It’s been a while since I’ve touched base, but not because I’ve had a lack of topics. There have been too many to choose from, and I simply wimped out. What an awesome problem to have since we rarely share negative things on blogs. I’ve been concentrating on the two new book releases: Eyes of the Dead & The Greek Rule, and I can’t wait to hear from more of you about them.

Anyways, back to blogging. Considering Thanksgiving is around the corner, I figure I’ll share my mom’s recipe for stuffing and a few details of a Nakis Thanksgiving.

If by some peculiar chance it has escaped you that I’m a Greek by birth and an American by choice, let me assure you that we ‘do’ Thanksgiving slightly different in the Greek-American world. There is no Thanksgiving Day in Greece, but once in America, you do as Americans do.J Well, almost…

If you’re first generation American, you probably don’t even have turkey. Think roast beast- of a non-kosher variety- but those of us with more Americanized and mainstream parents enjoy our Thanksgiving bird. Here is a typical menu from my childhood:

Appetizers:

Spanakopitakia- little phyllo triangles filled with spinach and feta cheese.

Tyropitakia- little phyllo triangles filled with a creamy feta cheese mixture.

Dolmadakia- rolled and stuffed grape leaves with rice (some add meat, but I prefer just rice)

Cheese & Olives – Kalamata olives of course and a variety of cheeses like: feta, kasseri, graviera…

Main course:

The appetizers move to the dining room table and are replenished. We never run out.

Turkey- crisp and tender, and rather than fighting over the wishbone, there is an ‘active’ discussion about who gets the honor of devouring the neck. I choose to show my charitable nature and pass on that one.

Potatoes:

Mashed- to prove that we’re just as American as the Finnos next door (even though they had lasagna and meatballs for Thanksgiving dinner)

            Oven roasted- because a meal wouldn’t be complete without lemon/oregano oven potatoes

Russian Salad – nope, not a typo. Russian salad is a cold mixed vegetable salad with small boiled potato chunks and mayo dressing. Of course there was an olive smack in the middle of the ornate crystal bowl with slivers of pickles radiating out from it.

Salad- Romaine lettuce, sliced real thin, with scallions and dill, dressed with oil and vinegar. Don’t forget the centerpiece olive.

Gravy- always homemade, delicious, and with just the right amount of tiny lumps.

Stuffing- now this deserves the most homage. Mom’s special stuffing was and is the family favorite. We’d pass on the rest and fill up on that first, taste the rest, and go back for more stuffing.  Don’t expect me to tell you how much of anything is in the recipe- because we Greeks cook with a pinch of this, a dash of that, a handful of the other and we stir it all until it feels right. So here are the basic ingredients: Ground beef, rice, onions, scallions, dill, chest nuts, pine nuts, broth from the turkey ‘extras’ (used for the stuffing and the gravy) and wine. Oh, add more dill. You can’t have enough of a good thing.

Salt, pepper and seasonings to the cook’s taste on all these items.

The more, the better…

Dessert:

Galaktoboureko- A custard and phyllo pastry drenched in a homemade syrup, but still crunchy on top. I add cinnamon to my piece.

Cherry cheesecake – Thick and creamy with a graham cracker crust. Not very Greek, but one of mom’s specialties.

Apple pie- from Beckman’s Deli – because, hey, we were getting more Americanized each year.

--Never tasted pumpkin pie until after I’d graduated from college and met my husband.J

So in short, that was my Thanksgiving dinner as I was growing up. Greek music, friends, and more friends, lots of boisterous conversation, and Indian wrestling with the other kids in the basement while the parents got the party rolling upstairs. Things usually kept going into the wee hours of the night. Wouldn’t change or trade those memories for anything. I’m so thankful for all I have today, and I know from the bottom of my heart that who and what I am is based on yesterday.

I’d love to hear from you if you care to share a memory or a recipe…Hey, now with the addition of two non-Greek sister-in-laws we enjoy sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, carmelized pearl onions, and Christmas carols while perusing the sales for our Friday morning shopping spree.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Aleka

I’ve received emails on when and how one could get a physical copy of the Eyes of the Dead and now it is available!

www.ResplendencePublishing.com  &  www.Amazon.com both have it available for immediate shipping.

