"It's only prentending to be summer"

Or, an update on "The Greeks have a word for it"

Ripening Pomegranates - get them before the birds do!

The celebration of the Virgin Mary on 15^th August is the major and, in fact, only, public holiday during the summer – if it falls on a weekend that is a bit of a blow to anyone wanting a day off work but this year it fell on a Wednesday so what better than to take the whole week off!

At the end of the day .... time to chat

Traditionally it is holiday time and Athens empties completely as everyone goes off to a village or island – yes, it’s a time of extreme crisis and extreme depression but going off to a village or island doesn’t necessarily mean an extravagant vacation – for most it will be a visit to the family roots and a gathering together of all ages, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and the new babies bringing new hope to a sad situation.

Golden autumn fields

 But I am not really talking about holidays; I wanted to share some Greek charm and Greek habits. A couple of years ago I wrote a piece for the Periscope Post entitled ‘The Greeks have a word for it’ giving examples of the Greek habit of dealing with any occurrence, good or bad, with an appropriate phrase that is guaranteed to make you feel cheerful. The 15^th August is not just a celebration for all named Maria, Despina, Panagioti (the male version), Marika etc to whom one wishes Chronia Polla (literally many years – effectively ‘many happy returns’) it is customary to give the same greeting to everyone you meet on that special day. However, August 15^th also marks the end of the summer – incredible as it seems – and, especially those who have finished their holidays on or about that date will be wished Kalo Heimona – happy winter! Ghastly thought when no one is really ready to think about the long winter ahead. The strange thing is though that the weather actually does change after Panagia on the 15^th and there is a definite autumnal flavour; a friend wrote in an email that ‘it’s only pretending to be summer’ and I think that is an accurate description of the change.

Prickly pears - not quite ready

Of course it gets light later – no more 5 o’clock starts and the evenings are drawing in and even sitting in the garden with a morning coffee requires seating adjustments as the sun is lower in the sky and the shade is in a different place! The light is different, the shadows deeper and it feels like autumn. All the plants that rested after their glorious abundance in the spring and early summer are now ready to go into an overdrive of flowering. And the pomegranates and prickly pears are ripening and the figs – oh the figs and grapes!

Beautiful figs, just  picked

Recipes:

The best way to eat figs is stealing off the neighbour's tree!

Alternatively with thick Greek yogurt or Mascarpone. You can bake them in a pastry base and then add thick Greek yogurt or Mascarpone.

Hang them up to dry and eventually make a wonderful preserve with walnuts a hint of mastic pounded in a mortar and served with - thick Greek yogurt or Mascarpone - what else! Actually, forget the Mascarpone, thick Greek yogurt is the ultimate!

Pomegranates, when fully ripened a bit later in the autumn, sprinkled on salad, rice for a Moroccan touch, fruit salad or as the grannies used to do in the old days pick the pips out with a pin and serve to the children. I don't mind the pips and, in any case, am not going to start de-pipping them, and love them by the spoonful. Juiced is fantastically refreshing.

Grapes, bunches at any time of the day, on their  own or with cheese or added to chicken veronique - but mainly just as a wonderful healthy fruit.

Wishing you sunshine and delicious figs, whatever the weather!

Hard to believe that this scene will be green and covered in spring flowers and wild herbs in a few months' time

“7^th November 2010 Periscope Post

The Greeks do indeed have a word for any and all occasions and, for the most part, a way of wishing you well: Have a good month (Kalo Mina), have a good winter (kalo heimona), good luck with your new …car, house (kalo riziko), be happy (actually ‘good’) welcoming a guest or a child home (kalo na ton dektis), everyone you pass will wish you good luck as you are wheeled into the operating theatre (kali epitihia), even be happy wearing, and eventually dirtying, your clean and pressed clothes (kalo leroto). The list is endless but sometimes confusing to foreigners: kai to chronou (and to next year’s event) is clearly not for funerals where zoi se mas (life to us) is a way of thanking the Universe for sparing the living and s’ta dika sas (and to yours, as in wedding) to the unmarried is the wish for the next wedding to be theirs.

