Greek-Australian tennis star, Nick Kyrgios appears to be confirming that he is engaged to his Greek Australian girlfriend Costeen Hatzis. The 26-year-old star confirmed the news on Wednesday by posting a photo of the couple, with Costeen, 21 wearing a diamond ring on her wedding finger.
She confirmed the photo with a diamond ring emoji and wrote:
“My baby, what a great week. Let’s make
it together!”
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More than 80% of Ukrainians believe they will win the
war. Zelensky warns of World War
III. The United Nations says 10 million
Ukrainians have fled from their homes.
Meanwhile, Ukraine President, Volodymyr Zelensky made a
direct appeal to Moscow and the people of Russia claiming that 14.000 Russian
soldiers have been killed since the invasion and the Ukrainian President
also warned of consequences if ongoing
ceasefire talks with Russia fail.
And according to Mariupol’s city council, Russian bombs fell
on an art school in the city where about 400 residents were hiding,
Although March is the first month of spring in the Northern Hemisphere,
we have had bitterly cold weather in Greece, this year. We were completely ice-bound for two weeks in
early March. I don’t remember this happening in Ireland and Switzerland when I was
a student. In Greece, we say "MARTIS
YTHARTIS" which indicates the ferocity of the weather. Anyway, March is ending, and I hope April
will be kinder to us.
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US President, Joe Biden, said that Russian President, Vladimir
Putin “cannot remain in power” during a speech in Poland. The United States has made assurances that
there will be additional defence support for Ukraine according to the White
House.
Ukrainian authorities said on Saturday that bus convoys, trying
to e00cuate civilians from Mariupol, were stopped and held by Russian forces
Athens is the highest holiday destination in the world,
according to a British survey, with Rhodes coming sixth.
The survey by money.co.uk. checked which cities are the best
around the world when it came to hotels, restaurants, nights out, and things to do.
It found that 11.8% of the hotels in Athens are five-star
rated by users, 10% of its restaurants are in the Michelin Guide. 33.6% of the night-life
establishments have five-star ratings, as do 44.5% of the things to do in Athens.
Therefore Athens has an overall score of 19.7%, Lisbon with
15.8%, and Rhodes with 13.7%.
Greece backs sanctions against Russia and intends to accommodate Ukrainian refugees according to the Greek Prime Minister.
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“Greece, the birthplace of democracy, backs the European Union’s
sanctions against Russia after its unlawful invasion of Ukraine and is ready to
host Ukrainian refugees,” Prime Mister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told the Greek parliament.
“Greece is always on the right side if history and we are
going to do the same today. For Greece
there are no dilemmas, we are on the side of Ukraine’s freedom and democracy. Russia’s invasion has awakened old nightmares
of war as Russia attempts to dismember Ukraine,” he said.
“The European Union was born out of the ashes of World War
II. It responded with the largest of
sanctions ever launched. The EU’s
actions changed the world’s public opinion.” The
Prime Minister called for more defense cooperation among EU countries and reiterated
that defense expenditure should be exempted from the budget of countries, that
like Greece, are guarding the block’s external borders.
Mitsotakis said the EU must also support countries and businesses against a further jump in energy costs. Like some other European countries, Greece is, unfortunately, heavily reliant on Russia for about 40% of its gas supplies. Greek as suppliers are lining up additional cargoes,” he said.
“We cannot rule out attempts of Russia to blackmail. We all realize this will disrupt global supplies
and probably trigger a further rise in energy prices,” said Mitsotakis “But we
all agree it is the one-off price European people will pay,” he added.
THE 25TH OF MARCH
From antiquity until today Greece has lived through major historical
events. The country was involved in many
wars, Persian wars, the wars of Alexander the Great etc. In modern Greek
history from 1821 till today the country was involved in two major wars, the War
of Independence form the Ottoman Empire and World War II. Every year Greeks remember these historical events with two national
anniversaries on October 28th and the 25th of March.
The 25th of March is also a religious holiday the
Feast of the Annunciation. On this day in the Orthodox calendar, the Archangel
Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and told her that she was pregnant with the
Son of God.
In 1821 the Greeks rose against the Ottoman Empire which had
occupied their country for over 400 years leading to the war of independence. Bishop Germanos of Patras raised the Greek flag at the monastery of Agia Lavra inciting the Peloponnese to rise against the Turkish
oppressors.
