December's Recipe:
Stuffed Bell Pepper

  
serves 6
 

Since the real business of eating does not begin for the Greeks until midday, it is only coffee that gets city dwellers, in particular, through the first hours of the day.  This first cup of mocha coffee is both a reminder and a foretaste of an afternoon ritual.  Vale briki, which means something like "get the coffee pot boiling" is one of the most important phrases to be heard during the course of a Greek day.  Not only does it signal coffee-time, but can also be an out-right invitation for a cozy chat over coffee or even a coffee klatsch to gossip about the various goings-on in the neighborhood.  These get-togethers over coffee have a special social significance in Greece as a means of contact and exchanging news.  Anyone who does not participate of observe the rules will find it difficult to make friends in the community.  The hostess serves the coffee on a tray with some sweet confectionery, and a		These brass coffee pots allow the heat to be distributed slowly and evenly as the coffee is brought to a boil
glass of chilled water.  Her guests wish her success and happiness before sampling the sweet confectionery, then quenching their thirst with the water and only then reaching for the coffee.  There are rules governing coffee-drinking too: Unlike espresso, mocha coffee is not downed in one go, but sipped deliberately slowly in order to leave the gritty sediment at the bottom of the cup.

Ground coffee and sugar are spooned into the pot according to personal taste		Using just enough water to fill a coffee cup, pour it onto the coffee and sugar and bring it to a boil
The coffee is ready when the froth has risen right up to the brim		Pour the mocha coffee slowly and carefully into the cup, leaving as much of the grounds as possible in the pot

 

These private coffee sessions can include mixed company with men present as well as women.  Sometimes, it is just a women's get-together.  if only men, it is unlikely that they would make the coffee themselves, preferring to have it served to them in the kafenion.  Coffee-making is regarded as women's work.  These are numerous ways of preparing it and sometimes it does not turn out successfully.  there is a saying that you cant hide anything from the mocha, and the maker's mood is reflected in the resulting brew.  There are basically three different ways of preparing mocha coffee: sketos (bitter), metrios (medium-sweet) and glikos (sweet).  To make one cup of mocha coffee, you need one teaspoonful of very finely ground coffee beans.  Add sugar to taste, then a cup of water, and slowly bring it all to a boil in  a special little long handled pot, before carefully pouring the coffee into the cup.  In days gone by, it was placed in glowing embers to heat up.  The coffee sediment must them be given time to settle at the bottom of the cup, a period of waiting which can be filled with cookies and sweet confectionery.

In the 18th century, it was customary for young men, seeking a girl's hand in marriage to be served a cup of mocha coffee by her family.  This was not simply a symbol of the host's hospitality.  if the coffee were sweet, the suitor had every reason to be pleased; if it were bitter, the young man would rise politely, say thank you for the conversation and never be seen again. 
 

Kafes Frape 1 tsp soluble coffee 1 tsp sugar 1 spoonful of fresh cream or canned milk Ice cubes Place the coffee, sugar and 1/4 glass of cold water in a shaker and shake vigorously until all the liquid has turned to foam.  The firmer the consistency of the foam, the better the kafes frape will be. Pour the mixture into a tall tumbler, add a few ice-cubes and top up with cold water.  Add a dash of fresh cream or canned milk and stir with a straw.  Since coffee preferences vary, when you order a kafes frapes, currently mocha's biggest rival, you will be asked how you like it to be made.

                                                                                                                                                                    excerpts from: "Culinaria Greece"

 

Greek Coffee Pot Briki Small

Greek Coffee Pot Briki Large

Greek Coffee Pot Briki Medium

Coffee Loumidis Decaf - Net Wt. 100 gr

Coffee Loumidis Black - Net Wt. 227 gr

Nescafe frappe Shaker

  Featured Destination: Kea

GEOGRAPHY Kea or Tzia is the northernmost island of the Western Cyclades. It is located between Euboia and Kythnos, almost directly opposite Attica, with Makronisos interposed between them. 131 sq. km. in area, 81 km. of coastline, it is 12 nautical miles from Sounion and has 1,618 inhabitants. The capital is loulis (Chora) and its harbor is Korissia (Livadi), from where there is a daily car and passenger ferry service to Lavrion and once a week to Piraeus during the summer season. The only Cycladic island with which there is a link is Kythnos.
A mountainous island, it consists of small valleys leading down to little bays and sandy beaches. Geologically it is the continuation of Sounion. The highest peak is Profitis Ilias (567 m. a.s.l.), almost at the centre of the island. In the northwest part, between the mountainous masses, is the gulf of Aghios Nikolaos, one of the safest natural harbors in the Mediterranean. Very close to Attica and with limited tourist development and road network, it is just the place for a relaxing vacation.

