How to Make Koliva Memorial Wheat

If you've never shared Koliva in memory of a loved one, this is a special treat with symbolic meaning. (Seems like most traditional Church foods have symbolic meanings!) Wheat kernels must fall to the ground and die in order to create new life (Gospel of St. John 12:24), just as our souls and bodies must come to an end of our earthly sojourn in order to pass into new life in eternity.

 2 cups of wheat berries (the "soft" ones cook faster; can usually find these from health food store)
1/2 c. chopped walnuts
1 c. white raisins (or whatever dried fruits you prefer)
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cumin (optional)

1 cup finely ground zweiback toasts or graham crackers (optional)
1 cup powdered sugar
dragees or more nuts/ raisins for decoration


Day 1. Cover and soak berries overnight.

Day 2. Drain & rinse. Cover with water in large pot and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 1-3 hours, until puffy and tender (keep covered with water and stir occasionally). A rice cooker or instant pot works great too.

Drain in a colander; rinse and drain again. Spread the wheat our on a smooth dish towel to dry overnight. (Don't spread them on a terry cloth bath towel. Please. Trust me.) You can just dry them for a couple of hours if you don't have an extra day :)

Day 3. Light a candle and pray. Mix all ingredients. You may decide to bring the mix to church to assemble. One time, when I arrived, another dear sister in Christ added a Lebanese spice and I wish I could tell you what it was - maybe star anise?  

In any case, put combined mixture on a tray that has been covered with wax paper.

Heap in a mound toward center and press to make smooth.

To top it: First sprinkle with 1 cup of finely ground zweiback toast or graham cracker crumbs, and then sift on the powdered sugar. (the crumbs keep the sugar from absorbing and disappearing into the wheat).

Make a cross in the center with koufeta, dragees, nuts, raisins, etc.

                        (This is Carol's Koliva)

May Their Memory Be Eternal!

(from the 2008 archives - I think it's worth sharing again)

Many thanks to Anna for her Magic Kale - I loved it. And here is one that came in my Farmers Market email this morning that I can't wait to try. Substituting pecans for feta might be nice for the fast. The recipe below is a direct quote from the NPR website, which you can visit by clicking on the link. Enjoy!  

Kale, Peach, Corn And Feta Salad by Deena Prichep for NPR
Makes 6 servings

1/4 cup olive oil
Juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
Dollop honey
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 small red onion, sliced into thin half-moons
1 bunch kale (red Russian is especially nice), washed and torn into small pieces
1/2 bunch cilantro, washed and coarsely chopped
2 ears corn, cut off the cob
3 peaches, cut into slim wedges
1/4 cup feta (preferably a moist, mild feta, like French or Israeli), crumbled

In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, sherry vinegar and honey. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the onion, and let sit for a few minutes to mellow. Add the kale and cilantro, and mix well to coat with the dressing. (Monica"s note: I like Anna's recommendation of "massaging" the dressing in.) Let sit for an hour, refrigerated or at room temperature, for the kale to absorb the dressing and soften. Scatter the corn, peaches and feta over the top and serve (or pack in containers for a picnic).

Asparagus and Gravy over Toast

My mother taught me how to make this old-school treat, and it is so yummy!

For the Nativity Fast this year, my focus is quick and easy, and this fits the bill.

Asparagus and Gravy over Toast

Ingredients:

1 can of asparagus spears – drain and reserve liquid
2 TBS oil
3 TBS flour
Asparagus liquid plus enough water to = 1 ¾ cups
2 TBS soy sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
5-6 slices of bread

Steps:

1. Over medium heat, warm oil and then flour and stir, stir, stir until it browns – about 5-10 minutes.
2. Slowly add liquid, whisking to avoid lumps.
3. Bring to a boil, reduce to low and simmer gently for 15 minutes to thicken.
4. Add the soy sauce, season to taste with salt and pepper, and simmer another minute while you toast the bread and warm the asparagus in the microwave.
5. To serve, place toast on a plate, top with asparagus spears and then gravy.

This gravy is also good made with any kind of veggie broth and served with any kind of pasta, rice, potatoes, peas, etc.

I adapted the gravy recipe from The Modern Vegetarian Kitchen by Peter Berley.

