MAY 1ST (PROTOMAYIA)

MAY 1ST - PROTOMAYIA

 

     On the first of May we celebrate our Labor Day. It is observed as a holiday and all businesses and services are closed, as are the schools, too.

     It is the day to remember the struggles of the workers to obtain better working conditions. "Eight hours of work, eight hours of rest and eight hours of sleep" was the slogan back in 1886 when workers in Chicago started protesting for their rights. Similar protests started in 1892 in Greece when workers also requested to have Sundays off and insurance for accidents at work. Over the years there has been great struggle, often with casualties, in order for us today to enjoy the 'privileges' of working.

    Protomayia (May 1st) is also the celebration of Spring and this tradition goes as far back as ancient times when they had the celebration of flowers and life as the earth was 'ressurrected' after the long winter.

     Protomayia (May1st) is one of the few holidays we have that has no religious content or meaning. Nevertheless, there are plenty of customs and events associated with this day and they vary depending on local tradition.

      The one custom that is common throughout Greece is the making of the wreath, the wreath of May and hanging it on the main entrance door. This is a very fun activity especially for the kids when we are out in the country in touch with nature and picking the flowers for the wreath.  This wreath will stay on the door until June 24th when tradition (Klithonas) has it it will be burnt.

     The main thing that characterises today is the massive exodus of people out of the city and into the countryside. Great pic-nics are organised and there's lots of dancing and singing about Spring, as well.  It is a chance to take a walk out in nature, pick some flowers, come in touch with mother nature and create your own wreath. 

 

 

FAKES - LENTIL SOUP

LENTIL SOUP (FAKES)

     Here's a (long-time promised) recipe of a favorite Greek soup called Fakes which basically is a lentil soup. It is a very easy recipe!

     It is traditionally made with small green-brown lentils and is usually made with tomatoes (tomato sauce) but can be cooked without them if you don't like them.

 

Cook Time: 1 hour or so (it's only about 10-15 min in the pressure cooker)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound of small lentils, rinsed
• 1 pound of ripe tomatoes, pureed or a can of tomato sauce
• 4 1/4 cups of water (more or less depending on your preference- thick soup or not)
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup of olive oil
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 1-2 chopped carrots
• salt
• ground pepper
• red wine vinegar

 

Preparation:
 

In a heavy bottomed pot (or the pressure cooker), add the oil and  saute the onions and garlic (for 1 minute) . Then add the water, tomatoes, bay leaves and carrots. Bring to a boil over medium heat and add the lentils, salt and pepper. Reduce the heat and simmer partially covered for 1 hour or so, or until lentils are done. I remind you that the pressure cooker doesn't usually require more than 10-15 min. Remove from the heat and take out the bay leaves.

Serve in a deep dish and add, if you like, a tablespoon of vinegar to your serving. It adds to the taste. Of course, accompany it with fresh (bakery) bread and feta cheese!

To prepare without tomatoes: Leave out tomatoes, and increase the water to 5 1/2 cups.


                         ΚΑΛΗ ΟΡΕΞΗ!

                                                         KALI OREXI!
                                                                                    BON APPETIT!

THANKS MOM

"THANKS MOM"

    The hardest job in the world is truly the best job in the world.

     With less than 100 days left for the start of the Olympic Games on 27 July 2012  (hosted this year in London, UK) and Mother's Day just around the corner (May 13th), Procter & Gamble launched a commercial to recognise and honor everything that moms all over the world do to help their children succeed. The idea comes from the fact that behind every great athlete there is an even greater Mom. 

     Watch the video and share it with friends and family. It is very touching (yes, I cried!) and will make all of us call our Moms and say "Thank you Mom!"

          

(...and thank you Procter & Gamble for honoring mothers!)

SPRING CLEANING (AT LAST)....CONTINUED

SPRING CLEANING....CONTINUED

......OK! We've made our list, we got our supplies, we even got the CD ready to play. We're pumped up and ready to fight off the slime, scum, grease...in one word the dirt. Nothing is stopping us! ...Uhmmm...that is until we stumble upon a ..."Darn, I can't get it off" or "How am I going to clean this?"

     Well, I'm going to give you some tips I've learned in my housewife years that you may find useful. (I hope you do!)

Uses of vinegar

 

• Remove armpit sweat stains from clothes by spraying the stain with strong white vinegar before washing them and the stain will disappear.
• If you add 1/2 a glass of white vinegar during the rinse cycle in the washer you' ll protect your linens and the colours of the clothes and remove leftover detergent. If you tend to hang clothes outside on a line to dry this will help them become softer. (Don't worry about the smell, it evaporates) 
• Get rid of ants and other small insects by spraying a 50-50 mix of water and vinegar.
• Remove stickers from furniture and bumpers by rubbing them with a soft cloth that has been dipped in warm white vinegar. (Also, mayonnaise, yes mayonnaise!, can remove stickers from furniture as well)
• The acid in the vinegar can remove rust from small metallic objects, soak them in a solution with vinegar for a while and rinse well. 
• Adding a little vinegar in your moping bucket along with your floor detergent will make your floor tiles shine.
• Plastic food containers tend to smell bad after a while. Clean them well with vinegar and the smells will disappear.   
• Adding 2 tablespoons of vinegar to the vase of flowers will prolong their life. (An aspirin is said to be doing the same job)
• Get rid of bad smells and even unclog your garbage disposal or sink by pouring baking soda and adding white vinegar. Let it stand for 30 minutes and then rinse with hot water.
• You can remove spots from your silverware by rubbing them with a soft cloth dipped in vinegar. Rinse well.
• Clean the baked on food and grease in your microwave by filling a microwave-safe bowl (or a coffee cup) with a mixture of half vinegar and half water and nuking it for two minutes (or more, you want it to be bubbling hot). Then, dip a sponge into the vinegar-water solution, and use it to wipe the food off of the walls of the microwave. It'll fall right off! (Don't forget to wear gloves to protect your hands!)