HISTORY Known in antiquity as "Keios" or "Keio", after the mythical hero Keos, the island's present name, Tzia, is a legacy of the Frankish occupation. Finds from excavations at Kephala testify that the island was inhabited in Neolithic times. Karians, Pelasgians and Lelegians also settled here. In historical times it was colonized by Ionians and consisted of four independent cities -loulis, Karthaia, Poieessa, Koresia- all of which flourished. The island sired poets (Simonides, Bacchylides), philosophers (Aristion) and athletes, and the four cities minted their own coinage. Kea fought against the Medes during the Persian Wars and afterwards joined the Athenian League. Kea was an ally of Thebes for a brief spell, then passed to the Macedonians, Ptolemies and, eventually, to the Romans, which heralded its decline. In Byzantine times it belonged to the Thema of the Aegean and immediately after the Fall of Constantinople in 1204 it was ceded to the Venetians. In 1537 Kh. Barbarossa plundered Kea and it was easily conquered by the Turks. Between 1770 and 1774 it was taken by the Russian fleet and in 1781 was the base for the sorties of L. Katsonis.

SIGHTS-MONUMENTS The island's capital, loulis (Chora) is built amphitheatrically in the hinterland, 6 km. from the harbor, on the site of the ancient city of that name. Its vernacular Cycladic architecture is totally unspoiled, snow white two-story houses, narrow cobbled streets and innumerable churches dating from the 17th - 19th century, most with wood carved iconostases and important icons (St. Spyridon, Virgin Rematiani, St. John). From the neighborhood of Kastro, where remnants of the Venetian castle are preserved, there is a magnificent view over the sea to the mountains of Attica. Engraved on a schistose rock northeast of Chora (approx. 1 km.) is the "Lion of Kea", a colossal lion dated to 600 BC, work of an Ionian sculptor and associated with the island's mythology. In the Archaeological Museum one can see finds from excavations conducted on the island, especially from Aghia Irini. 6 km. southwest of Chora, is the monastery dedicated to Aghia Marina, built in the 16th century around a three-storey Hellenistic tower, the ruins of which are still preserved. 2 km. beyond Aghia Marina is Poises with its sparse remnants of the once important city of
Poieessa. This richly vegetated region is delightful for swimming, with its tiny bay and sandy beach. The road from here leads to the bay of Koundouros, one of the most beautiful on the island, with deep blue waters, many beaches and coves. There are several hotels and in the last few years the area has developed touristically. Proceeding eastwards from Chora, one may visit Aghia Anna, formerly a monastery, though nowadays only the church is still in good condition. Southeast of Chora (approximately 12 km.) in an area of particular scenic beauty, difficult of access, is the site of the ancient city of Karthaia.

The site of ancient Koressia is also the site of the modern town known as Livadi by the locals. Excavations conducted here have brought to light sections of the ancient wall and a cemetery in which the statue of an Archaic kouros of the 6th century BC was discovered, nowadays exhibited in the National Archaeological Museum, Athens. About 2 km. from Koressia is the picturesque bay of Vourkari, with the tiny village of that name, a safe anchorage for yachts throughout the year. On the Aghia Irini peninsula opposite, excavations carried out by the American School of Classical Studies (under the Direction` of the late professor John Caskey) have revealed an important Bronze Age settlement, at its zenith between 2000 and 1400 BC. In addition to the various buildings, many of which are in the sea, significant movable finds have been recovered: vases, domestic objects and Cycladic figurines. After Vourkari is the gulf of Otzias from where a road leads to the monastery of the Virgin Kastriani (16 km. east of Chora). Within the monastery is the two-storey church of the Virgin, the lower section of which (an 18th century building) is dedicated to the finding of the miraculous icon kept there. On August 15th, the feast of the Virgin, pilgrims flock to the monastery. In addition to the bay of Koundouros and Poises in the south, there are fine beaches at Koressia, Yaliskari and Otzia which can all be reached by bus or car. For those with a boat there are numerous secluded beaches with sparkling sea. Refuelling stations at Koressia and Bourkari. There are a few hotels and rooms for rent.

 Travel Guides and Information for your trip in the area

 Saints' Namedays in December

Icons depicting the celebrated Saint, make great gifts for namedays.
Shop among our great collection of icons at our store. Also available, namedays, birthday, holiday, and special occasion greeting cards.

Gold and Silver Icons	Hand painted Icons	Icons by Zafiris
Want to know more about Orthodox Saints? Complete biographies of Orthodox Saints are now available.

 Share With Others!!!!

 Suggestions & Comments

 Subscription Information

Missed an issue of our
newsletter? Now you can access past newsletters by visiting
http://www.greekshops.com/newsletters_archive

To unsubscribe from this email list please reply back to this email and change the Subject of your email to REMOVE. You can also unsubscribe by clicking here