Joyous Feast-Pascha Moments and Updates

A beautiful joyous feast to all.  

From Holy Saturday at Midnight until this upcoming Sunday, is one day! 

Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen!

Check out these cool Pascha Chocolates!

Actually found these while we were heading to the awesome Metropolis of Boston Retreat Center for the National Presbytera Retreat. It was a fantastic time and the facilities are so beautiful and staff are very engaging and attentive.
Next retreat is in October in Texas, mark your calendars!!!
Can't wait to see all my Sister-Presbyteres, it truly is a sisterhood.

We stopped at this grocery in Concord that turned out to be divine. 

I found these, they made me giggle. I've been wanting to share them for a long time.

Here are some of our beautiful flowers from our Kouvouklion.

They are still aromatic.

I made this wreath on Holy Friday, after helping with the flowers for the Kouvouklion.

This year we weren't able to get bay leaves and these gorgeous lemon branches came instead.

These were left over and so before heading to the Apokothelisis service (the Un-Nailing), 

I was able to tie this together. Not as structured, sort of whimsical?

Too big? What do you think?

Raise your Cross

Cross projects are always fun and can be easy or complex.  

This one is very satisfying and easy for little hands.  

I wish I could show you the ear to ear grins.  Once completed these look beautiful in the windows.  Make them with your children at home or at church school. Ours stayed up in the window for the longest time, I think until we moved?

Supplies needed are construction paper, scissors or exacto knife, tissue paper and clear contact paper.
Pair this with a lesson about the Cross and singing the hymn together.  

Lenten Recipe Roundup

I've been looking back at my recipes from last year and decided to do another recap. So, here's an easy link to each of last year's recipes for Lent. All veggie, many vegan. Be sure to check back for the Lenten Orthodox Crafts and more recipes, posting soon! There are quite a few pictures after the jump.  ENJOY!!

What's Bloomin?

Bloom Day May 2014

It's the 15th of May and so time for a little lookie-lookie at what's in bloom in my garden. If you would like to see more from last year's garden, or some of my favorite gardens, last year I featured "How does your Garden grow Mondays" you can also look here and here.

There is lamb's ear that is off to a good start and lupine newly added not taking very well.  If you look past some of the weeds, there are columbine sprouts that have emerged.  It's a late start but a start all the same. The garden here is zone 5 is at least a month behind, sadly that doesn't mean I am anymore ahead in weeding. "It's all good."

Mr. Wooley Thyme is bright and fuzzy, many know I love texture. My garden as you can tell is no different. Isn't it sweet!

Ole! 5 for 5th of May

Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Need some recipes for a fun dinner tonight?
Here are some that have been shared here at the Fields and will be easy to whip up!

Guatemalan Black Beans

Bean Corn Salad

Shrimp or without Shrimp Peach Mango Salsa Tacos

Super Healthy Mayan Salad

Plantains-Yummm

Share the Day

Share the Day -Eggplant Stacker

Share the Day Guest Blogger
40 Days-40 Days of Lenten Recipes
Eggplant Stacking

Here's another one of my BFF's, she inspires me, she supports me and is one of the most beautiful and elegant women I know. She is also another Presvytera, whom I consider a mentor and is as awesome in the kitchen, as she is everywhere else. 

Thank you sweet friend  for sharing the day and this recipe!

Share the Day-Asian Coleslaw

Share the Day
40 Days-40 Days of Lenten Recipes

Joining us once more is one of my BFF's, she has shared as a guest blogger here and here.

Enjoy!

Some call it Chinese Noodle Salad but I call it Chinese Cole Slaw, made 'chinese' only because it has rice vinegar and ramen noodles in it!  It's really quite tasty and an old standby for potluck dinners but beware of allergens (these can be left out or replaced with nut-free crunch too).  If you are concerned about sugar, you can reduce that or probably eliminate it and add extra mandarin oranges.  Despite the dressing, the leftover can be refrigerated and enjoyed for the next day or so.

5 More Ways to Enjoy Olives

40 Days-40 Lenten Recipes
Olive Spread with Toasted Pita Chips

Are you tired of Olives yet? Me neither.

This is another super-easy but super satisfying appetizer and/or snack.  I have not made my own pita shells but there are plenty of people who have, go check out my Pinterest, I have pinned some. One day I'll get to it. But for now, well have to be OK with store-bought.  I like the thicker variety, so not the pockets.  I cut them, brush them with a little olive oil and sprinkle some sea salt, Mediterranean, of course. Bake them for 10 minutes in an oven 350 degrees. Take them out and enjoy!