The first modern Greek state was founded in 1828 under the
name Hellenic State and consisted of the Peloponnese and part of Central
Greece. The first governor was John
Kapodistrias who founded schools and orphanages and helped make great development
to the economy and education of the country.
Kapodistrias is still honored in Greece and the Greek euro coin of 20
cents bears his face.
The national holiday is celebrated with patriotic speeches and school and military parades. Most Greeks attend church followed by a memorial service and a fabulous lunch!
On the 25th of March, the traditional lunch is salt cod with garlic sauce (bakaliaros skordalia). Eating cod this day perhaps predates the Greek revolution. and stems the day's religious significance. As it is the middle of Lent, the Greek Orthodox Church allows some exceptions to the period's normally strict dietary prescriptions, Specifically, fish could be consumed as well as wine.
For the fish you need:
1 kg salted cod, soaked for 48 hours in water, changing the water several times
Batter:
100 g plain flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp Cayenne pepper
1 tsp salt
100 ml cold water
Vegetable oil for frying
So just prepare the batter by mixing the flour, baking powder, Cayenne pepper, and salt, Dip each fish fillet in the batter and fry on both sides until golden and place on paper towels to drain,
Prepare the garlic sauce before frying the cod, here is the recipe:
500 g potatoes, peeled, roughly chopped and boiled
4 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed
1 pinch of Cayenne pepper
Salt to taste
50 ml lemon juice
Place the potatoes with all the other ingredients in a blender and pulse until you have a smooth sauce. Taste the sauce before serving and add more seasoning and lemon juice, if necessary.
Serve the fried cod with the garlic sauce, and boiled wild greens (agria horta).
YIANNIS MAKRIYIANNIS TAKES STAGE AT TOP US UNIVERSITY
Yiannis Makriyiannis, a hero of the Greek War of Independence,
will be the subject of a performance entitled: “Makriyiannis Unplugged”, in Los
Angeles a UCLAI Freud Playhouse on the 26th of March. Acclaimed Greek actor, director and acting
teacher, Yiorgos Karamihos, will perform the work “Makriyiannis Unplugged,” at
the top university.
The work, which is a tribute to Makriyiannis and was adapted
from passages of his memories describing life during the war of independence
against the Ottoman Turks.
The young Ukrainian girl who went viral for singing a hit song from the film “Frozen” in a Kyiv bomb shelter has performed her country’s anthem live on stage at a charity concert in Poland, where she is now a refugee.
Thousands of people waved lights, in a darkened stadium in
Lodz, Poland as 7-year-old Amelia Anisovych sang on Sunday evening. The charity event raised more than 380.000
dollars.
She wore a traditional Ukrainian embroidered dress and sang
in the same clear voice that could be heard in a mobile phone video when she
sang “Let it Go” from the bomb shelter.
A delicious soup which is a meal on its own.
1 kg (2lb) salmon fillets
8 peppercorns
1 strip of lemon rind
1 large carrot, cut into large chunks
1 celery stalk and leaves
3 bay leaves
A few parsley stalks
1 handful of chopped dill
1 onion, peeled
8 allspice berries
1 kg (2 lb) potatoes, peeled and cubed
200 ml (7 fl oz) single cream
30 g (1 oz) butter
Skin and debone the salmon and cut it into bite-sized
pieces. Place 12 cups of water in a
saucepan, for the broth, with the salmon skin and bones, peppercorns, lemon
rind, carrot, celery, bay leaves, parsley stalks, the onion and some salt. Bring to the boil and discard scum. Lower the heat and simmer for ½ an hour
before straining into a large, clean saucepan.
You will need about 6 cupfuls if it is not enough, add extra water.
Place the stock over high heat and add the allspice berries
and potatoes and cook for about 15 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Lower the heat and add the salmon chunks and
simmer gently for 10 minutes until the salmon is cooked. Add the cream, butter and chopped dill. Bring back toa gentle boil, taste and adjust
seasoning if necessary and serve with a grinding of fresh pepper.
The Israeli Air Force is ready to partake in a major international aerial exercise hosted by Greece later this month, simulating of nations against air defense systems, large airstrikes, and rescue systems.
Seven countries are joining Greece in its Iniochos exercise this year: the USA, Canada, France, Italy, Cyprus, Slovenia, and Austria, The exercise will begin on the 28th of March and is scheduled to last through the 8th of April.