Tuesday, November 6^th is turning out to be one of my favorite days. It’s been wonderful, and I’ve been trying to savor every moment.

When the alarm clock went off, before I even got out of bed, I smiled. The Greek Rule is officially released today. The book about my handsome, perfect, Greek tycoon and the woman who has sworn off men like him is out there for all to read. I hope you enjoy. If you can’t wait to get it in print, you can get it in e-book format now at www.ResplendencePublishing.com.

So, I hauled myself out of bed and made some coffee, then moseyed on to the computer. Guess what I found on Amazon…The Eyes of the Dead! Yeah, the Eyes of Dead is now in print and available to all just before the holidays.  That was a week earlier than I thought. I’m thrilled and very excited, and I can barely wait to hold the physical book in my hands.  

If you own a copy and have read it, please feel free to post a review on Amazon. You can access the correct page with the book from my web site. It means so much to read your feedback and I look forward to it. Just visit www.AlekaNakis.com for the direct link. Sorry, haven’t figured out how to put it in here yet.

So much more has happened, but I’m enjoying this moment and want to concentrate on it as long as I can. I’ll touch base again in a few days.

Happy Reading!

Aleka

Happy November 1^st!

Enjoy the Day of the Dead.

November 1^st & 2^nd... Día de los Muertos

First, the angelitos, then the adults.

Here is a brief description of the celebration from http://www.public.iastate.edu/~rjsalvad/scmfaq/muertos.html

Salvador, R. J. (2003). What Do Mexicans Celebrate On The Day Of The Dead? Pp. 75-76, IN Death And Bereavement In The Americas. Death, Value And Meaning Series, Vol. II. Morgan, J. D. And P. Laungani (Eds.) Baywood Publishing Co., Amityville, New York. Available online at: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~rjsalvad/scmfaq/muertos.html.

This is an ancient festivity that has been much transformed through the years, but which was intended in prehispanic Mexico to celebrate children and the dead. Hence, the best way to describe this Mexican holiday is to say that it is a time when Mexican families remember their dead, and the continuity of life.

Two important things to know about the Mexican Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) are:

1. It is a holiday with a complex history, and therefore its observance varies quite a bit by region and by degree of urbanization.
2. It is not a morbid occasion, but rather a festive time.

The original celebration can be traced to many Mesoamerican native traditions, such as the festivities held during the Aztec month of Miccailhuitontli, ritually presided by the "Lady of the Dead" (Mictecacihuatl), and dedicated to children and the dead. In the Aztec calendar, this ritual fell roughly at the end of the Gregorian month of July and the beginning of August, but in the postconquest era it was moved by Spanish priests so that it coincided with the Christian holiday of All Hallows Eve (in Spanish: "Día de Todos Santos.") This was a vain effort to transform the observance from a profane to a Christian celebration. The result is that Mexicans now celebrate the day of the dead during the first two days of November, rather than at the beginning of summer. But remember the dead they still do, and the modern festivity is characterized by the traditional Mexican blend of ancient aboriginal and introduced Christian features

Researching this tradition, I found it fascinating, and to my surprise, the tradition is more wide spread than I originally believed. It is not limited to the country of Mexico, but rather many Latin countries as well as celebrated under various other titles through out the world. One example you may be familiar with is  the Catholic Church’s All Souls Day on November 2^nd.

What a wonderful way to celebrate life and to honor loved departed ones.

Out of this research was born a theme in Eyes of the Dead. No, don’t think spooky, horror book. It isn’t. There are paranormal elements and suspence, but in brief, it is about living life to the fullest and mostly allowing yourself to do so.

Tonight, I will boradcast a live talk show called Romantic Dialogue on www.NowLive.com where we will discuss the love affair with and popularity of paranormal romance novels. Drop by and say hello. There are local call in numbers through out the country.

Talk to you then,

Aleka

 
PS
There is a direct link to the show on www.myspace.com/alekanakis