MPM-Special food for special days

Good morning, dear friends,
Last week we celebrated two special days. The feast of the Announciation and Palm Sunday. Next Sunday it's Easter! Although we have a very sentimental and deeply religious time ahead of us with some very emotional services, readings, and hymns, we already begin to feel the air of delivery from the gloom of our sins, thanks to our Lord. 
This week is the last week of fasting before Easter.In all its wisdom, our church has thought of our human weaknesses. The Fathers of the first centuries of Christianity have taken into account the need of the soul to cleanse while the body cleanses. Fasting and prayer go hand in hand.
However, on these two days, we make an exception. We can eat fish.
Fish at this time of the year in our household as in many traditional households in Greece means cod. It comes salted from the North Sea. This one is from Iceland.

The cod filet must stay in the water overnight and then the water must be changed again, because the cod is too salty. That is how it is preserved.

Then, we mix flour with some beer and bread crumbs, we wrap chunks of the fish in it and fry it. Skordalia (aioli) is the best company to cod. First, we boil the potatoes. Then we peel them and process them as we would for a puree. We then make a fine paste of garlic, salt and vinegar, to taste. I use equal amounts of potatoes and garlic cloves. We then add the mashed potatoes, folding in slowly the olive oil. Tasting is required and quite enjoyable!

One of my favorite kitchen gadgets.

Helping hands are welcome. Great time for conversation, too.

Mixing the skordalia with the wooden pestle.

Almost ready. We may need some extra olive oil once served, to taste.

One can make a Greek salad to accompany it, but since we like to eat according to the season, lettuce with fresh onions and fennel is a great salad.

Now, for the rest of the week, as we shall be busy preparing for Easter,we shall stick to some familiar treats, seen here, but strictly without the cheesy options.

Yesterday, we also made Easter cookies. I was afraid I wasn't going to make them this year, as my mil's food processor broke down and we are not going to buy a new one soon. So, I decided to do everything by hand. Highly recommended, dear friends.

Finally, for this post, I have read this article over at our host's, Organizing Junkie. I have read two of Cathy Peel's books, The Family Manager and The Family Manager's Everyday Survival Guide. They were great and helped me enormously in getting started with the family life.I am not familiar with the newest book suggested at the website, but the 10 points picked are great.

I wish you all a holy week. 

March 25th: The Announciation

Hymns of the Feast


Apolytikion (Fourth Tone)

Today marks the crowning of our salvation
and the revelation of the mystery before all ages.
For the Son of God becomes the son of the Virgin,
and Gabriel proclaims the grace.
Wherefore, we also cry out with him,
"Hail, O full of grace, the Lord is with you."

Kontakion (Plagal of the Fourth Tone)

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender,
having been delivered from peril,
I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering.
In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials,
 that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"

"Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"

"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word."

Happy Spring

Happy First Day of Spring!

Wordless Wednesday-In bloom

For more picture beautiful moments in time, please visit the WW HQs and 5 minutes for mom.

The Simple Woman's Daybook-March 11th Edition

For Today... Monday, May 11, 2009

Outside My Window... clouds gathering for our daily dose of afternoon rain. Update:It rains a lot!

I am thinking... about whoever stole one of two carriage pots from my garden, and all the tiny elves. They were there last night and today as I walked C through the door. So someone took them in plain daylight, between 9 and 11 a.m. It makes me so upset and insecure at the same time!

From the learning rooms… F sat the first part of her English exams. Both F and D have one more day at school and then they stop for a week before the yearly finals begin. I took J to the doctor today. He can go to school as of tomorrow. One more month before Primary schools close for summer.

I am thankful for... my husband. I am so not ready to nail people on the wall. That makes me feel a total idiot sometimes, when I think of what I might/ought to have said. But he makes up for my deficiency, thank God.

From the kitchen... it was store bought burgers today. I am very lazy when it comes to cooking these days. I need to start menu planning again.

I am wearing... a white T-shirt and blue capris.

I am reading... Harper's Bazaar from the Sunday papers.

I am hoping... F makes a good presentation tonight of the school's newspaper.

I am creating... J's pirate cross-stitch. I am now embroidering his name. I so miss cross stitching, it keeps my brain in shape. Last week we got a new armchair. It is part of my little corner in the living room, where I can do my cross stitching while everyone else watches TV , without having to follow the action or be in a separate room.

I am hearing... the rain.

I am going... to the launch of the school newspaper this afternoon at a hotel conference center.

Around the house... I must take the summer clothing out and put winter clothing in. Although it's raining in the afternoon, it is hot (c.30C) in the morning.

One of my favorite things... good mail.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week: begin pillow making for my on-line shop!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing…


Florence, Easter 2009. A piano at an open air cafe. I crave civilisation...

Thank you for stopping by, and thank you for hosting. I so much like visiting you and reading your comments. Have a beautiful, blessed week.

