JANNA'S BIRTHDAY

 

Today is my precious Great-Granddaughter's eighth birthday!!!!  

😊😅👧🛊Many Happy Returns of the day, Jannaki mou!!!!!  XXXXXXXX

SMART OLIVE FARMING IN CRETE

 Technology has come so far, during the last century, from chunky early computers to the sleek devices of today.  Then there is artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IOT) that are, apparently, the "interconnectivity of all our devices fuelled by an increasingly powerful system".

In Crete, olive farming is big business and an important part of the economy of Greece's largest and most populous island.  There are 30 million olive trees in Crete so the potential effects of smart farming are very important. Agriculture, including olive farming, currently consume  85% of Crete's fresh water supply, so the idea of using smart technology is to substantially cut any waste.

Ioannis Daliakopoulos who is a research engineer at Crete's Hellenic Mediterranean University, says that the use of technology in this project involves constantly monitoring the soil condition.

"On the ground, we have installed a sensor that measures soil moisture, electrical conductivity, how salty the water is and the temperature of the soil, every 15 minutes. This information is transmitted to the central base and then to the cloud, where it is processed and we can estimate the perfect amount of water that needs to be used for irrigation.  The farmer can then access the data, remotely, and control the watering at the touch of a button.."

Thrassyvoulos Manios, Vice-Rector of the Hellenic Mediterranean University says that the use of technology will save massive amounts of water.  "Farmers, as well as scientists and researchers should get to know what the Internet of Things is exactly and what can be done through this new tool. We can do the same thing with chemical fertilisation and pesticides therefore with soil and plant protection.  All this helps the environment and boosts traceability of products, also, so that consumers can get more information on how foods are produced". 

Giannis Generatakis, an owner of an olive farm, whose family have had the farm at Archanes for the last three centuries believes the new technology will be very helpful.   "In recent years we have been facing some difficulties with climate change.  Technology always helps us and, then. the problems that we are, now, facing will be solved."

An Athens-based company, "Future Intelligence ", provides technology for the research on Crete.  Harris Moysiades, a business architect with Future Intelligence, says that benefit of the technology will go far beyond farming.  A lot of data will come from different devices, from the transportation part, the retailers and the agri-food producers.

"And, now imagine that artificial intelligence is an umbrella, under which, all these data processing will be done.  So this will optimise the whole water chain", Moysiades said.              

          

IANOS ( continued)

 Torrential rains, in Karditsa, central Greece, swept off a car and driver who foolishly tried to cross a stream.  The police and the firemen are desperately trying to find him.  Unfortunately, officially one woman and two men were drowned and one person is missing, according to the Minister of Civil Protection, Nikos Hardalias.  

The whole area is flooded with tremendous damages of buildings, bridges and private property, an unheard-of catastrophe.  

In Cephalonia, many cars are berried under the rubble, small vessels are destroyed but, fortunately, tourists from  northern Europe were evacuated to safety by the Greek port authorities     

TURKISH AGGRESION AGAINST CYPRUS

 

The Cyprus issue has deep historical origins and various internal and international dimensions.  However, since the illegal Turkish invasion in July and August 1974 and the occupation of 17% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.  It is foremost an international problem of invasion and occupation in direct violation of the United Nations  Charter and a plethora of UN resolutions.

So far, for 46 years  Turkey has refused to withdraw the illegal occupation troops which have rendered Cyprus the most military area in the world.  The Cyprus issue is a characteristic of disgraceful and mass violation of fundamental human rights by Turkey.  Specifically, Turkey is violating the rights of Greek Cypriot refugees, missing persons and their relatives as well as those that are enclaved in the occupied part of Cyprus while continuing systematically with illegal settlements and the destruction of the cultural heritage in the occupied part of the island. 

The international community has repeatedly expressed itself, with regard to the Cyprus issue. condemning the invasion and demanding the withdrawal of the occupation forces in international fora, including the UN General Assembly and Security Council, the  European  Parliament, the Council of Europe. the non-aligned and the Commonwealth countries.

In November 1983, the Turkish side proceeded to the unilateral declaration of independence of the pseudo-state in occupied Cyprus.   The UN security resolution 541/1989 and 550/1984 condemn this illegal and unilateral action calling all states not to recognise the illegal entity and not to help it in any way.  

Turkish President Erdogan said that Ankara was open to  "constructive"  talks but would remain determined in the eastern Mediterranean standoff with Greece.

Erdogan made the above comments during a video conference with Chancellor Merkel before the EU summit, net week, at which the block will discuss imposing sanctions on Turkey over its search in Greek and Cypriot waters.

Turkey says the EU unfairly backs  Greece on the maritime dispute which gained added importance with the discovery of large natural gas deposits, in recent years.

The Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, following the meeting with Mr Christodoulides asked for sanctions against Turkey.       

IANOS

The Southern Ionian Islands 

                                                            Cyclone Ianos

The unusual phenomenon, the Mediterranean cyclone, called Ianos has hit the southern Ionian islands of Greece. Cephallonia, Ithaki and Zakynthos, with terrible destructions in buildings but fortunately no human victims, until yesterday. 