Egypt, Albania, North Macedonia, the UK, India, Kuwait, Croatia, Marocco and Saudi Arabia will be sending observers to the drill.
According to the Hellenic Air Force, the drill is meant to simulate a variety of scenarios, including evading attacks from surface-to-air missiles, strikes from land-based targets, search and rescue and protecting or attacking an airborne target.
Sunday marks the tragic anniversary of the departure, in
1943, of the first train taking members of Thessaloniki’s Jewish community to
the Auschwitz death camp.
Another 17 trains followed, deporting around 55.000 in total
of our Jewish compatriots to a tragic death.
Fortunately, 2.000 survived the Nazi death camps to which they were
dispatched. A lot has been written about how they survived the ghastly
conditions of the concentration camps, particularly at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Only a small number are still alive today,
the serial number tattooed on their left forearm serving as a constant reminder
of the horrors of Holocaust.
On Sunday, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with the roar
of heavy artillery pounding in Eastern Europe and the risk of full-scale war on
European soil looms, Thessaloniki will hold a so-called “silent march” to the city’s
old railway station, near the waterfront where convoys of Jews were forcefully
rounded up by the Nazi soldiers and sent off to the notorious death camps.
It will be an emotional demonstration against the extermination
of the children of Thessaloniki back then as well as the crimes unfolding today
in Ukraine, in whose capital, Kyiv, the Nazis murdered 33.000 Jews at the Babi
Yar ravine during World War II.
This year’s memorial will be led by the President of Greece,
Mrs. Katerina Sakellaropoulou, who will proclaim the “never gain” vow along with
those who have chosen to forget. It took
more than half a century and a bunch of courageous folks to take the stereotype
and prejudice before the city of Thessaloniki and the Greek state finally paid homage
to its own people.
In 2006, the Holocaust Memorial was moved from Thessaloniki’s
eastern district to Eleftheria (Freedom) Square, It is here that the Germans rounded
up and humiliated the city’s brave Jewish
population before their deportation.
There have been plans of constructing the Holocaust Museum in Thessaloniki
in the western part of the city that was first unveiled by Mayor Yiannis Boutaris in
2013, the museum was originally
scheduled for completion in 2020. It
was only in 2014 that the city extended a formal apology to its Jewish
community through the lips of Boutaris.
“the City of Thessaloniki took an unjustifiable long time to
break the silence, “ Boutaris said. “Today
it can say it is ashamed of those in Thessaloniki who collaborated with the
Germans, those who embezzled fortunes, and those who betrayed the Jews who tried
to escape,” he said.
President Sakellaropoulou’s presence in the front line of the
silent march will confirm that the country has turned the page on this terrible
chapter of its history,
It is will tears flowing from my eyes for the tragic massacre
of my Jewish compatriots during World War II and the extreme shame I am feeling for my treacherous compatriots during the same war, that I am
writing this new post.
The head of the World Food Programme, David Beasley, has
warned “The conflict in Ukraine could send global food prices soaring, with
catastrophic impact on the world’s poorest.
Ukraine and Russia are both major exporters of basic
foodstuffs and the war has already hit crop production, driving up prices. Mr Beasley said it was putting more people on
the list of starvation worldwide.
"Just when you think hell on earth can't get any worse it does," he said
Russia and Ukraine, called the breadbasket of Europe, export about a quarter of the world's wheat and half of its sunflower products such as seed and oil. Moreover, Ukraine also sells tons of corn globally.
Analysts have warned that war could impact the production of grains and even double global wheat prices.
Mr Beasley told BBC Services's Business Daily programme that the number of people facing potential starvation worldwide have alreday risen to 275 million .
My beloved grandson, Chritophoros, has brilliant marks in Management while studying in Greece, all As and only one B. CONGRATULATIONS! We are all very proud of you and our very best wishes for your studies in Innsbruck!
A symbolic complaint by Ukraine, that breaks hearts, is 109
prams depicting the109 babies and young children that were brutally murdered by the Russians in this deadly war. PLEASE
STOP THIS TRAGIC, UNNECESSARY WAR.
TIS KYRIAKES
Tin Deutera
ke tin Triti nowtho kati pos mou leipei
Tin Tetarti tha xespaso ke tha po yiati?
