Dandelion

Dandelion

Have you got some dandelions in your garden and you are thinking of going to the store to buy some chemical poison to get rid of them so that it doesn't spoil your lovely lawn?
Why don't you eat them instead? You will find dandelions growing everywhere in spring and throughout the summer and early autumn. So if you are camping and you go for a walk in the fields, have a look and see if there are some dandelions around.

The leaves are edible and tasty with a slight bitter taste to them!!

I normally take a knife and cut it near the root. I leave the root in, so that I could get another crop. By leaving the root in, the plant remains alive. (Of course if you want to clear your lawn from them, pluck them by the root).
If they have flowered, throw the flowers away but if they have already seeded, take care so that  the hundreds of little seeds will not spread everywhere. You want leaves that are big enough and still tender. Note: the older the leaves are, the more bitter they are.

Boil them for 10 minutes and then change the water. Boil them for another 10-15 minutes, adding some salt in the water, and they are ready. You must change the water to get rid of the bitterness.

Dress them with olive oil and lemon and serve as a side dish. They are a great companion to fried or BBQ fish.

Simple Living. What is it?

According to Wikipedia:
Simple living encompasses a number of different voluntary practices to simplify one's lifestyle. These may include reducing one's possessions or increasing self-sufficiency, for example. Simple living may be characterized by individuals being satisfied with what they need rather than want. Although asceticism generally promotes living simply and refraining from luxury and indulgence, not all proponents of simple living are ascetics. Simple living is distinct from those living in forced poverty, as it is a voluntary lifestyle choice.
Adherents may choose simple living for a variety of personal reasons, such as spirituality, health, increase in quality time for family and friends, work–life balance, personal taste, frugality, or reducing personal ecological footprint and stress. Simple living can also be a reaction to materialism and conspicuous consumption.
For the full article visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_living

Simple living and Christian spirituality

For me, simplicity is one of the joys of the Christian faith.

"Look at the birds of the air" Jesus said, "they don't sow or reap and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?" "See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon (the richest king of Israel) in all his splendour was dressed like one of these."


How many people in world history built palaces and castles which in the end became their prisons. For all the comforts material possessions can afford they can never buy happiness. We struggle through life, spending our days on trying to get more and better things and all the while we neglect the simple things in life. Yet it is as if God is saying, "Look I've given you so much to make you happy and it's all free."  Take time to watch a sunset, a flower, a tree, a river, a beach, Spend time to have a conversation with someone you love.


St Francis of Assisi sat down to eat some dry bread with his friend Masseo next to a stream. A large rock served as a table. They had been walking through villages telling with words and actions of their love for Jesus. As they sat down, Francis seemed to be in rapture; "brother Masseo, we don't deserve such kindness". He said it again and again:  "brother Masseo, we don't deserve such kindness".  At long last Masseo turned and said to his friend: "We've got no table, no table cloth, no servants to serve us, no silver and only this dry bread for food". "Brother Masseo" said Francis, "all that we have was given to us by no human hand but by God".


The Bishop of Assisi once said to Francis, “I think your life is too hard, too rough. You don’t possess anything in this world.” And Francis replied, “If we had possessions, we would need weapons to defend them. They are frequently a source of quarrels and lawsuits. Possessions usually prove to be an obstacle in one’s search for God. That is why we do not desire temporal goods.”

Melitzanosalata

Melitzanosalata
(Aubergine or Egg-plant Salad)

Here is another one of those great meze to dip your bread.

Ingredients:

2 large Bell Aubergines (Egg Plants)

3 cloves of garlic

3 or 4 tablespoons of olive oil

half a lemon

a pinch of salt

Ideal for when you have a BBQ. When you light the coals or your wood and you are waiting for the coals to get ready, then just place the aubergine's on the flame. When soft and can be squeezed with a spoon, take them off the fire and let them cool down. Cut them in half and with a spoon scoop out the inside of the aubergines. Crash the garlic and add it with the rest of the ingredients. Mix well and serve.

You can try different variations by adding one of the following: Paprika, feta cheese, walnuts. 

Fish Soup

Fish Soup

Here is another great soup for the winter

Ingredients:

½ Kg of boneless fish

2 Carrots

1 Onion

2 Potatoes

5 medium size celery leaves with stems

½ cup of Rice

Olive oil

Lemon

1 teaspoon of Salt

Method:

Boil the fish in half a pot of water with the salt for 2 or 3 minutes. Fish doesn't take long to cook, but please do make sure that it's cooked

Take the fish out and in the broth now place the potatoes and carrots (cut in small pieces) and a whole onion. Wash the rice and add it. Let them boil until the potatoes and rice is cooked.

Add the fish and let everything boil for another 2 or 3 minutes

After it's cooked add a bit of olive oil and black pepper for taste.

Serve with freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Tuna and Rice salad

Tuna and Rice Salad

Ingredients
1 cup of rice
1 tin of tuna
seasonal fresh vegetables for example: half  cucumber, 1 large tomato, half a lettuce, 1 red or green or orange pepper, 1 large carrot, one spring onion, half pointed cabbage, sweet corn etc.
fresh herbs either parsley, dill or coriander
olive oil
one lemon or lime
salt and pepper

Method
Wash the rice in the pot and drain the water. Add just less than 2 cups of water. (if basmati is used 1 and a half cup of water is sufficient). Add a teaspoon of salt and place on high fire until it comes to boil. Then immediately lower the flame to the minimum and boil until water is fully absorbed. (Normally 10 minutes)

In the meantime prepare the vegetables. You can choose 3 or 4 from the list. Wash them and chop them or grate them (carrot). If you use frozen vegetables boil them briefly in water and drain.
  Put all vegetables in  a large bowl. Add the cooked rice and the tuna (drained if in water). Mix everything well, add the olive oil, some salt and the freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Variations:
You can use pasta twists or penne instead of rice.
You can use mayonnaise instead of the olive oil and lemon.

Tzatziki

Tzatziki

Tzatziki is a refreshing Greek dip. It's extremely easy to make and it makes a wonderful starter or side dish.

Ingredients

½ Kg of Greek Yoghurt

3 cloves of garlic

1 cucumber (half if large)

5 table spoons of olive oil

a pinch of salt

1 table spoon of vinegar

Oregano or thyme (optional)

Grate the cucumber on a hand grater and if too watery squeeze and drain the water.

Grate the garlic and add the rest of the ingredients. Stir well and that's it. Καλή όρεξη.