR BELOVED FAMILIES, FRIENDS, THE WORLD AND YOU WILL REMAIN HEALTHY AND SAFE DESPITE TO OMICRON 2 AND DELTA VARIATIONS    

TURKEY NUBS THREE FETO TERROR SUSPECTS TRYING TO FLEE TO GREECE

 Three suspected number of the Fethullah  Terrorist Organization (FETO) who were trying to escape to Greece were arrested in northwestern Turkey, the National Defence Ministry said on Thursday. 

The suspects were caught by border troops in Eidine, the Ministry added. FETO's US-based leader,  Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup in which 251 people were killed and 2.723 were injured. 

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish instructions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

PLEASE DO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID - 19 SO TNAT YOUR BELOVED FAMILIES, FRIENDS, THE WORLD AND YOU WILL REMAIN HEALTHY AND SAFE DESPITE THE PANIC ABOUT THE OMICRON AND DELTA VARIANTS  

WHAT GREEK MYTHS CAN TEACH US ABOUT OUR MOMENT OF CRISIS

 

 

 

According to Ovid’s famous epic poem Metamorphosis, Phaedon is the son of Helios the sun god, who drives his blazing chariot across the sky every day. But Phaedon had never met his father.  Instead, he lives with his mother in obscurity and his friends are scornful of his claim to be the god’s son. 

Eventually,  Phaedon goes in search of Helios, who when they meet promises his son any gift he really desires.  “I want to drive your chariot across the sky, just for one day,” said Phaedon.  Helios is horrified and tries to persuade Phaedon to take back his request, but in vain.     

 

It is a disaster, of course, a mere boy has no chance of controlling the Sun God's horses. The chariot went wildly towards the earth, crops were burnt, rivers and lakes dried up and people went hungry.   In the end, it was Gaia, the very old goddess of Earth herself who parched and weary called out in distress.   Then Zeus heard her and sent a thunderbolt to kill the boy and stop his journey.   At that time it was difficult to imagine what Ovid was describing.

The practical quality of myths is their ability to send us signals from the past.   But these signals are there to be read at the present time and every time is different. Phaedon's myth has been read as a fable about youthful arrogance and folly. It shows the desperate search of a son for his missing father's love.

More recently, it seems obvious that a human who is caught up in his petty desires is so blind to the appalling environmental damage he is causing. 

The tragedy of the myth is that Phaedon's desperation and his sense of loss and injustice are very comprehensible, so intensely human,  but he is trapped in the smallness of his preview.  And it is that inability to see more widely and to understand consequences that are so horrifying.

PLEASE DO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COCVID - 19  SO THAT YOUR BELOVED FAMILIES, FRIENDS, THE WORLD, AND YOU REMAIN HEALTHY AND SAFE DESPITE THE PANIC OVER THE OMICRON AND DELTA VARIANTS.  

THE GREEK GOVERNMENT IS WAITING FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE EXPERTS COMMITTEE

The Greek Government is waiting for the recommendations of the committee of the epidemiological experts, which will meet on Wednesday, to assess the pandemic data and decide whether a relaxation of measures is possible the Government spokesman Yiannis Economou said on Tuesday in an interview to SKAI TV.

 

He also noted that there are still a few beds on the NATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM  because despite the fact that the “Omicron” variant is a new predominant the “Delta” variant causes more severe consequences and leads the patients to intubation.  He added that, unfortunately, 85% of the people who are attacked by Covid 19 are unvaccinated.  “Obviously this concerns us and should be something that should be among the criteria one takes into account when making decisions,” he added.  

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

GOURMET RECIPES

               

 

                                                         CROISSANTS

 

These flaky, golden-colored crescent-shaped pastries are best made with pure butter and slightly sweetened yeast dough.  The yellow-white interior should be slightly elastic when cut and spread with butter and jam.

 

Experts say that croissants were influenced by Austrian kipfels. This pastry originated in 1683 as a celebration of the Austrian victory over the Ottoman Turks,  their shape mimicking the crescent on the Turkish flag.

 

One of the true classics of French cuisine, croissants are not at all easy to make but are worth the trouble.   

 

Ingredients

For 500 g (1 lb) puff pastry:

210 g (1 2/3 cup + 2 tbsp) plain flour

85 ml ( 1/3 cup + 1 tsp) milk

5 g (1 tsp) yeast

30 g (2 tbsp) sugar

10 g (2 tsp) salt

 

Glazing

1 egg yolk

First, prepare the puff pastry, Take a small bowl and dilute the yeast with some milk and dissolve the sugar and salt in another bowl. 

 

Place the flour in a 3^rd large bowl and pour in the milk, sugar and salt mixture followed by the diluted yeast.  Knead the dough by hand until its texture is smooth, adding a little water if the dough seems too firm.

 

Now cover the bowl with cling film and a small blanket and let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 2 hours.  Next, transfer the dough to a floured surface and punch it with your fist to release the carbon dioxide produced during the fermentation and the dough will return to its initial volume.