Uses of coffee filters

• We can use coffee filters to wipe clean windows and mirrors!
• If the cork breaks into pieces as we open a bottle of wine we can use a coffee filter to strain the wine of any cork pieces.
• We can also use coffee filters to strain the oil we used for frying in order to use it again.
• By placing a coffee filter at the bottom of a pot we make sure the plant doesn't lose any of its soil as it will allow only water to go through it.

Uses of talcum powder

• Applying talcum powder on a fresh stain will make it easier to remove later as the powder will absorb the damp.
• Reduce the moisture and sweaty feeling in your shoes by adding some talcum powder.
• Applying talcum powder after shaving can calm the skin and avoid irritation.
• You can untangle a tangled chain or bracelet by putting some talcum powder on it. You' ll be surprised!
• Is your wooden floor creaking? Pour some talcum powder in the seams. It should stop!

Uses of baking soda

• Make stains from ink and markers disappear by rubbing them with a wet sponge dipped in baking soda. Rinse
• Put baking soda (and a little vinegar) on burnt grease residues on your pots and pans. Let it soak. rub gently and rinse.
• Remove spots from your silverware by rubbing them with a soft cloth and baking soda. Rinse well.
• If your house smells bad due to smokers or pets, pour a generous amount of baking soda on the carpets. Let it stand all night and the next day vacuum.

General

• Remove chocolate stains with warm water and then rub with dish soap. Rinse.
• Remove wine stains by putting some salt on it. Let it stand for about 1/2 hour. Rub with a sponge dipped in warm water and detergent. Rinse with cold water.
• Get blood stains off clothes by rinsing them with cold water. Then wash normally.

Don't forget your gloves!

    

     Before I start the dishes I put a hand lotion on and then the gloves. The heat from the warm water makes my hands so soft!

Try it.

How do we begin all this cleaning though? Well, read here!

Please, feel free to comment and add your own housecleaning tips!

SPRING CLEANING (AT LAST!)

SPRING CLEANING (AT LAST!)

     Now that Easter is over we can go back to our regular lives, the festivities and the preparations are over and I can start talking to you about other things. too. This past week or more my blog must have given the impression of a religious blog as I was writing about the Greek Orthodox Easter almost every day but I could not not mention about what it is and means to Greeks or what customs accompany it since this blog is called "the GREEK housewife".

     Well, with Easter over it’s just about that time of the year that I need to concentrate on my much delayed Spring Cleaning. It's still not late to get started though!

So, where do we begin?

1. Make a list: I’m a list person. I always make a list first. It helps me not to exclude (by forgetting or not noticing) anything and erasing each task from the list as I finish it is very rewarding and motivational. I suggest you  walk into each room of your home and write down all the things that need to be cleaned in each room. This will create your own (detailed) spring cleaning checklist that you can photocopy and keep for next year!

* Don't forget this is deep and thorough cleaning of each area of your home. Don't miss any areas we usually neglect or forget, f.e. cleaning light fixtures, cleaning sides and backs of kitchen appliances, washing behind your washer and dryer, door handles, etc.

2. Get the supplies: After you have created your checklist, make a list of all the supplies you will need to begin your spring cleaning such as cleaning supplies, new organization tools, boxes, etc. Don't forget gloves !!! (In my opinion, the most practical gloves are those surgical type that are supposedly for one use only. They fit perfectly and you have a better grip on things)

EASTER SUNDAY

CHRISTOS ANESTI - CHRIST IS RISEN

ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΠΟΛΛΑ ΣΕ ΟΛΟΥΣ -- ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ!

HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYBODY -- CHRIST IS RISEN!

      Today is Easter! Christ has Risen and the decorated Epitaphios is less prominent now: it is empty, except for a sign which says 'He is Risen; He is not here'.
     
      In the Greek Orthodox faith, Easter is the most significant religious observation of the year. There is a widespread over joyous feeling and combined with the "resurrection" of the nature, hence it's spring, makes this day a really glorious one.

     Even the computerized signs on the front of the city buses have a message. On Saturday it was 'Kali Anastasi' (Literally: 'Good Resurrection'); on Sunday it is 'Kalo Pascha' – 'Happy Easter'.
      As Greeks always do, today celebrations overflow with traditional entertainment and foods!



lamb and kokoretsi

       There are many interesting and different customs related to the feast of Easter, taking place all over Greece but the most important