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Betzabroad…My personal recipe for tasting our big, fat, wonderful world

Betzabroad…My personal recipe for tasting our big, fat, wonderful world

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  • Greek Orthodox Easter 2018

    Our celebration of the risen Christ always involves family, food, music and prayer. The bountiful food is personal because the recipes have been passed down for three generations here in the U.S. I hope that when I cook and serve my grown children their great-grandmother’s handwritten tsoureki recipe they can understand that her substitution of anisette and orange juice for Mahlepi was born of economic necessity and the ingenuity of an immigrant.

    When we feast on lamb, we remember that Jesus Christ allowed himself to be the ultimate sacrificial lamb.

    When we crack the eggs dyed red and exclaim “Xristos Anesti”, we avow the reason for our feast. And a feast it is…

    So grateful that God sent His only Son to die for us all, trample down death, grant life to those in the tombs and save us all by His amazing grace.

    Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! kali Anastasi!

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  • Greek Orthodox Easter Feast…Xristos Anesti!

    Christ is Risen!  Truly He is Risen!  

    On this blessed day we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ with good food, good company and great thankfulness that Jesus Christ laid down His life for us, his unworthy people.  And by His death, He conquered our death and gave us all a chance at life eternal.  I am humbled.

    Our family had a small gathering in D.C. with two of our three children.  A wonderful dinner was enjoyed by all.

    Greek Salad.. 

     

    Roast leg of lamb and potatoes.. 

     

    Skordalia and  Greek wines…. 

       

    Spanikotiropita,, tiropita, tsoureki, pita bread….. 

     

    Amen..Amen..Amen….

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  • Pascha, Part II…

    I like to cook my holiday meals all throughout the week prior so I can have a little fun on the big day too!  it’s especially important for Greek Easter as we often roast a whole lamb on a spit in our backyard!  Alas, this year no whole roast Pascha lamb, just a small semi-boneless leg.  But my prep work for the big day continues on this week before Eastern Orthodox Easter.  

    Today, I made my pites, or pies.  Tiropita  (cheese pies), and Spanikotiropita (spinach and cheese pies) are my children’s favorites.  My tiropitas are made with ricotta, shredded Parmesan, and crumbled feta, salt and pepper, filo dough and lots of butter!!!

    Here is what my free-form version of Tiropita looks like before and after baking in a 350 degree oven…

       

    My Spanikotiropita is made with a filling of green onions, spinach, cottage cheese, feta and Parmesan cheeses, fresh dill, salt and pepper all wrapped up in butter-slathered filo dough sheets.   Again, the before and after pics… 

       

    Now, I just need to keep it hidden from the family until Sunday……;)

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  • Easter Preparations

    Eastern Orthodox Christians the world over celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ this coming Sunday, April 12.  After a Lenten period of reflection, self denial and prayer, we all look forward to the Feast that is Easter (Pascha).  

    Today, I spent the day preparing the Easter Eggs, always dyed red to signify the blood that Christ shed for our sins. 

     

    During our Easter celebration we will crack them together while announcing “Xristos Anesti”and “Alithos Anesti”.  Literally,, Christ is Risen, Truly He is Risen.  We crack them to signify Christ’s breaking forth from the tomb.  It is such a wonderful, meaningful tradition! 

     

    We Greek Orthodox Christians also bake a traditional sweet bread called Tsoureki.  I started mine early, as it requires 3 risings.  Here’s the dough after the first rising… 

     

    Then, after the second rising, I braid the dough and place in pans to rise again… 

     

    These loaves have been brushed with an egg wash and sprinkled with sesame seeds…

    45-50 minutes in a 350 degree oven and….. 

     

    I like to brush with melted butter and honey just to guild the lily…and because Yiayia taught me that way! 

    Praise be to God, Kalla Pascha!

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