Welcome to Greek Lifestyle!
Today in Greece its the 1st of May which is the celebration of spring and a labour day holiday. Flower garlands are made and placed on the front door of homes. Here’s one that I had fun making.
Take some time, pick some lovely blooms and decorative leaves, have fun, be creative and celebrate this beautiful spring holiday.
GL xx
Hronia Polla to all those celebrating their name day today being the feast day of St George.
Kai to hrono!
GL xx
Welcome to Greek Lifestyle!
Here is my recipe for Cream Kataifi….a decadent and delicious dessert made especially for special occasions.
Base:
500 grams kadaifi (shredded wheat pastry)
180 grams butter, melted
Syrup:
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups water
1 cinnamon stick
1 peel of lemon rind
Custard:
4 cups milk
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons cornflour
1/2 cup sugar
4 egg yolks
1 teaspoon pure vanilla essence
Topping:
Thickened Cream, whipped with a little caster sugar
Crushed walnuts
Method:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Carefully pull apart the kadaifi and place into a 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish. Pack down gently and then drizzle with the melted butter. Bake 40 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool.
In small pot, combine the syrup ingredients; bring to a boil and simmer for 5-8 minutes. Remove citrus peel and cinnamon stick. Carefully and evenly spoon the syrup over baked kadaifi base. Cool.
To make the custard heat 3 1/2 cups of milk. Use the remaining 1/2 cup of milk to combine flour and cornflour. Add to the hot milk and whisk to prevent lumps forming. Add sugar and then quickly whisk in egg yolks.
Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until thick. Add vanilla essence and stir through. Remove from stove top and place a sheet of plastic wrap directly on surface of custard to prevent skin from forming. Cool.
Spread custard evenly over kadaifi base. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours or overnight. Top with slightly sweetened whipped cream and sprinkle with crushed walnuts.
Best served chilled.
Enjoy!
GL xx
Welcome to Greek Lifestyle!
Today we celebrate Palm Sunday which commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jereusalem. The church is decorated with palm fronds and daphne, and at the end of the service the priest hands out cuttings of daphne and intricately woven crosses made from palm fronds for the faithful to take home.
Although Palm Sunday which is a Feast Day falls during lent, it is permissible to eat fish. Traditionally Greeks celebrate with a lunch consisting of bakalarios (cod) and skordalia (garlic and potato puree) to celebrate this important day.
The official greeting is now Kali Anastasi, which translates to a good resurrection.
I will be preparing Koulourakia on Thursday and Tsoureki and Red Dyed Eggs on Saturday.
Good luck with your Easter preparations this week. I would love for you to share your special Greek recipes and traditions.
May we all have a happy Easter!
GL xx
Welcome to Greek Lifestyle!
Could Greek coffee hold the key to good heart health and longevity? A study published in Vascular Medicine, explains how elderly residents from the Greek island Ikaria who drank boiled Greek coffee displayed overall cardiovascular health. People in Ikaria are known for their good health and longevity, with many living well into their 90’s and beyond.
Greek coffee contains higher concentrations of protective antioxidants and polyphenols, and the way in which it is prepared (boiled not filtered) delivers more protective compounds in each cup. It has also shown to help protect the arteries, as well as lower your risk for diabetes and boost overall immune health.
So what are you waiting for? Take out your breeki (small coffee pot) and prepare this healthyful brew until the kaimaki rises to a deliciously creamy texture. Gently pour into your favourite demitasse cup, and of course enjoy with a glass of chilled water. Better still, invite a friend to join you!!
Stin iyeia mas!
To our good health!
GL xx
Welcome to Greek Lifestyle,
Much research has been conducted on the benefits of the Mediterranean diet and especially the food and lifestyle of Greece. Let’s consider the key factors of what makes the Mediterranean diet not only nutritious but also delicious and healthy. The Mayo Clinic provides the following key factors of this popular way of eating:
Being physically active, and enjoying meals with family and friends is essential to living the Greek way of life. Socialising, laughing and story telling are also import components of connecting over a meal – making it more of a shared experience rather than a solo event.
Have fun, experiment with your favourite ingredients and remember being healthy doesn’t mean being deprived. Create your dishes using seasonal and fresh ingredients to gain optimum value and nutrition. Cook for the people you love, and break bead with those dearest to you. Remember that cooking is an act of love!
GL xx
Welcome to Greek Lifestyle!
In preparation for Easter, I’m including the list of important dates to help with our spiritual growth during this time.
Apokreas literally translates to saying ‘goodbye to meat’. Celebrations will occur in the week preceding Clean Monday as families and friends gather for a final feast before observing the Great Lent.
Fish may be eaten on the 25th of March being the Annunciation of Theotokos and again on Palm Sunday which falls on 13 April.
Because we all live busy lives, some people choose to observe the fasting period during Holy week, or just on Good Friday. It matters not, as health, wellbeing and work situations need to be also considered. It is a personal choice.
Please share your experiences and or fasting recipes with us here at Greek Lifestyle.
Kales Apokeas!
GL x
Welcome to Greek Lifestyle!
As is customary in early January we headed down to the seaside to witness the Blessing of the Waters.
Here’s a lovely ‘action’ photo of the eager divers swimming towards the cross with the aim of being victorious in obtaining it and the good fortune bestowed upon the winner.
Ke to hrono!
GL x
Welcome to Greek Lifestyle!
Happy New Year!!!
I hope that 2014 is filled with all of life’s blessings and niceties.
On the last day of 2013 I baked a delicious orange infused Vasilopita ready for our New Years celebrations. Following our unique Greek traditions I hid a foil wrapped coin inside.
We went our for a lovely New Years dinner and then headed to the river where we chose a comfy spot placed our blanket on the ground and sat back to relax and view the amazing fireworks that welcomed in the New Year. It was such a lovely and memorable evening.
On New Years morning we cut our Vasilopita starting with the eldest member down to the youngest member of our family. My husband was the recipient of the lucky slice. I wish him good luck for the year ahead and beyond!
New Years is a time of reflection and to think about how we can all make a difference to the lives of those closest to us and to our communities. What unique gifts do you have to offer?
I hope that your dreams and aspirations come true!
GL x
Welcome to Greek Lifestyle!
Our aim is to bring you inspiration, tradition and cultural celebrations.
The countdown to Christmas is on and there is much to think about and always much to do.
Now is the time to dust off your favourite Christmas recipes and plan your shopping list in preparation for baking mouth watering kourambiedes, honey dipped melamacarona, or your very own family specialities. We would love for you to share your favourite traditional recipes with us.
It’s a special time of the year and one to share with family and friends. Our Christmas celebration is usually a large formal lunch and regardless of what else is on the menu we always start off with Chicken Avgolemono Soup. Our mother lovingly maintained this tradition and we have all taken her lead, and more often than not some of us enjoy a second bowl of this delicious traditional Greek soup!
Soup is followed by platters of fresh seafood garnished with lemon wedges, various meat roasts served with an abundance of vegetables and salads, and a selection of home made kourambiedes, melamacorona, revani, festive fruit cake and other yummy sweets.
Christmas lunch would not be complete without a bowl of dark, plump cherries and wedges of juicy watermelon and…. of course, the exchanging of gifts, and the joy of giving.
Whether your celebration is large or small, noisy or intimate, casual or formal, may your families be blessed with the true spirit of Christmas.
Kales yiortes
GL x