Pempti tha to rixo exo
Paraskeyi th’andexo
Sabbato tha pio os to proi
Tis Kyriakes mou leipeis Thee mou pio poly
Yiati xypnousame mazi ke oneira kaname yia mia zoe
I Kyriakes mou fernoun sto mialo to hthes
Loyia dika sou pos me thes
Tosa akoma pou yposhethikes
Tis Kyrikes
A rough translation of this nostalgic old Greek love song:
On Monday and Tuesday, I feel something is missing
On Wednesday I shall angrily ask myself “why?”
On Thursday I shall enjoy my own company
On Friday I shall tolerate myself
And on Saturday I shall drink until dawn
But on Sunday I miss you the most
Because we used to wake up together and
We dreamed of a life with each other
Sunday brings to my mind the time we were together
When you told me that you loved me and so many more that
you promised me
On Sundays
Joe Biden has just told reporters covering him at the White House, moments ago, that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a "war criminal,#" over his country's invasion of Ukraine. We have called him a NAZI dictator in a previous post.
"He is a war criminal," Biden said, according to Reuters news agency. The US president pledged an extra 800 million dollars for security assistance to Ukraine out of almost 14 billion dollars in aid of the embattled country that was passed by Congress last week and signed by president Biden yesterday.
European Union court adviser default Denmark for misusing
FETA name of cheese exports. Denmark has
breached EU laws by failing to prevent local companies from making and exporting
outside the EU white cheese labeled as FETA an adviser to Europe’s top court
said on Thursday.
The opinion by Advocate General, Tamara Capeta, at the
Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union three years after the European
Commission, the EU’s executive blamed Denmark over the issue. FETA has been a registered Protected Designation
of Origin since 2002 in the EU and it can only be produced in Greece according
to a set of production specifications.
Greece says feta is its cultural heritage because it has made
the sheep’s and goats’ milk cheese for over 6.000 years.
“By failing to stop the use by Danish producers of the
registered name FETA for cheese intended for export to third countries, Denmark
has failed to fulfill its obligations under the EU law,” Capeta said.
She dismissed Denmark’s arguments that an export ban could
be seen as an obstacle to trade. “The
main idea behind the regulation is the improvement of the situation of EU
agricultural producers through providing intellectual property protection to products
involving traditional ways of production,” Capeta said.
The Court of Justice of the European Union which will rule
in the coming months follows such non-binding recommendations in four out of
five cases.
¾ cup butter softened
¾ cup sugar
1 large egg at room temperature
1 vanilla
1 ¼ cup
plain flour
¾ cup cocoa
1 tsp baking powder
¾ cup sliced almonds
1/3 cup ground almonds
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and
fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in the egg and
vanilla, then combine the flour, cocoa, and baking powder and gradually add
into the creamed mixture and mix well.
Shape dough into 1 14 inch log and roll in ground almonds. Wrap in waxed paper and refrigerate for 2
hours or until firm.
Unwrap and cut into ¼ inch slices. Place 1 inch apart on
ungreased baking sheets and bake for 9-11 minutes in an oven preheated to 180 C
(350 F) until crisp. Place on wire racks
to cool.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky summoned the memory of
Pearl Harbour and the September 11th 2001 terror attacks in
appealing on Wednesday to the US Congress to do more to help Ukraine fight
against Russia, but he acknowledged the no-fly zone he has sought to “close
the sky” to air-strikes on his country
may not happen.
Live-streamed into the Capitol complex, Zelensky said that
the US must sanction Russian lawmakers and block imports. But rather an enforced no-fly zone that the White
House has resisted he insisted sought other military aid to stop Russian assault.
For the first time in public address to world leaders, he
showed a packed auditorium of lawmakers a graphic video of the destruction and devastation
his country had suffered in the war along with heart-breaking scenes of
civilian causalities.
“We need you right now,” Zelensky said, “I call on you to do
more.” Lawmakers gave him a standing
ovation before and after his short remarks which Zelensky began in Ukrainian
through an interpreter then switched to English in a heartfelt appeal to end the
bloodshed.
“I see no sense in life if it cannot stop the deaths,” he
said. Nearing the three week mark in an
ever-escalating war, Zelensky has used the global stage to implore allied
leaders to help stop the Russian invasion of his country.
President Biden’s administration has stopped short of providing
a no-fly zone or military jets from neighbouring Poland as the US seeks to
avoid widened confrontation with nuclear armed Russia.