For Phyllis

Gifts from God

* 8 lb and 6 oz of precious baby boy.

* 4 year old big sister singing "O Gladsome Light" to her baby brother.

* 8 year old Little Builder, who had once said "I'm not happy about this" when he found out I was pregnant, holding his little brother and saying "I'm thankful he was born."

* meals from family and friends to make our evenings easier.

* dappled light gently shining on my orange rocking/nursing chair.

* colored leaves, a beautiful view outside for someone who is confined inside for awhile.

* healing, rest, love.

St John of Shanghai and San Fransisco Doll

The doll for my newborn son is finished, the socks for me for the hospital are knitted, and the key for my substitute teacher at school is turned in.


All that is left is for some contraction action to get started...


"Look with compassionate eye and deliver me, Thy handmaiden, from pain. Lighten mine infirmity in the time of my travail and grant me fortitude and strength for birth giving, and hasten it by Thine almighty help."

"They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength."

Letters from Father Seraphim

I am thankful for time to read this week. Letters from Fr. Seraphim has been a blessing, both encouraging my heart and allowing me to feel close to Fr. Seraphim again, as I did when reading Father Seraphim Rose: His Life and Works.



Paschal Encouragement from page 112:

May the joy of our risen Savior be abundantly with you on these bright and radiant days of Pascha, and may you ever preserve the grace which you have received as a free gift from Him! Let no temptation overcome you, no darkness cloud your path, and no trial come upon you in which you do not immediately turn to Christ our All-merciful God, Who has trampled upon death and abolished the power of the devil.

Remain in Christ's grace and He will guide you all to salvation. Remember the end of our life, the never-setting day of Christ's Kingdom, and you will know why you are alive and for what you are striving. Christ is Risen!

Gifts from God: Help along the Journey

A good allegory of the Christian struggle and a good lesson for my family's particular place in life's journey, Hind's Feet on High Places, by Hannah Hurnard.

A blessed saint to inspire my faith. You can listen to the book here and find a literature lesson to go with this book here.

Hope for peace in my spirit, from St. Seraphim of Sarov, who encourages us to labor to acquire the peace of the Holy Spirit.

Gifts from God

* students doing what I ask them to do, without bad attitudes

* good weekend with 16 students on the big yellow bus for a Speech Tournament

* house blessings!

* voice mail from little 3 year old and 7 year old, "have a good day Mamma - we love you!"

* unexplainable peace, the "peace that passes all understanding, that shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Nativity Fast Menu

First, these easy muffins (but omitting the cloves) are definitely going into rotation as an after-school snack.

Second, you can visit the Menu document here for ideas. I haven't been able to link all the meals to recipes, but many of these recipes are on this blog in the "Fasting" section.

Third, this one is for those of you not in the US, who can't get Jiffy cornmeal pancake mix. You can mix up your own batch! This a great for these yummy staples: Cornmeal pancakes: add 2/3c soy/rice milk and a bit of egg-replacer
Tamale Pie: saute onions, beans, green chiles for the pie filling, then top with Jiffy mixed with 1/2 tsp cumin, 1 tsp chili powder, and 1/2c of soy/rice milk.

Gifts from God

* husband who cooked ginger pancakes with peaches for supper

* other teachers at school, wiser ones than me, who help me - collaboration

* students laughing with me and not at me - a good rapport - this is truly a Gift from God! (and from St. Raphael & St. Moses, whom I have been asking to pray for me regarding school)

* a Second Grade teacher who truly looks after my son

* open doors concerning job opportunities for my husband

* reading Iggy Peck Architect and Buffalo Wings with my kids on the couch tonight.

* Akathist prayers that offer comfort and put words to ideas that I knew I needed to pray but hadn't the exact phrases

* a comfortable bed to nest into at night

St. Peter the Aleut, Pray for Us!

My son's Sunday School class has chosen St. Peter the Aleut for their class patron.

Not only, as a teenage saint, is he a good example for young ones, but also as a martyr he reminds us of the importance of our Orthodox Faith, a Faith worth dying for.

I pray that I may live this Faith in my heart and in my actions.

St. Peter, pray for us!