New look and our winner

Hello,
After more than a week of toiling over it, Tara and myself are happy to present the new look of The Green Greek. And I am glad to say it is everything I wanted it to be.

We began by my picking the theme from a beautiful selection of kits. I was spoiled for choice.

I loved the colorway of Watch me Grow, the kit I picked. Tara's use of it was an immediate success. I love the colors and texture. The header was going to be the most difficult part, but after e-mailing her a trackload of stuff I thought that could fit in there, she made the professional choice, and it was the best! The girls gasped upon seeing it. They loved it, so it was an immediate yes! It took some time for me to shape up my posts and sidebars. But yes! Tara managed to have the template ready and installed on the 6th, as announced.

Now for picking our winner, I would have loved to offer everyone a blog makeover, but there could only be one. This had to be assigned to an independent and totally impartial party. So, here are the names of the four participants.


Folded.No cheating!
Then given to be to handled.

I am glad to announce that Denise of Shortybear's Place and Free to Me was the lucky winner.
Denise and Tara, have a great time building together the blog of your choice!

Check out Tara's work in familiar and loved blogs such as Beth's. Thank you Beth for leading me to Tara! Here is a taste of Tara's new kits for spring:



Do stop by Tara's. She is simply the best person to work with, and as I found out while checking other blog designers, her prices are very down to earth, too.

So, have fun,a nd Happy Spring to all!

Enjoy the Weekend

Wishing you all a very pleasurable and Spring-fresh weekend. Don't forget to join my giveaway for a free blog makeover by Tara, my own makeover wizzard.
Have you visited The Happy Turtle yet? She's done terrific work in conveying what I had in mind. And she is doing a great job on The Greek Greek, too.
Monday 6th is the unveiling date, and we're going to random pick the winner. Who will she be?
I love all those flowers in the photo found here, so I am sending a bouquet to each one of you.
Enjoy the Weekend.

The Annunciation of Christ...

"In those days, Elizabeth the wife of Zacharias conceived and for
five months she hid herself, saying, "Thus the Lord had done to me in
the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men."
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of
Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was
Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he
came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you! But
she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind
what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do
not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold,
you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his
name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most
High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his
kingdom there will be no end." And Mary said to the angel, "How shall
this be, since I have no husband?" And the angel said to her, "The
Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will
overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son
of God.

And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also
conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called
barren. For with God nothing will be impossible." And Mary said, "Behold,
I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your
word." And the angel departed from her".

(Luke 1:24-38)

Welcome Spring!

Happy Spring

...and snow!

Skywatch Friday

Spring skies. Full of promises. Yet holding on to the cozy months.
Skywatch Fridays are hosted here.

The Simple Woman's Daybook-March 9th Edition

For Today...

Outside my window... it is dark, with the lights of our town shining in the distance.

I am thinking... when will this coughing stop?

From the learning rooms... a day in the Archaeological Museum for the girls, tomorrow. First day at school after the flu for our little one.

I am thankful for... going on a diet with my husband. We both needed it and it is great comfort to be able to support each other.

From the kitchen... lentil soup for the kids today. I think tomorrow they'll have to do with an omelette.

I am wearing... red pajama bottoms, brown velour top.

I am reading... "Eat, Pray, Love".

I am hoping... for my hubby to have a successful operation tomorrow, to remove a nasty problem tooth.

I am creating... my new blog design.

I am hearing... DH snoring, the sound of my laptop, the girls playing with Patcha the cat.

Around the house... laundry piles, but I almost finished spring cleaning our bedroom.

One of my favorite things... felt tip pens, all shades of pink.

A few plans for the rest of the week... fix the landing. Spring clean, rearrange, open up the space.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Thank you for stopping by. Join us on Mondays for The Simple Woman'sDaybook, quiet time for the simple blessings of daily life, thanks to Peggy.

Holy Week 2008

Holy Week and Easter are behind us, but the flavor of the holidays is with us.
We went to church with the children, who are now more able to understand the language, and more patient with the time involved.

Thursday night we've listened to the twelve gospels narrating the events up to the cruxifiction and placement of Jesus in the tomb in our local church. On Great Friday we went to C's village and followed the afternoon service amongst the few elderly inhabitants and visitors. C carried the epitaph, an edifice made of carved wood, representing Jesus' tomb, that women decorate with flowers. In there lies a heavy red velvet. With golden thread is embroidered the dead Jesus with His Mother, his beloved John, the Apostles and the two Maries.

On Friday morning we visited an elderly relative who is very-very nice with us, bringing her the customary Easter sweets and eggs.

Fasting on Great Friday is strict, so we don't eat meat or dairy, not even oil. So, this is what our meal looked like.
I shall soon post about Easter Sunday, too. It was a deeply moving and peaceful week, for which I am offering thanks to God.

May 1st

Let us choose flowers,
roses and liliums,
and come make wreaths with them
for May who appears today on the earth.




Happy May!