                                                                  Minister Hardalias

"We are preparing to face terrible weather phenomena" Deputy Civil Protection Minister, Nikos Hardalias, said adding that citizens living in the regions likely to be affected by Ianos should limit the movements to only those that are strictly necessary. "Mediterranean cyclones are relatively rare phenomena which have been encountered in Greece since 1995 but have become more frequent in the Mediterranean region due to climate change" he added.  

The Ministry, also, told the citizens of the south  Ionian islands. mentioned above,  and the Western Peloponnese i.e Patras, Kyllini, Zacharo, Kyparissia and Methoni that they should seek safety by moving to their relatives' and friends' homes which are much higher than sea level.   

 

CHOCOLATE

Chocolate is a delicious, magical and erotic product.

                                       VEGAN CHOCOLATE CAKE No II

This is a fudgy, moist chocolate cake of which I have no words.

195 g (1 ½ cups) self-raising flour

65 g (½ cup) cocoa powder

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

225 g (1 cup + 2 tbsp) sugar

Pinch of salt

Tiny pinch of Cayenne pepper

1/3 cup sunflower oil

1 vanilla

1½ tsp balsamic vinegar

250 ml (1 cup) water

Icing sugar for dusting over 

Preheat oven to 180 C (350F) and line the base of a round tin with oiled baking parchment.  Also, brush the sides of the tin with oil.

Mix all the dry ingredients together and stir in the wet ingredients until well combined and smooth.   Scrape the batter into the prepared tin and bake for about 35-40 minutes or until the cake shrinks from the edges of the tin and a tester inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean.

Reverse on a dish and serve dusted with icing sugar.

                             CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH RUM CUSTARD

One of our favourite desserts.

Cake:

195 g (1½ cup) self-rising flour

45 g (¼ cup) sifted cocoa

1 vanilla

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

115 g (3.8 oz) butter, softened
250 g (8.8 oz) sugar

1 egg

125 ml (1/2 cup) yoghurt
125 ml (1/2 cup) boiling water

Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F) and line the base of a tin with buttered baking parchment and brush the sides with melted butter.

Mix the five first ingredients of the cake together.   Whip the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, add the egg and yoghurt and whip until well combined.  Add the dry ingredients and the boiling water and stir until the batter is smooth.

Pour the batter into the prepared tin and bake and bake for 45-50 minutes or until a tester inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.  Remove from the oven and wait for 10 minutes the reverse on a dish and allow to cool.

Rum Custard:

687.5 ml (2¾ cups) milk

125 ml (½ cup) dark rum

1 vanilla

3 egg yolks

100 g (½ cup) sugar

3 tbsp cornflour

1 tbsp butter

Simmer the milk the rum and the vanilla for 5 minutes and whip the egg yolks with the sugar and cornflour until creamy and thick.  Allow the milk to cool for 5 minutes and ladle it into the egg mixture, beating constantly as you add.  Return the saucepan to the fire and simmer gently, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the custard thickens, about 15-20 minutes.  Stir in the butter, cover with cling film and set aside to cool.  Then place it in the fridge for ½ an hour.

Cover the chocolate cake with the rum custard and make a pretty design on the top with the help of a spoon and refrigerate covered.

Bring to room temperature before serving. 

                            CHOCOLATE MOUSSE WITH MASTIC LIQUEUR

250 g (1½ lb) dark chocolate cut into small pieces

30 g (1 oz) butter, cubed

4 tbsp water

4 eggs, separated whites whipped to stiff peaks with a pinch of salt

1 liqueur glass or more mastic liqueur

Melt chocolate and butter, over very low heat, stirring until the mixture is smooth and glossy.   Remove from the stove to cool.

Stir the egg yolks into the chocolate mixture, one at a time, then add the mastic liqueur and finally, gently fold in the whipped whites until no traces are evident.

Serve in glasses garnished with a mint leaves.

                                        BANANA AND CHOCOLATE CAKE

An aromatic cake.

175 g caster sugar

175 g self-raising flour

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

4 tbsp cocoa

100 g finely chopped chocolate

100 ml sunflower oil or

100 g melted butter

200 g bananas, mashed

3 medium eggs, separated, whites whipped stiff with a pinch of salt

50 ml milk.

Heat oven to 160 C.  Grease and line a tin with baking parchment or alternately use 2 loaf tins.   Mix all the dry ingredients well together in a bowl, also mix the wet ingredients well together in another bowl.   Stir the two mixtures together and gently fold in the whipped egg whites until no traces of white are evident.  Bake for about 1 hour.  Cool in the tin/tins, and, finally spread with chocolate ganache.

            CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH ALMOND POWDER AND CAYENNE PEPPER

A wonderful cake

200 g dark chocolate (Ygeia’s Pavlidou), finely chopped

200 g butter

1/8 tsp Cayenne pepper

1 tsp instant coffee

(Melt butter and chocolate, add the Cayenne pepper and instant coffee, mix well together and set aside to cool)

300 g sugar, * three tbsp. reserved for the egg whites

6 eggs, separated, whites whipped to soft peaks with a pinch of salt, then whipped stiff with the reserved sugar

1 vanilla

60 g self-raising flour mixed with

40 g almond powder or more and

½ tsp baking soda

Ganache:

100 ml cream

100 g finely chopped chocolate (Ygeia’s Pavlidou) 1 tsp honey

(Heat the cream, pour over the chocolate and honey and mix very well together)

A few hulled strawberries for garnish

Beat the yolks with the remaining sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy.   Add the flour/almond flour mixture and stir well together.

Pour in the chocolate/ butter mixture and stir until no streaks are visible.   Gently, but thoroughly, fold in the whipped egg whites and place the batter in buttered tin, lined with

baking parchment.  Bake in an oven preheated to 180 C for 30 minutes or until a tester inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean.

Allow the cake to cool in the tin, then reverse on a dish, spread with ganache, garnish with strawberries and serve.

                                   TWO LAYER CHOCOLATE CAKE

A superb chocolate dessert.

180 g (6 oz) bitter dark chocolate, melted

180 g (6 oz) butter

625 g (1 ¼ lb) sugar

4 eggs

1 vanilla

250 g(½ lb) plain flour sifted with

1½ tsp baking powder

A pinch of salt

250 ml (1 cup) milk

Icing:

210 g (7 oz) dark chocolate (I use Ygeias Pavlidou a lovely Greek chocolate), chopped

210 ml (7 fl oz) cream

2 tsp Greek honey

(Heat the cream almost to the boiling point, pour over the chopped chocolate and the honey and whip well until thick and shin. Cool)

Preheat oven to 190 C (375 F).  Brush a cake tin with butter and layer the base with buttered baking parchment.

Beat the sugar and butter until, light and creamy     CHICKPEA CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

and add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.  Then fold in the melted chocolate and the vanilla.  Add the flour in three portions alternately with the milk mixing very well each time.  Scrape into the prepared tin and bake for35-40 minutes or until a tester inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean.  Remove from the oven and reverse the cake on a rack to cool.

                                  .  CHICKPEA CHOCOLATE MOUSE

Try preparing this chocolate mousse with chickpeas for your vegetarian friends

200 g (almost 7 oz) dark chocolate melted (I use Ygeias Pavlidou an excellent Greek chocolate) chopped and melted

250 g (½ lb) chickpeas, boiled and

350 ml (1¼ cup) of the chickpea cooking liquid

90 g (3 oz) icing sugar, separated

1 vanilla

Praline:

4 tbsp honey

90 g (3 oz) almonds, peeled

500 ml (2 cups) coconut cream iced and whipped to soft peaks with 2 tbsp icing sugar

Blend the chickpeas with their liquid until smooth and add 60 g (2 oz) icing sugar and mix 1 moment more.  Fold in the vanilla and the melted chocolate, gradually together, until homogenous in colour.

For the praline heat the honey until it caramelises add the nuts and stir to cover with caramel.   Pour over a sheet of baking parchment and allow to cool. Then crush and fold into the mousse.  Pour the mousse into ramekins and set aside to cool.   Cover with cling film and refrigerate until needed.

Serve with whipped coconut cream.

I Always Use Ygeias Pavlidou  Greek Chocolate. 

FAINT HOPES OVER GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS OR WISHFUL THINKING?

After strict reprimands from the European Union and the USA Turkey withdrew the exploration vessel, Oruc Reis, from the Greek continental shelf in the eastern Mediterranean.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis

EU Council President, Charles Michel 

"Turkey still has the time, ahead and after the EU summit, to continue disengaging itself from the crisis", Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said after talks with EU Council President, Charles Michel, in Athens, referring to the European Union Summit which shall take place on .24th and 25th of September.  "If we have tangible proof, and this proof is continuing, we are ready to start immediately, I stress that immediately, exploratory talks with Tuckey, regarding the only major dispute:  the demarcation of the maritime zones in the Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean", he said.


Despite calling Oruc Reise back to port, Turkey still has a drilling ship and a service survey vessel operating in Cypriot waters, and Cyprus is demanding EU sanctions on Ankara, Prime Minister Mitsotakis called for European solidarity on the issue.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

US Secretary, Mike Pompeo, visited the Greek Cypriot government and called on Turkey to cease aggressive activities that cause tension in the eastern Mediterranean, "We remain deeply concerned about Turkey's ongoing operations surveying for natural resources over which Greece and Cyprus have jurisdiction over the eastern Mediterranean" Pompeo told reporters in Nicosia, after meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader, Nikos Anastasiades, and the foreign minister. Nikos Christodoulakis.   



I sincerely hope that Greek-Turkish relations will considerably improve in the near future although I have worrying doubts due to the Turkish instability.