Now for the olive spread.  Get out your handy-dandy food processor. Seriously, I truly don't know how I used only a blender this whole time?  Place 1-2 cups of pitted Kalamata olives and a little (2 T) olive oil and blend.  If you like to make a more sophisticated olive tapanade, add some capers, squeeze of lemon juice and a little fresh basil.  

You know I love these flavors, you have seen it in recipes here and here.

Here are some more ways to use and enjoy olives.
How do you like them?

Olive Rolls

Lenten Macrame Bracelet

40 Days-40 Days Lenten Recipes and Crafts!



Here is a fun and satisfying craft. Knotting and macrame is coming back to the scene, I remember my Mom completing many hanging planters.  Going to have to look and see if she still has any for the porch? I was introduced to this at a retreat last year and it can be addictive. Loving the adjustable close.



Here is one I am working on. I use a clipboard to stabilize it and make it portable. The instructions to make your own can be found in the following link,
found here.

Look at how pretty these are below. They are made with a thicker grade thread, than I am using left. Recently have been wearing the purple one and gave the others as gifts.

Share the Day Saturday- Chocolate Cake

Share the Day Saturday

Today's recipe is one shared by another Prez, you may remember her from this recipe, which she shared in the Lenten Series of Recipes last year. Anyway, what can I truly say about her, this odd compliment of the day probably says it best. You can enjoy more of these if you follow me on Pinterest.

Source

Here is the beautiful cake she made using this recipe. Doesn't it look awesome!

Lobster Roll with Citrus Fennel Tapenade

40 Days-40 Days of Lenten Recipes

OK, we are on a pretty serious budget in our house. This is not something that is normal. But I found this deal on lobster tails, that I couldn't pass.  8 tails for the same price as a bag of shrimp. Seriously, going to make the most of this. 

Chocolate Chip Kale Cookies

40 Days-40 Days of Lenten Recipes

Kale is all the rage. It's easy to grow, high in vitamins but it's bitter. It's not something our family cares for very much. Have tried it as chips, blech! Gross! No matter how much you salt them, and try to convince yourself they taste just like real potato chips, trust me, THEY DON'T. Now kale in soup, a different matter, not bad in soup, not bad at all. But the child, won't go near it, even in soup.
Now I have found a new way to add this healthy green leafy veggie to our life. COOKIES! 

Share the Day Saturday-Mushroom Barley Soup

40 Days-40 Days Lenten Recipes 

Today is a guest post from someone who is an awesome cook and a great friend. She shared here as one of last year's Lenten Guest posts. It was delish and has become a favorite around here, I look forward to trying this one too! Thanks for sharing sweets!

Chocolate Fig Tarts with Almond Date Crusts

40 Days-40 Days of Lenten Recipes

This has become my all-time favorite dessert. It's Lenten, Paleo (depending on ingredients) and Vegan. The flavors of this tart blend perfectly together, whether you want it sweeter with the fruit topping or a bit more savory with almond.  The filling is rich and almost decadent-just heavenly!

I think even in non-Lenten times, this is an awesome healthy sweet treat.  Which means it's a treat, don't think just because healthy ingredients are used you can exist on this and eat it everyday? 

It's called balance, people, balance!

Calamari and Capers

40 Days-40 Days Lenten Recipes

Calamari and Capers

This is a favorite dish, there are so many variations you can make of it. Adding not only the capers with a squeeze of lemon, but also something else, if you are feeling a bit more adventurous? Are you? Then add some spicy hot slices of jalapeno or hot peppers. In non-Lenten times, some fresh Parmesan sprinkled on top completes the dish.  This is a great dish as an appetizer, a side or as an entree if placed on a bed of rice or spring greens.

So how to make these.  You can buy them and just bake them, find them in your freezer in the fish market area of the grocery. Or if you have availability to the fresh calamari or frozen calamari, start with cleaning and slicing the rings. So the rule is when frying something breaded, you need wet to dry, or dry to wet.  Translation, dry your rings, dip them in a wet substance (if going vegan try coconut milk) and then into flour with bread crumbs. Then place in the fry pan with about an 1/2-1 inch of oil.

Share the Day

Share the Saturday-Plantains

Share the Day Saturday-Plantains
40 Days-40 Days of Lenten Recipes

Elegant and sweet like its guest poster who happens to be another Presvytera and someone very special.
Pres. Marilou is also a blogger and has a brilliant view of the world, which she shares in a simple way that you don't even realize how deep she's going. She's deep trust me, join her some time, here.

The instructions are simple, slice the plantains lengthwise, saute/fry them with healthy oil of choice and sprinkle a little brown sugar and cinnamon over top and allow it to caramelize.  

Had some today just absolutely fantastic. Delicious!

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Lenten Meatball Submarine Sandwich-Sans the Meat

40 Days-40 Days of Lenten Recipes

Well, not everything I make is a success. 

