Read in Greek
Traditional “Mageria”
(Mageria: in greek it originally means a portion of food serving a specific number of people – here repressents a traditional sweet)
“Ash Monday”, tomorrow, the first of 40 days of fasting. Only, once again, it is not going to resemble fast, diet, or anything of the matter, let alone “purity”. Families will meet once more around the lunch table, plates will come and go, succeeding one another. Somewhere between lagana (traditional Greek bread only consumed on this day), halva (traditional Greek sweet made with tahini – consumed during the Lent), olives and pork ribs (specifically prepared for children that are not supposed to fast) an other plate will make its appearance. Something looking almost like jelly...
A scent mixing rose with cinnamon and whole grain almond, characterizes this sweet. This is called ma(g)eria and every house wife prepares her own unique version on the day before.
That way she can serve this amazing dessert along with coffee after the luxurious meal.
To keep it short, ma(g)eria is a fantastic light dessert full of flavour and scents and perhaps it could be considered the only “pure” dish since it consists only of sugar and water. Each cook can play with the scents adding mastiha, rose or floral water. You can add grained almond, hazelnut or walnuts, according to taste preferences. The most important and only ingredient that is not missing from all versions is Cinnamon.
If I got your attention please take pen and paper and note down how you can produce this amazing dessert, that descents from the island I come from, Kos island:
In a pot we mix:
2 glasses of corn flour
6 glasses of water
2 glasses of sugar
We can add whatever we want for scent. Choices include: Rose water, floral water, mastiha, ouzo, orange juice, lemon juice, bitter almond, rum, coconut.
Method:
Place the pan over high heat. Once it starts looking like curd bring down to medium heat. Stir continuously for about 20 minutes.
If using orange or lemon juice add from the beginning. The rest of ingredients used for flavour and to scent the dessert should be added at the end in order to keep their spice.
Divide in plates and sprinkle with the nuts you prefer.
Many wishes for a beautiful and sunny Ash Monday.
Even if the celebration is not as “pure” or “dietary” as it is supposed to be, keeping our souls and relationships pure is most important.
Happy Lent to all!!
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| mageria |
Traditional “Mageria”
(Mageria: in greek it originally means a portion of food serving a specific number of people – here repressents a traditional sweet)
“Ash Monday”, tomorrow, the first of 40 days of fasting. Only, once again, it is not going to resemble fast, diet, or anything of the matter, let alone “purity”. Families will meet once more around the lunch table, plates will come and go, succeeding one another. Somewhere between lagana (traditional Greek bread only consumed on this day), halva (traditional Greek sweet made with tahini – consumed during the Lent), olives and pork ribs (specifically prepared for children that are not supposed to fast) an other plate will make its appearance. Something looking almost like jelly...
A scent mixing rose with cinnamon and whole grain almond, characterizes this sweet. This is called ma(g)eria and every house wife prepares her own unique version on the day before.
That way she can serve this amazing dessert along with coffee after the luxurious meal.
To keep it short, ma(g)eria is a fantastic light dessert full of flavour and scents and perhaps it could be considered the only “pure” dish since it consists only of sugar and water. Each cook can play with the scents adding mastiha, rose or floral water. You can add grained almond, hazelnut or walnuts, according to taste preferences. The most important and only ingredient that is not missing from all versions is Cinnamon.
If I got your attention please take pen and paper and note down how you can produce this amazing dessert, that descents from the island I come from, Kos island:
In a pot we mix:
2 glasses of corn flour
6 glasses of water
2 glasses of sugar
We can add whatever we want for scent. Choices include: Rose water, floral water, mastiha, ouzo, orange juice, lemon juice, bitter almond, rum, coconut.
Method:
Place the pan over high heat. Once it starts looking like curd bring down to medium heat. Stir continuously for about 20 minutes.
If using orange or lemon juice add from the beginning. The rest of ingredients used for flavour and to scent the dessert should be added at the end in order to keep their spice.
Divide in plates and sprinkle with the nuts you prefer.
Many wishes for a beautiful and sunny Ash Monday.
Even if the celebration is not as “pure” or “dietary” as it is supposed to be, keeping our souls and relationships pure is most important.
Happy Lent to all!!
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