 

Using a knife make a cross-shaped cut in the centre of the dough spread each quarter like a flower petal and roll until it is 2 mm (1/16 inch)  but make sure to leave a small thicker bulge in the centre

 

Take small pieces of softened butter and place them on top. Now roll each rolled quarter over the butter, so that the dough takes a square form.

 

The next stage is called “turning”. Gently roll out the dough into a rectangle 3 times long as it is wide. The edges should be as straight as possible. Now fold the dough to form a rectangular envelope to give its 1^st turn.

 

Now cover the dough with cling film and place it in the refrigerator for 1 hour.  Do 2 more turns as described above and place them in the fridge for another hour.  Now roll out the dough so it is 6 mm ( ¼ inch) thick and cut into isosceles triangles the bases should be 14 cm (5.5 inches) and the sides 16 cm (6.3 inches). Now roll out each triangle starting from the base to the top.

 

Line the baking pan with parchment and place the croissants on top.  Make sure you leave enough space between them because they will rise.  Whisk the egg yolk with some water and brush this mixture over the croissant and let them sit for one hour until they double in volume.  In the meantime preheat the oven to180 C (350 F), brush the top of the croissants with diluted egg yolk and bake for 20 minutes         

 

 PLEASE DO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID - 19 SO THAT YOUR BELOVED FAMILIES, FRIENDS, THE WORLD, AND YOU SO THAT YOU REMAIN HEALTHY AND SAFE DESPITE THE PANIC OVER OMICRON VARIANT.  

 

 

ELGIN MARBLES

                                              THE ELGIN MARBLES

Greece turns up the heat about the Elgin marbles and the Greek Prime Minister insists that Boris Johnson promised not to stand in the way of talks with the British Museum.

 

The Greek PM, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that Boris Johnson said he would not stand in the way of conversation with the British Museum about the Elgin Marbles.

 

Mr Mitsotakis has offered to lend some Greek treasures in return.  The UK’s long-term position has been that the artefacts were acquired lawfully.

 

A survey found 65% of the British people are in favour of returning the marbles to Greece.  Boris Johnson has come under pressure over the future of the Elgin Marbles after the Greek Prime Minister urged him to seize the moment and return the artefacts to Greece.

 

Kyriakos Mitsotakis writing in today’s Mail on Sunday says that when he met Mr Johnson in Downing Street last week, he promised not to stand in the way of Greece establishing a formal dialogue with the British Museum over the future of the marbles.

 

Mr Mitsotakis offered to lend some of Greece’s treasures such as the Artemision  Bronze, an ancient Greek sculpture of Poseidon and Zeus to the UK in exchange for the return of the 2.500 years old sculpture which was removed from the Parthenon by the British Envoy Lord Elgin between 1801-1812.

 

The UK’s long-standing position has been that the Elgin Marbles were acquired in accordance with the law and any decision of their return has been made by the British Museum, which operates independently of the government and free from political interference.    

PLEASE DO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID 19 SO THAT YOUR BELOVED FAMILIES, FRIENDS, THE WORLD AND YOU WILL REMAIN  HEALTHY AND SFE DESPITE THE OMICRO  VARIANT PANIC.      

ATHENS

                

             IS ATHENS SAFE? AREAS TO AVOID AND OTHER WARNINGS

The capital of Greece is also home of ancient world treasures, including the Acropolis, the Parthenon, Adriano’s Arch, and Poseidon’s Temple at Sounion Bay.

 

Athens is full of all the beauty that comes with many ruins and antiquities, many of them dating back to the 5^th century BC, which puts modern times into proper perspective.  Athens has model marvels to show such as ancient, Byzantine, and modern buildings plus the inviting Mediterranean climate, so it can be visited any time of the year.

 

But some tourists wonder: “Is Athens safe to visit?” especially since covid 19 has struck mankind and since Europe has been, occasionally, struck by terrorists. 

 

COVID 19 cases are fewer these last few days in Greece, but we must be cautious.  As for terrorism in Athens is not included on the lengthy list of the world's most dangerous cities such as Tampa, New York, Santiago, London, Dublin, Brussels, Paris, Berlin, Delhi, Melbourne, Beijing, Queensland, and Wellington.

 

Places to avoid in Athens are Omonia, Exarchia, Vathi, and Kolokotroni squares, which have high crime rates, that should be avoided altogether.  These areas of Athens can be dangerous because they are frequented by anarchist groups as well as drug dealers like many other large cities in the world.

 

The northern suburbs of Athens and the Kolonaki area are quite safe to visit or live in. 

PLEASE DO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID - 19 SO THAT YOUR BELOVED FAMILIES, FRIENDS, THE WORLD AND YOU WILL REMAIN HEALTHY AND SAFE DESPITE THE PANIC OF THE OMICRON VARIANT.       

MOUNT OLYMPUS

                  

 

 

Mount Olympus in NE Greece is the traditional home pf Zeus and the major Greek gods.  The mountain is the highest in Greece, rising almost straight from the Aegean Sea to a height of 2.917 meters (9.570 feet).

