April 11, 2007

• Greek Easter 2007

  
  The Eggs, symbolizing rebirth and resurrection are colored red for the blood of christ

  
  Several of them get baked into the Tsoureki, or greek easter bread. Made from scratch thank you much, the dough was made, rolled, and baked by yours truly. I only do this once a year, and the smell of the apartment on that day is just this side of amazing

  
  Spanakopita, A spinach and feta cheese pastry in between sheets of thin phyllo dough (my personal favoritest food EVER)

  
  The obligatory lamb dish-including mushrooms, carrots, and lamb in a red wine based stew concoction taught to me by mother when i was still small enough to get hit with the wooden spoon she used to stir it

  
  Pastitsio, kinda like a greek lasagna with nutmeg, allspice, pasta, ground turkey, tomatoes

  
  Chicken Avgolemono on rice pilaf with fresh mint. The sauce is MY recipe, you find your own

  
  And by this years special request, homemade baklava

  Time to cook all this food: approximately 6 days. Time taken by my guests to consume it: 2 hours before they could not eat any more. Totally worth it

  
  The full buffet, also including rosemary lemon seasoned potatoes, stuffed grape vine leaves (dolmakia) and falafel for the vegetarians
  Kalo Pashca, let the feast begin

  
  The first game is Tsourismos, the cracking of the eggs. Each guest takes one of the eggs and they turn to each with one saying Xristos Anesti (Christ has risen) and the other responding Alithos Anesti (Truly he has risen). They then hit the eggs together. Whoever’s egg does not crack then turns and repeats the ritual with another guest until only one egg remains standing. The person with that egg will have a year of strength and good luck Demonstrating this are Praz and the lovely Linda, both first timers to my Greek Easter Extravaganza

  Then comes the feast, with everyone taking a piece of the easter bread. In each loaf of bread, there was a quarter baked into it (should have been a drachma, but who has those lying around) The person who bites into the bread and discovers the quarter has a year of good fortune coming to them, provided they keep the quarter on their
   person until the following easter. Jenn and Tam found the quarters this year
  
  Just a few pics of the people enjoying dinner, ending with one of Rachel and I (a fellow greek who could catch me if i messed up any of the traditions) Yes, that is a greek cross around my neck, worn only on easter. Yes I am still buddhist, the cross was there for cultural, not religious reasons.

  So now you all know i can cook (or at least make food that appears decent) and perhaps next year you might be in the area and we can celebrate easter together. Til next time

  -J

  • 5:18 pm
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