Trust me... I have no pictures of the attempt of homemade fruit roll ups. EPIC FAIL!

But when it came to a Lenten Sub Sandwich it tasted pretty good. I haven't made my own Veggie burgers in a super long time. So decided on making a Beanballs. Yup you read it right, "BeanBalls."

Ingredients

2 cups black beans

2 cups cannellini beans

1 cup quinoa

1-2 cups breadcrumbs

1/2 cup roasted sweet pepper

4 tsp garlic powder

salt and pepper

tomato sauce

dash garlic powder

dash cinnamon

I blended the beans and roasted pepper in the food processor and then into a bowl to incorporate the quinoa and breadcrumbs. Then I formed them into balls and patties. 

I was going to bake them but decided to give my family the best chance of liking something different I would fry them. So with a tablespoon of olive oil I went to town.  I removed them and used the same pan to heat up the sauce, use the marinara of your choice.  I didn't make it from scratch. Some days there is no time or inclination.  I believe everyone just does the best they can, and that has to be good enough.  I like my store brand of tomato basil sauce, and using add a little more garlic powder and a dash of cinnamon. Once heated I added the beanballs back and we spooned them into our heated rolls. 

They tasted good and hearty.  The only problem I will warn you ahead of time. Don't put too many in the sandwich and don't eat too many, they are made primarily of beans afterall, if you get my drift?

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Broiled Scallops on a bed of Fresh Spring Greens

40 Days-40 Days Lenten Recipes


First day of Spring-weather started cold but was 56 degrees by end of the day. Allelulia, there is hope in sight! Keeping it simple today-will write more another time but it's been a rough week.  We lost one of our sweet cats this week, the end was bittersweet. We miss him.

Back to the recipes...

I know you come by to share the day to get some ideas for dinner. This one is simple and yummy and fast. A treat to make and enjoy.  Broiled Scallops on a bed of fresh spring mix greens with grape tomatos. I rinsed and thawed the scallops then placed them in a stoneware broiler pan, with a little vegan butter, paprika, squeeze from a lemon and dusting of garlic powder. Nothing to it. In less than 20 minutes they were done, I didn't keep track of the time...sorry, you really have to look at there color to tell. When they are no longer translucent, they are done. Added a yummy poppyseed dressing, but the Avocado Poppyseed dressing would taste good too!

Thanks for sharing the day.

Fruity Citrus Lenten Cake

40 Days-40 Days of Lenten Recipes

We have a potluck following Pre-Sanctified services on Wedsnensdays and I have promised to add a dessert each week to the table.  I love our Orange Lenten Koulourakia (shortbread cookie) but wanted to make a cake. Last year I offered this Chocolate Orange Cake, but I wanted something different. I found this recipe which served as the inspiration here.  I had to laugh as I was reading and sounding out my greek...very slowly.  Then I got a bit mixed up thinking κανελλα was cinnamon instead of vanilla.
Too funny.

Recipe after the jump...

Thai-Inspired Spring Rolls

40 Days-40 Days of Lenten Recipes

Ok, admission here. 

I am not a fan of Chinese take-out. 

There I said it!

I don't love Chinese food.

I am a fan of Thai and Vietnamese, a BIG fan. 

It's the flavors that attract me, you can have something that's simple or with flavors that are much more complex, and sometimes really HOT! I remember a time, I took a family member out to my favorite Thai place and the challenge was on of who could handle the hottest dish.  We had tears rolling out of eyes not only from food but because we were laughing so hard. Good times.

These spring rolls are easy, flavorful and healthy for you.  They are not hot, but are so good they could be considered "hot." They are a "go- to" snack and admittedly can be filling enough to be dinner.  

Check out here, my rolling technique needs help, still tasty.
With these I was in a rush and overfilled them.

Rice paper makes a huge difference. Won ton wrappers and eggroll papers are too thick. It does make a difference.  Rice paper is thin and actually comes dried and is so thin it needs to be rehydrated. All you need to do, is fill a shallow dish with warm water and place the rice sheet in it for about 10-15 seconds. Carefully lift it out and start layering your veggies. You can use any combination you like and get creative.  

Ingredients

Rice paper

Bag of shredded broccoli coleslaw mix

Julienned carrots

Bean sprouts

Sliced julienned cucumbers

small pieces of fresh basil

Optional: small pieces of tofu or shrimp)

Peanut Sauce ( buy it  or this is a good recipe)

I rolled these tighter, you can see the difference.

These are fresh and light and yummy.

Not just Lenten yummy but anytime of the year.

What do you think?

What's your fave cuisine from the Far East?

Chinese, Thai, Korean or Vietnamese?

Am I missing something?

Share the Day

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