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A Greek Thanksgiving (Thesmophoria)
Lovitz-McCabe Household
1012 Cape May Avenue
Cape May, NJ
Thursday, November 27th,
2008
Appetizers
Assortment of authentic
cold Greek appetizers served with grilled pita wedges
ταραμοσαλάτα - Taramosalata
(Caviar-Potato Dip)
μελιτζανοσαλάτα - Melitzanosalata (Roast Eggplant Dip)
κοπανιστή - Kopanisti (Spicy Feta Cheese Spread)
χούμους με
ταχίνι - Hummus (Chick Pea Spread)
εορτή ποτό - Eorti Poto (Greek Holiday Martini
{Pear Vodka Martini with Lemon and Rosemary})
Soup
κολοκύνθη
σούπα - Kolokynthi Soupa (Pumpkin Soup with Thyme
Honey and Whipped Yogurt)
(2005 Antonious Santorini – A fruity wine made from a blend of Assyrtiko, Aidani and Athiri grapes.
The wine is simple, easy to drink.)
Salad
χωριάτικη
σαλάτα - Xoriatiki (Country-Style Greek
“Village” Salad)
Sorbet
πορτοκαλέα-μέλι παγωτό - Portokalea-Meli Pagoto (Spiced Fresh Orange and
Honey Sorbet)
Turkey and Gravy and
Stuffing
γαλοπούλα
γεμιστή - Galopoula Yemisti (Brined, Air Dried and Slow Roasted Lemon-Herb Turkey with
Lemon-Garlic Gravy Stuffed with Horiatiko Psomi {Crusty Country Bread},
Rice, Loukaniko {Greek Turkey Sausage}
and Chestnut Stuffing)
(2005 Tsantali Rapsani – A wine that has a bright deep color and a seductive bouquet of spices and
dried fruits. It has a round balanced flavor, a velvety texture and a lingering
mellow finish.)
Vegetables
φασολάκια
φρέσκα με
ντομάτα - Fassolakia Freska me
Domata (Greek-Style Green Beans
with Tomatoes)
μικρο-σπανάκι
τούρτα - Mikro-Spranaki-tarta (“mini”
Spinach Tarts with Feta Cheese and Herbs)
τζατζίκι - Tzatziki (Cucumber - Yogurt Sauce)
Potatoes
σκορδαλιά - Skorthalia (Greek Garlic Mashed
Potatoes)
Cranberries
πιπερόριζα και
Ζιγγίβερι-είδοσ και
κουμκουάτ
καρύκευμα – Piperoriza kai
Ziggiberi-Eidos kai Koymkoyat Karykevma (Gingered Cranberry and Kumquat Relish)
Bread
χωριάτικο
ψωμί - Horiatiko Psomi (Crusty Greek Country Bread)
Dessert
βερύκκοκο
γιαουρτόπιτα - Berykkoko Yiaourtopita (Apricot Yogurt Cake with
Orange Honey Syrup) and σοκολάταπιτα - Sokolatapita (Greek Chocolate Cake) served with χαλβάσ-βανίλια
παγωτό - Halvah-Banilia Pagoto (Halvah Vanilla Ice Cream) and κουλουράκια
- Koulourakia (Greek Butter Cookies)
καφές
- Kafes (Greek Coffee)
ούζο
- Ouzo
(Traditional Greek Anise-Flavored Liqueur)
Manto (Traditional Greek Orange-Herb Liqueur)
(2001 Samos Nectar – Made from select Muscat grapes that are laid in the sun to dry and
concentrate their flavor. Upon completion of that phase, the grapes are
vinified and then the wine is aged in oak for three years. The result is a
dessert wine with a complex bouquet and is full bodied.)
Thesmophoria (Greek
Thanksgiving)
Most societies, even
today, rely on an agricultural sector to provide their food and, therefore,
survival. If the harvest is adequate, most people will survive; otherwise,
there will be famine. Whatever power provides the bounty deserves praise. While
many of us have stopped thanking "God" for the bounty, that was why
we celebrated Thanksgiving, originally. Even today, many people who ordinarily
chow down without saying "grace" add this prayer to the fall feast.
Around the same time of
year a festival used to be held in Ancient Greece in honor of the goddess who
taught mankind to tend the soil. Then there was no question but that the
festival was part of the goddess' worship. The festival, Thesmophoria, was held
during a month known as Pyanopsion (Puanepsion), in the lunisolar calendar of
the Athenians. Since our calendar is solar, the month doesn't exactly match,
but Pyanopsion would be, more or less, October into November, the same months
as the Canadian and U.S. Thanksgivings. In ancient Greece this was the time of
the fall planting.