 

In 1938, the mountain and the nearby areas became the National Park of Greece.  Today its lower slopes, broken by narrow, densely forested gorges with waterfalls and caves are popular with visitors trying to see the mountain’s biodiversity.  There are 1.700 plant species, 32 species of mammals, and 108 species of birds on Mount Olympus.    Do visit this extraordinary mountain whenever you can. 

PLEASE DO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID - 19 SO YOUR BELOVED FAMILIES, FRIENDS, THE WORLD AND YOU WILL REMAIN HEALTHY AND SAFE DESPITE THE OMICRON VARIANT PANIC. 

TURKEY IS DISTORTING REALITY

 

 

“Turkey is distorting reality when it comes to its past”, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Greece in response to Ankara’s hysteria over Greek President, Katerina Sakelaropoulou’s statement on the genocide of the Pontian Greeks during the Ottoman Empire according to the Greek press. 

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece said “the Turkish side, unfortunately, is once again distorting reality and hiding not only what happened in the past, but also current policies, which violate international law on a daily basis, creating tension and poisoning the climate between the two countries.”

 

Turkey said it regretted “baseless claims” by the Greek President during an event to present a home for “all the Pontian Greeks of Sourmena.”

 

Mrs.: Sakelaropoulou said : “The tragic end of the Pontiac Greeks in Anatolia, introducing systematic genocide, with persecutions, massacres, attempts at violent Islamization and barbarism, uprooting them from their ancestral homes brought them to the path of becoming refugees.”  

PLEASE DO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID - 19 SO THAT YOUR BELOVED FAMILIES, FRIENDS, THE WORLD AND YOU WILL REMAIN HEALTHY AND SAFE DESPITE THE PANIC OF THE OMICRON VARIANT.             

SOUPS

                                                         

 

There can be nothing more comforting on a chilly day than a cup of hearty, hot soup!

 

                                           CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP

2 tbsp butter

500 g ( ½ lb) chopped mushrooms

¼ cup chopped onion

6 tbsp plain flour

1 bay leaf

Salt and pepper to taste

Chicken stock

1 cup cream

 

In a large saucepan, sauté onion and mushrooms in butter until tender.  Mix the flour, salt, and pepper ½ cup of broth until smooth, and add the mushroom mixture.  Stir in the remaining broth, bring to a boil and simmer until thickened, about 3 minutes.  Reduce the heat and add the cream.

 

Simmer, uncovered, until the flavours mingle, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, discard the bay leaf before serving.

 

 

                                                         BEAN SOUP

500 g ( ½ lb) sausages, casing removed and crumbled

1 small onion, peeled and chopped

1 ½ tsp olive oil

1 garlic clove, peeled and minced

500 ml (2 cups) water

1 cup boiled beans, drained

3 tomatoes, halved, deseeded, grated skins discarded

1 cup chicken broth

¾ cup elbow macaroni

¼ tsp pepper

1 cup fresh spinach leaves chopped

5 tsp grated Parmesan

 

In a large saucepan, cook the sausage, over medium heat, until no longer pink, drain, remove from the pan and set aside.

 

Add the water, beans, tomatoes, broth, macaroni, and pepper and bring to a boil. Simmer, uncovered, until the macaroni is tender, about 10 minutes.  Reduce the heat and add sausage and spinach and cook until spinach is wilted 3 minutes and sprinkle with Parmesan.

 

 

                                                         MINESTRONE

2 large carrots

2 celery stalks, threaded and chopped

1 onion, peeled and chopped

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp butter

2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced

500 ml (2 cups) chicken broth

500 ml (2 cups) tomato juice

1 cup kidney beans, boiled in salted water, and drained

1 cup chickpeas, boiled in salted water, and drained

1 cup diced tomatoes

1 ½ cup shredded cabbage

1 ½ tsp chopped parsley

1 tsp fresh chopped oregano

1 tsp fresh chopped basil

1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni

Parmesan cheese

 

In a large saucepan, sauté the carrots, celery, and onion in oil and butter until tender.  Add the garlic and cook for a minute more. Pour in the broth, tomato juice, beans, chickpeas, parsley, oregano, and pepper.  Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.  Add the macaroni and cook for 8 minutes or until the pasta and vegetables are tender

 

Ladle in soup bowls and sprinkle with Parmesan.

        

                                            AVGOLEMONO SOUP

                      

 

A delicious Greek soup.

6 cups tasty chicken stock

6 tbsp rice

½ chicken breast, skinned and finely chopped

1 tbsp chopped parsley

1 tbsp chopped dill

2 eggs

Lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste

In a large saucepan place the 5 first ingredients and simmer until the rice is tender.  Remove from the heat and cool a little. Whip the eggs until light and fluffy and stir in the lemon juice slowly add a ladleful of stock into the eggs to warm them a little. Add some more stock and pour into saucepan with the rice and warm a little without boiling.  Taste and add more salt, pepper, or lemon juice if necessary.    

 

 

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