Biden was to deliver his own address following Zelensky’s
speech, and was expected to announce an additional 800 million dollars in
security assistance to Ukraine according to a White House official that would
bring the total amount to 1 billion dollars.
The White House is considering giving Ukraine access to US-made
Switchblade drones that fly and strike Russian targets.
Zelensky has emerged as a heroic figure at the centre of
which many view as the largest security threat since World War II. Almost 3
million refugees have fled Ukraine the fastest exodus in modern times,
What are the economic consequences of Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine and the responses of the international community? The IGM forum at Chicago Booth invited its
panel of leading European and US economists to express their views. An overwhelming majority of the experts think
that the economic sanctions that have been implemented will lead Russia to a
deep recession and nearly four in five consider that the fallout of the
invasion will both reduce global growth and raise global inflation over the
next year. A slightly smaller majority
agree that a total ban on oil and gas imports from Russia carries a high risk
of recession in European economies although several suggest the likely impact
of an energy embargo is a price well paying.
Finally asked about the potential effects of the weapons of dollar
finance on its role as a dominant world currency, reactions were mixed.
Others who agree, point to the likely lower growth and higher inflation like Christopher Pessalides at the London School of Economics explains: “The effect will be through other resources. Supplies will reduce and production costs will rise.”
The press internationally describes the economic crisis.
HUMMUS WITH BLACK-EYED PEAS
This is a lovely Middle-Eastern dip that was given to me by my dear friend and neighbor Anastasia Marcopulioti.
120 g black-eyed peas
50 g tahini
2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp water or more
Soak the black-eyed peas overnight in salted water in the
morning they will be plump and swollen. Simmer
the black-eyed peas in salted water until completely soft, discarding the foam.
To prepare the hummus, place 2 tablespoonfuls of the cooked
peas into a bowl and set aside. Then blend
the remaining peas, tahini, garlic paste olive oil, lemon juice salt, and pepper
to taste and the water to a smooth puree.
Allow to cool and sprinkle with the reserved black-eyed peas and
drizzled with olive oil.
The next two recipes were given to me by my old friend Dick Mahlian:
EASY CHILLI DISH
A dish from South America
500 g (1 lb) minced beef
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
1 tbsp smashed garlic
1 12 oz tin roasted red peppers, drained and chopped
2 tomatoes halved deseeded, grated skins discarded
2 15 oz tins kidney beans drained
1 roasted green pepper, finely chopped
2 tsp salt
s1 tsp chili powder
2 tsp cumin
Pinch of Cayenne pepper
½ cup brown sugar or more
2 cups beef broth
2 tbsp tomato paste
Grated cheese and
sour cream.
Mix all the ingredients well together and shape the mixture
into patties and bake until cooked through. Serve with grated cheese and sour
cream
SESAME-GARLIC BEEF AND BROCCOLI WITH WHOLEMEAL NOODLES
Do prepare this sumptuous North American dish.
500 gr (1 lb) boneless beef sirloin steak, trimmed
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp toasted sesame
oil plus more, divided
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 onion, peeled and grated
1 tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp crushed red peppers
4 cups broccoli florets
½ cup water
Thinly slice beef across the grain into bite-sized strips, place
in a plastic bag, and set in a shallow dish.
Combine soy sauce, lemon juice, 1 tbsp sesame oil, garlic, ginger and
crushed red peppers in a small bowl pour over the beef. Seal the bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate for 30 minutes turning the bag
once.
Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil cook noodles for
1 minute less than directed on the package, Drain reserving ½ cup cooking water. Meanwhile, combine broccoli and water in a
wok and simmer gently for 4 minutes until the water has evaporated add onions, pepper,
the remaining 2 tsp sesame oil and cook until the broccoli is tender about 4 minutes.
Stir the broccoli into the beef and serve with boiled noodles.
The Greek Prime Minister,
Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the Turkish President, Recep, Tayyip Erdogan pledged, on
Sunday, to boost mutual cooperation despite their disagreements. Mitsotakis and
Erdogan met over lunch, in Constantinople behind closed doors. Turkish presidential office said in a
statement that the main agenda of the two leaders was bilateral and international
relations including the Russian Ukrainian conflict.
Mitsotakis and Erdogan agreed to keep communication channels
open and improve bilateral relations. A
glimpse of hope?
High-level talks in Tukey between Russian Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Sergei Lavrov, and his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba,
have not produced a ceasefire agreement.