This past weekend, I heard ‘happy voting’ as the Greeks went to the polls for local government elections. Things have changed considerably since I first experienced elections in my adoptive country: it used to be compulsory to vote and this was very strictly enforced; if you were away on the day you had to prove you were abroad by showing an airline ticket or other acceptable evidence otherwise there was the possibility of jail. But also people would take their duty very seriously and dress up in, literally, their Sunday best – it was an Event. Very often Greeks are registered in their place of origin necessitating travelling great distances to do one’s duty; nowadays they still travel to their villages, and take a couple of days off work as a bonus! Also, in the old days, no alcohol or matches could be sold the night before the Sunday election day, presumably to ensure that voters made a clear minded decision – the matches? Presumably without setting fire to anything! And even on The Day alcohol was only served at a taverna on presentation of a stamped voting book!

Greeks are passionate about Politics and everyone has an opinion that is aired with only the slightest encouragement, but voting seems to have lost its charm. Sadly the response I received on enquiring where/how people were going to exercise their public right was along the lines of “Oh I’m not going to bother” and “It’s such lovely weather we’re off for the weekend to take advantage of the day off school/work on Monday”. Sad because there are still places in the world where people are disenfranchised or even fear terrible repercussions if they vote according to their beliefs instead towing the party line; I suppose, enjoying the freedom of living in the West also means having the freedom to not vote.

Last weekend saw the turn of New York to host a Marathon Race (see last week’s Classic Athens Marathon) and although the popular record holder, Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie is running for the first time at this location, the world’s eyes are on Edison Pena one of the rescued Chilean miners who kept fit during his ordeal running kilometres underground every day. He is also a keen Elvis fan and will visit Graceland during his U.S. visit – would he ever have envisaged being world famous a few months ago and singing on the David Letterman show, or even alive a few weeks ago? Life is interesting and unpredictable – kali evdomatha (have a very good week)!”

One of the comments on the above article reminded me of the expression ‘yia sta hieria sas’ meaning health to your hands – usually referring to a delicious dish or meal that has been created – that really is a very nice way of complimenting someone and showing appreciation and also hoping for more of the same to come your way!

This is the 'Hey Pesto!' Blog after all!

The Joy of - ICED TEA

There is simply nothing as refreshing as home made Iced Tea!

And I speak from great experience!

This summer has been extremely hot, fortunately not humid, but what should have been a ‘heat wave’ and should have passed allowing us and our houses to cool down has continued on and on for weeks – and if you’ve had rain and cloud for weeks and weeks and would like to exchange, believe me it can become very tiring indeed (probably like weeks and weeks of rain and cloud!).

Our island house is very old with thick stone walls and high ceilings and is usually cool, but this year, due to the unrelenting ‘wave’ it has just got hotter and hotter and everything inside is hot to the touch – the beds feel as though the electric blankets are on high – to the point that I did actually check that they weren’t plugged in.

I have taken to showering just before going to bed, literally from the shower to the bed and lying down damp – there was practically steam coming off the sheets! I would not recommend this method of going to sleep as it must be the fastest way to get rheumatism or arthritis, especially if the fan is on – it does help but I take no responsibility for aches and pains – you try it at your own risk! Another friend of mine has been going to bed on damp/wet towels – no responsibility for that either!

Iced Tea, homemade, is so easy and a million times nicer and better for you that anything in a bottle or can. I am a coffee drinker and love it hot or iced, frappe, milky or espresso poured over ice cream (Heaven – no calories at all!!!!) but Iced Tea wins hands down every time – even hot tea after an afternoon on the beach, with memories of the Raj and cucumber sandwiches, is amazingly refreshing. Tea is the thing! Trust me.

Tea bags, sugar, lemon slices, boiling water, suitable container

Even if you never have sugar in tea or coffee, iced tea does need a little sweetener so I use 2 flat tablespoons of sugar or sweetener (your preference and your responsibility) into my 1-1/2liter Luminarc jug and dissolve with a little boiling water.

For real freshness I slice up a lemon and put that into the boiling water to infuse for a few minutes.

Pour a little boiling water on to sugar and lemon slices

Don’t be stingy with the tea bags – you need flavour – so I use 3-4 bags (and if they have strings with labels attached I just tie them together which makes it easier to fish them out all together later). Add the tea bags and fill up the jug with COLD water, pop the lid on and leave on the side to infuse.

You can leave it to infuse in the hot sun which looks lovely but then you have to cool it all down before putting it in the ‘fridge, so I just leave it in the kitchen for an hour or so, fish out the bags but leave in the lemon slices and chill.

