May's Recipe:
Pan-Fried Manouri Cheese with Figs and Chios Mastiha Sauce
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This recipe is essentially a variation of the classic Greek pan-fried cheese called Saganaki. Here, a mild, buttery, pressed sheep's milk cheese called manouri is used. If you can't find it, you may substitute ricotta salata.
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Ingredients:
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- 4 medium fresh figs, cut into 4 wedges each
- 500 ml dry red wine
- 200 ml Mavrodafni wine
- 1 tbsp Greek honey
- 1/3 tbsp Green peppercorns
- 1/2 tsp ground Chios Mastiha or 1/3 cup commercially infused Chios Mastiha water
For the pan-fried cheese:
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- 280 gr (10oz) manouri cheese, cut into 4 half circles
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour for dredging, or more as needed
- 100 ml olive oil for sautéing
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Preparation:
Bring the wines, honey, peppercorns to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat, add the fig wedges and simmer until the sauce is reduced by two-thirds. Skim the foam off the top of the sauce as it forms and discard. Add the Chios Mastiha water and continue simmering for one minute. Remove from heat. Fill a shallow bowl with cold water and empty the flour into another second bowl. Heat the oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Dip the cheese pieces first into the cold water then into the flour and panfry, two at a time, flipping once, until golden on both sides. Drain on kitchen paper and continue until all the cheese is sautéed. Serve the cheese pieces on individual plates or on a large platter, surrounded by the fig sauce.
Makes 4-6 first course servings.
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 Excerpts
and Photography from: Chios Mastiha: More than 20 Great
Recipes for the World's Healthiest Spice
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Mastihashop Chios Mastiha Essential Oil 50g
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May's Article
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The Properties & Uses of Mastiha
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Historical and Folklore References
MEDICAL REMEDIES
Aretaeus, A physician from Cappadocia (2nd
century CE), recommends a poultice of dates pulverized
in wine together with mastiha and aloe to help the
patient regain strength after a heart attack.
Ar-Razl (868-932 CE), a Persian philosopher and
physician, considered himself the Islamic counterpart of
Hippocrates. He prescribes a mixture of potter's clay
and mastiha to fill decayed teeth as well as the chewing of mastiha as an appetite stimulant for pregnant
women.
 Abu Yusuf Ya'qub ibn Ishaq al-Kindi, a physician in 9th century in Baghdad, provides a formulat for an antidepressant "that makes those who drink it happy". It fortified the stomach, sweetened the breath, and aided the liver and contained rose oil, clove, valeriana, cinnamon, saffron, cardamom, hazel nuts and mastiha.
Abu Marwan' Abd al-Malik or Avenzoar was born in Seville in 1091. In his text, Kitab at-Taysir, he prescribes a preparation of licorice, raisins and mastiha for liver problems.
Gilbertus Anglicus (England, 13th century), in his Compendium Mediciane, mentions a nostrum for the spleen. He calls it diacerasus, and it contains cherry juice, cinnamon and mastiha.
Giovani di Vigo (1469-1525) was personal physician to Pope Julius II. In his book, Practica in Arte Chirurgia Copiosa, he provides an anti-itching formula for that contains egg white, linseed, black hellebore, poplar buds and mastiha powder, beaten in olive oil.
Philip Thicknesse, in 1777, published his book. In it he mentions a powder called "coloradilla", used by Spanish surgeons, which was made from Myrrh, mastic and cinnabar.
The Capuchin Balsam, formulated in Austrian monasteries, was made from mastiha, storax, terebinth, myrrh, walnut oil, angelica root, saffron, amber and sandalwood.
Lady Webster's Dinner Pills, one of the most popular laxatives of the 19th century, contained aloe, mastiha and rose-oil.
Mastisol, a solution of mastiha in benzol, was used in surgery as an antiseptic dressing sticker.
Read the facts and science
here.
Get beauty advice including how to
make your
own home beauty products.
Cook and be healthier with
these recipes... and a bit of
history.
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Shop for Mastic Products >>>>>>
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 MASTIHA BEAUTY CARE
RECIPE:
Chios Mastiha Oil Deodorant
30ml witch hazel extract, 30ml aloe vera gel, 30ml
mineral water, 1 tsp vegetable glycerine, 10 drops Chios
Mastiha oil, 10 drops bergamot essential oil, 5 drops
sage essential oil
Combine all ingredients stirring thoroughly and transfer deodorant into a bottle with a spray nozzle attachment. Shake very well before each use. If you will be exposed to the sun, replace bergamot with thyme essential oil, as the former increases the risk of sunburn.
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In 80 BC an amazing instrument, unique in the history of worldwide technology from every point of view, was invented in Rhodes, by the School of Apollonius. It is the Well-known Antikythera calculating machine, a mechanism which, along with other important finds, was discovered in the Antikythera shipwreck; the Wreck Was pulled up in 1901 by sponge-fishers from Symi, Dodecanese. The mechanism comprises a total of 30 different handmade gears, put in use by a shaft at one side of the mechanism. The gears indicated the movements of the sun and the moon in the Zodiac Cycle. This amazing instrument consists the topmost of the tradition in constructing mechanisms with gears, as developed during the hellenistic era. Archimedes' armillary sphere is considered to be its predecessor. Unfortunately, we do not know who the constructor was. Nevertheless, according to Arthur Clarke, had the evolution of knowledge as demonstrated by the Antikythera calculating machine not been stopped, the science would have made a progress of at least 1.000 years!
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GEOGRAPHY Very close to los (10 nautical miles) and Pholegandros, Sikinos is 41 sq. sm.
in area, has 41 km. of coastline and is 120 nautical miles from Piraeus. During the summer there is a regular boat service with Piraeus, as well as with the islands of Pholegandros, los, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Syros, Anaphi, Kimolos, Melos, while in the wintertime connections are maintained with Syros, Paros, Naxos, los, Pholegandros, Santorini and Anaphi. The island’s capital is Sikinos (Chora) with a population of just 290, living in Chora and around the harbour. A mountainous island (highest peak Troullos, 553 m. a.s.I.) with tiny plains and a rocky coast, it has remained off the tourist track and is therefore an ideal spot for peaceful holidays on quiet beaches by the clear sea, but with somewhat spartan living conditions.