Fighting has intensified around Kyiv as Ukrainian forces attempt to
block a column of Russian tanks.
Ukrainian officials say that 1.200 Ukrainians have been evacuated
from Sumy, while no civilians have been able to leave Mariupol. Moscow has said it will open daily humanitarian
corridors to evacuate civilians to Russia (!) despite Kyiv’s obvious refusal.
Ukraine has accused Russia of bombing a children’s hospital and
maternity ward with many children and babies and pregnant women buried under
the rubble. Putin should be accused as a nazi war criminal and
punished severely.
However, more than 2 million people have left Ukraine to be
saved by Russian barbarity. Latest news
the Greek Consul in Ukraine, Manolis Androulakis, is the only western diplomat
that is still in Mariupol which is without water and electricity and has starving citizens.
This is the worst war since World War
II.
Epidemiological data indicate that a large part of the
population needs to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. Hence it is of great importance for public
health officials to know whether people are going to be vaccinated against this
terrible disease. Greeks wish to know if their compatriots are willing to be
vaccinated against the coronavirus.
During a cross-sectional survey conducted among the adult
population of Greece, they were asked: “If there was a vaccine available for
the novel coronavirus, would you do it?”
Of the 1004 responders only 57.7%, unfortunately, said that they were
going to be vaccinated. Responders,
aged about 65 years old, who either themselves, or a member of their household
belonged to the vulnerable group, those believing that the coronavirus was not
developed in laboratories by humans, those believing that coronavirus is much
more contagious and lethal than H1 N1 virus, and those believing that the
next waves that are coming will be more serious, are statistically significantly
more likely to be willing to be vaccinated.
1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed
2 leeks, trimmed and thinly sliced
A knob of butter
2 tbsp of olive oil
800 ml coconut milk, you might not need it all. Keep what is left for garnish
1 handful of fresh coriander, finely chopped, and some for
garnish
1 tsp coriander seeds
500 ml (2 cups) tasty stock
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Sauté the sweet potato, leeks, crushed coriander seeds, and
just a little of the chopped fresh coriander.
Sweat the vegetables gently, cover the saucepan and simmer until the leeks
are tender and slightly translucent, stirring so the mixture does not stick to the
pan.
Add the stock and 250 ml (1 cup) coconut milk (keep some for
later to water down the soup to the desired consistency. Season to taste and
simmer for 15 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Remove from the heat,
cool a little, and blend until smooth.
Reheat to serve garnished some chopped fresh coriander and a swirl of coconut milk.
CLASSIC GUMBO
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
4 large stalks celery, threaded and chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup minced garlic
8 cups vegetable broth
4 roasted tomatoes, diced
1 cup diced fresh tomatoes
1/2 cup red wine
1 tbsp tamari
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp vinegar
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp + 1/2 cup chopped parsley plus extra for garnish
2 tbsp fresh oregano
2 tbsp fresh thyme
1 tbsp minced jalapeno peppers, optional
1 tsp creole mustard
1 cup peanut oil
1 1/4 cups plain flour
6-8 bay leaves
1/2 cup chopped spring onions + more for garnish
3 cups chopped okra
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
4 cups cooked rice for serving
Creole Spice Blend:
1/2 cup yeast
1 tbsp onion powder
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp Cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp dried sage
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp black pepper
In a large bowl, combine onion, celery, bell peppers, and garlic. Remove 1 1/2 cup of this mixture and transfer to a separate bowl you will need it for later and set both bowls aside.
CHICKPEA PUMPKIN AND COCONUT CURRY
Oil for cooking
1 onion, peeled and roughly chopped
2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced (1 teaspoon)
1 cup chopped carrots
2 tomatoes, halved, deseeded, grated, skins discarded
450 ml (13 oz) pumpkin puree
1 1/2 cups boiled chickpeas, drained
1 tbsp curry powder
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp Cayenne pepper.
405 ml (13 fl oz) coconut milk
250 ml (1 cup) water
Boiled rice
1/2 a lime
In a large wok, heat 1 tbsp of oil over medium heat. Saute the onion until it becomes soft, add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add the carrots and tomatoes and stir to combine, add more oil to the pan, if necessary, Partially cover the pot and cook for 18 minutes until the carrots become slightly tender,
Add the pumpkin, chickpeas, curry, and the other spices and salt and stir until fully combined, Pour in the coconut milk and water, mix well and bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes until the carrots are fully cooked.