Add tea bags and fill up with COLD water

This method works for any tea, Earl Grey, Breakfast, Assam, Moroccan (that has a hint of mint in), but right now it’s GREEN for me with or without Jasmine flowers. (See previous post Down in the jungle for Tea with Hibiscus flowers infusion - deep red and tangy)

 Another thing I do to keep cool (if only…!) is to squeeze a load of lemons and put the juice in the ice trays in the freezer so whenever I need even a glass of cold water I add a lemon cube and feel much better. The simplest ideas are usually the best as we know.

I usually take a bottle of this glorious greeny/lemony coolness in a cooler bag bought for this exact purpose down to the beach – so much better than any fizzy drink, that I am not averse to on occasions but that usually end up making you feel thirstier. Cucumber sandwiches wrapped in a damp cloth would be perfect!

Leave to infuse then chill

Wishing you sunshine and refreshing drinks, whatever the weather.

Pesto coming along nicely

Donkeys, Saints, Lentils and summers gone by

Wise Eeyore fourteenth cousin twice removed, the wise Sophocles

For the past few days I have been awakened by what could be called an ‘island alarm clock’ – a beautiful brown donkey grazing in a field nearby braying away telling me to get up and enjoy the day, and the priest’s chanting in the little church of Aghios Nicholaos on the corner preparing the world for the celebration of the Virgin Mary on August 15^th – he is also reminding the world that there is another day to be thankful for!

Preparing for the Feast of the Holy Virgin - notice the Basil Plant!

Inside the Church of the Holy Virgin - notice more Basil plants!

I love both these sounds – there are so few donkeys around these days as they have been replaced by jeeps! When we first renovated our little ‘patriko spiti’ (family house) on Serifos – starting about 40 years ago and still work in progress – there were few roads on the island and no petrol station. I would come with my trusty Fiat 127 full of things inside and on the roof for the whole summer stay; we didn’t use the car much as there were few places to go by road and the best beaches were accessible by boat; however, sometimes, before we would all pile back into the car and on to the ship for the return to school, brown as berries and fairly wild, we might be in danger of running out of fuel on the drive home on disembarking at Piraeus. The only solution was to take the morning boat for a day excursion to the next island of Sifnos where there was a petrol station.

This was also a good opportunity to buy some (lots!) of the wonderful Sifnos pottery, their colouria biscuits (they look rather plain but with a distinct aniseed taste that go perfectly with ouzo or coffee), the traditional rag rugs that were still being woven on huge looms in the villages, have a swim and some delicious Sifnos specialities that are quite different from Serifos specialities that really only boasts one speciality, the zyno-mizithra – a soft white slightly sour goats’ cheese – there may be only one speciality on Serifos, but it is very good indeed!

Just some of my Siphnos pottery collection! All regularly used too!

Then at the end of the afternoon we would pile back into the car and ferry boat for the hour’s sail back home feeling as though we’d been to another country!

Down to Aghios Sostis, beach and church at dusk with a full moon rising

Other memories of the magical summers when people still used donkeys and the children ran free and wild with all the other summer friends with whom they grew up include the feast of Aghios Sostis on September 6^th, just before trying to rein them in for the return to school. This beautiful little church is on a beautiful beach and was only accessible then on foot or by donkey and mule over the thyme covered hills or by boat (the fishermen would all bring boat loads of people round to the bay, whatever the weather); the difficulty in getting there never deterred the faithful not least with the thought of bowls of Fava (yellow lentil puree) and Holy Bread after the service.

Our Serifiot Aunt would round up a herd of donkeys and mules for us all although she always insisted on walking with her cane with a green snake styled handle that she sill uses. The first time I mounted on my donkey, being a horse rider, I thought I would show off and sat astride and not perching on the side of the saddle like the yiayias (grannies) – BIG MISTAKE and talk about pride coming before a fall: I didn’t fall but I couldn’t walk for several days! There is a very good reason why no one sits astride on a wooden donkey saddle!

We  still go to the celebration at Aghios Sostis and often go to the beach there to swim as there is a road now although you still have to walk down the hill to get there, and UP at the end of the day with all the beach stuff! Tough but worth it as this beach and especially the little church have a special place in my heart – he’s a good chap, Aghios Sostis, Saint Saviour!

