REAL Greek Life
 

I went to the Atlanta Greek Festival today and had a great time despite the drizzling rain.

Hubby tried some Greek wine and really liked it. ;)
Food was pretty good. We weren't that hungry so all we had were a small pepp. pizza, gyro and split a baklava sundae (baklava and vanilla ice cream.)

Went inside the beautiful santuary where a church member gave an explanation (finally!!) of what Eastern Orthodox religion is based . Now I'm less confused.


BTW, when we went in, I said that I wanted to listen. Hubby said "why, do you want to convert?" I said "Maybe, I've already got the Tshirt (meaning my AGD letters :))

BTW2, I didn't see the "Greek shipping captains" that kept breaking into the AGD GC Chat, lol.

Sign of the times...as we were leaving, inside the front gate, I had put my knapsack on the table so I could get my keys out When I picked it up, a lady put her's on there....she thought I was inspecting them,lol.

Back to the regularly scheduled Greek Life threads:D

That baklava sundae sure sounds delicious!

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mmmm baklava......makes my mouth water!

I love Greek culture and Greek cuisine...SPANIKOPITA!!! MOUSSAKA!!! BAKLAVA!!!!MMMM!!!

That baklava sundae sure sounds delicious!
 

It was:)

I'm sure Greeklawgirl can tell us what is in a baklava;) but it reminded me of a crumbled up oatmeal cookie:D with the vanilla ice cream. I was expecting the chocolate and strawberries but they weren't there, oh well ;) :cool:

As for the pastries, you walked into what I guess would be the felllowship/auditorimum where they had about 8 or more different kinds of pasteries that you could choose from!:D :D These wonderful ladies in the back just kept bringing out trays and trays!:D

Next year, I'll know not to eat for 2 days BEFORE!

We have a huge Greekfest in St. Louis over Labor Day weekend each year. Such awesome baklava! My great aunt's best friend was Greek, and she taught my aunt how to make baklava. Growing up, it was always a tradition for my waspy Scotch-English family to have Baklava at Christmas!:D

AGDLynn, You Rang?
 

BAKLAVA

Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds of walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup of granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
40 sheets fillo dough
1 cup butter, melted

Combine walnuts, sugar, cinnamon and cloves.

Brush a 12" x 17" baking pan with butter. Place 10 buttered fillo sheets on bottom. Sprinkle with 1/3 of walnut mixture. Place 7 more buttered fillo sheets on top, then 1/3 more walnut mixture, top with another 7 buttered fillo sheets and rest of walnuts. Finish baklava with another 16 fillo sheets and brush with remaining butter.

With a very sharp knife, score fillo into 1-1/2" diamonds or squares. Bake in preheated 350°F oven for 45-60 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly. Pour warm syrup evenly over baklava.
Makes 88 pieces

BAKLAVA SYRUP
Ingredients
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup honey
2 cups water
1 lemon peel

Bring all ingredients to a boil. Simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and cool slightly. Pour warm syrup over baklava. Cool completely, cut and serve.

At my wedding, my mother bullied the caterer into letting us do a Greek dessert table in addition to the cake. My mom, grandmothers, and aunts started baking a MONTH before, and we had baklava, karidopita (walnut cake), melomakarona (honey cookies), diples (honey rolls), kourabiedes (clove and vanilla cookies covered in powdered sugar). The desserts were OUT OF CONTROL! We sent people home with boxes of dessert--just like a GreekFest, lol.

Lynn, isn't the Atlanta cathedral beautiful? I loved those floor-to-ceiling stained glass icons. :)

When I was a little girl my babysitter was Greek. Everything she cooked for us was Greek. I started eating lamb when I was about 3years old. We would go to events at the Greek Orthodox Church with her, including the Greek Festival. I love baklava and diples.

It has been a long time since I have had any Greek food. I always try to get my husband to go to a local Greek resturant-- he won't go, not even with the promise of the belly dancers dancing on our table.

I went to the Atlanta Greek festival in my 6th grade year. It was fun. Must do it again sometime ;)