Serve over rice with a squeeze of lime over each serving.
VEGAN CHOCOLATE CAKE
2 tbsp vinegar
1 cup vegan milk
400 g (2 cups) sugar
240 g (2 cups) plain flour
60 g ( ¾ cup) cocoa
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
½ cup + 2 tsp vegetable oil
1 vanilla
1 cup boiling water + 1 tbsp instant coffee
Icing
2 tbsp corn oil
4 tbsp icing sugar
1 vanilla
Enough water to make a chocolate icing
(mix everything well together)
Fresh fruit of your choice for garnish.
Grease and flour a round cake tin and line with parchment
paper brushed with vegetable oil. Heat
the oven to 180 C (350 F).
In a small bowl mix the vinegar with the soy milk, it will curdle and set aside. Whisk together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda in a large bowl until thoroughly combined. Add milk mixture, oil, vanilla, and coffee water. Beat with an electric whisk for 2 minutes until everything is just combined and scrape down the sides of the bowl and pour the batter into the cake tin and bake for 35 minutes or until a tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Remove from the oven
and allow the cake to cool completely before reversing on a dish. Then cover with chocolate icing and garnish with fruit.
Ukraine Russia live updates:
1.200 dead in the apocalyptic city as West warned it will have to enter a
harsher conflict eventually. There can be nothing worse than war.
Ukraine latest as 40.000 people are evacuated from the
bombarded areas, children unfortunately buried in the rubble, after Russian planes
hit a hospital in Mariupol.
President Zelensky says: “Russia removes Chernobyl from the grid”,
and radiation levels are still unknown. We all wish for this war to end but Vladimir
Putin wants President Zelensky to resign and a puppet government to rule Ukraine,
but this is highly improbable because Zelensky is very popular in Ukraine and with
its Western allies.
For over 100 years, International Women's Day has been celebrated worldwide to commemorate women's struggles and achievements. International Women's Day was first observed in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland on the 19th of March 1911. It is a national holiday in 27 countries and the United Nations has observed it since 1975.
My thoughts and prayers are with the proud and brave women of Ukraine, who are fighting against the Russian invaders. I hope they shall have the strength to continue this uneven struggle. The whole world admires all Ukrainians, the women, and children who leave for other countries to save the younger generation and the men and boys who stay back to fight the vicious foe.
On Clean Monday I was invited to my son's Yiannis and my daughter-in-law's Elpida's house where I had a lovely time, they were exceptionally wonderful hosts. There I met my dear friends, Elipida's parents, her sister, niece, and nephew. Here the recipes of a few of the dishes we tasted there:
FELAFEL
500 g (1 lb) chickpeas, soaked in water overnight, boiled, and blended
1 large potato, boiled in salted water, drained and peeled
½ tsp baking soda
c1 small onion, peeled and roughly chopped
¼ cup chopped parsley
5 cloves roasted garlic paste
1 ½ tbsp plain flour
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp ground coriander
Pinch of cayenne pepper
1 tsp baking powder
Breadcrumbs 2 tbsp
Vegetable oil
Preheat the oven to 180 C (350 F). Blend all the ingredients except the
breadcrumbs and vegetable oil together.
Shape into 30-34 balls, roll in breadcrumbs, brush each with olive oil and
bake 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
PRAWNS IN TOMATO SAUCE
1 kg (2 lb) prawns, shelled, deveined, thoroughly washed, patted dry and sauteed 2 minutes each
side and seasoned to taste
Tomato sauce.
1 onion, peeled and grated
2 cloves garlic, peeled and mashed
2 tbsp tomato paste
Olive oil
500 gr (1 lb) tomatoes, halved, deseeded, grated, skins discarded
Salt and pepper to taste
1 bay leaf
Sauté the onion and garlic in olive oil until soft. Stir in the tomato paste and pour in the
grated tomato and add the bay leaf. Add a
glass of water and simmer until the sauce thickens, add the prawns and enjoy.
POTATO SALAD
1 kg (2 lb) potatoes, boiled in salted water, peeled and cubed
Dressing :
1/4 cup olive oil
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp mustard with honey
Salt and pepper to, taste
(Mix everything well together)
Chopped parsley
Pour the dressing over the boiled potatoes, sprinkle with chopped parsley, and serve.