Inside Aghios Sostis Church with the Holy bread waiting to be Blessed

A full day's cooking, fava, goat stew, potatoes - all done by volunteers and FREE to the worshippers

See the bowls of fava and plenty of local wine for good measure!



As well as Fava, there is a goat stew that has been cooked slowly all day over the fire in huge vats and is so full of flavour - not the most attractive of dishes to look at, but incredibly good and sustaining (after a long day on the beach! And the walk to the church!).

Holy bread to take home

FAVA is very easy to make and when served with thinly sliced raw onions, lemon juice and extra olive oil is simply wonderful – a little bland for some tastes but it spells ‘island’ to me!

Wash the yellow lentils and then put them in a big pot and cover with water. Bring to the boil de-scumming any froth that forms. Do not put the salt in as they wont soften! Add some chopped onions and olive oil and cook until soft and mushy and thick. Now put the salt in, to taste. Serve warmish or cool with thinly sliced raw onions sprinkled on top, wedges of lemon and drizzle more olive oil over and around. Enjoy!

My friend from Skiathos (see previous Post about our sea urchin lunches) adds a little cumin and it’s delicious too.

'Skiathos' fava with a sprinkling of Basil leaves (my friend has a million more plants than I have - I counted them!

Wishing you sunshine and Blessings of all the Saints, especially Aghios Sostis and the Holy Mother, whatever the weather!

Aghios Sostis - my hero

Still not enough Basil! How about Sea Urchins?

Every food Blog I open is full of Pesto this and Pesto that and I don’t have any Basil plants of sufficient size to make any of this most delicious summer sauce (see previous Post about automatic watering!).

Finally and to my great joy, my crazy mint plant is beginning to recover from its drought and I have some tiny green leaves pushing out – thanks to lots of water, wonderful Greek sunshine and Reiki – I talk to all my plants so why not Reiki them too for good measure! But my one remaining Basil is struggling valiantly but I couldn’t possibly start harvesting its fragrant leaves – it’s just a joy to give it a brush with my hand as I pass it to release its magical aroma! God Willing, or, more appropriately, water willing (which is effectively the same thing in my opinion) all my Basils back in Athens will be huge and ready for cutting when I get back there and there is still lots of summer weather and summer recipes waiting to be made. 

In the meantime ….. I was recently invited to another idyllic Greek island, Skiathos in the Sporades group (together with Skopelos of Mama Mia fame) and although Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth were not part of our group we had someone far more important:  A Sea Urchin specialist! Off our friend would swim, complete with goggles, snorkel, knife and net bag to pick these amazing creatures and to be a ‘specialist’ you have to know which ones will yield the tastiest flesh – are they the black ones, the dark red, the large or smaller – as long as the ‘specialist’ knows then you are in the best of hands. We would lunch everyday on our hosts’ classic yacht anchored in the bay off their beach and our ‘specialist’ would reappear with his net filled with these potentially dangerous creatures (anyone, and usually it’s a child, who has trodden on a sea urchin and got a foot full of broken spines will know exactly what I am talking about!). He would sit on the deck with a bucket of sea water to clean and open these treasures of the not-so-deep with the special gadget that makes this a simple task (and well worth investing in as using kitchen scissors is heavy going and open to a messy result).

The SPECIALIST at work!

What a glorious feast! Sea urchins with lemon juice, an assortment of fish that must have jumped out of the sea into the frying pan, egg plants, just sliced and fried, a glorious Greek salad, Feta Cheese, Olives, Country Bread, Tzatziki – all washed down with Ouzo or icy white wine. Nothing, simply nothing better as it included a fun group of dear friends who have known each other forever and, God Willing, will continue to enjoy each others company for many summers to come.

Out of the sea, a dusting of flour, into hot oil for a few seconds - perfect!

Purple & white aubergines fried in olive oil

Tzatziki, yogurt, garlic, cucumber & mint

How delicious was that!

Nothing more needed to round off a simple summer meal than a plate of chilled fruit

Refreshing melon

Then a snooze on the deck before a plunge into the incredibly warm water and a gentle swim back to the beach and tea, of course, on the terrace to watch the sunset and wait for the next delicious meal!

Summer in Greece!

Glorious Greece!

Wishing you Glorious Greek sunshine, whatever the weather, and the best of friends to share it with!