Saturday, April 16, 2011

Kontovazaina-Style Koulouria - Spiced Easter Cookies made with Olive Oil


Easter is one week away and I thought I’d share a recipe of one of my favorite Greek cookies: Kontovazaina-style Koulouria.

Kontovazaina is the village high in the mountains in the Peloponnese that my mother and her ancestors were born in. This is my grandmother, or Yia yia’s, recipe, adapted to modern American kitchens.

This cookie is not like most Greek sweets that Americans have encountered; it’s not covered with honey syrup, or powdered sugar and it’s not laden with butter and nuts. It is somewhat reminiscent of a cinnamon graham cracker. It is a humble cookie that tastes delicious dunked in a cold glass of milk or a hot cup of coffee.

Throughout most of Greece another, more popular, vanilla butter-cookie version of Koulouria is made. My Yia yia’s version is still my favorite.

One advantage to this version is how healthy it is. Olive oil is one of the healthiest oils that you can consume. Use whatever version of olive oil that you like; It won’t taste funny. It was the only oil available for many generations in Greece and they used it successfully.
As to the flour, I used unbleached white, but you can use whole wheat flour as well. Kontovazaina cooks traditionally used the “best” flour that they could afford. Ironically, the wealthy and upper class ate the least healthy, white flour. Now we know better.
The yeast traditionally used was a dough starter, or piece of dough saved from your last batch. Modern commercial yeast works much quicker. In the old days, sometimes they would have to let their dough rise all night in order to make their risen breads and sweets.

This cookie is so humble that you might think that it could eaten during Lent. Not so. The Greek Orthodox Church does not allow the consumption of olive oil during Lent. (Interestingly, olives are allowed during Lent.)

I wish you all Happy Easter!

Καλό πάσχα!


Kontovazaina-Style Koulouria
- Spiced Easter Cookies made with Olive Oil

4 cups Flour
1 cup Sugar
1 pkg Yeast
¼ teaspoon Salt
2 teaspoons Baking Soda
2 teaspoons Cinnamon
½ teaspoon Cloves
½ cup Olive Oil
Warm Water


Mix all the dry ingredients. Add the olive oil. Mix with fingers until crumbly. Add enough warm water to make a soft dough. Knead dough until smooth and elastic. If necessary add a little more flour (or liquid) until the dough is not too sticky and will handle easily without breaking.

Pinch off small rounds of dough and roll into uniform-thickness rod shapes. Ours are usually 5-6 inches long, but it doesn’t really matter exactly; Just make sure that the rods are all about the same thickness in the batch so that they cook evenly. Shape into a donut shape and use your finger to press one end down onto the other. If you’d like, make other shapes such as a curled up “s” or a spiral.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for about 20-25 minutes on a well-greased cookie sheet (with olive oil, of course!) The longer they cook, the crunchier they will be - perfect for dunking into milk or coffee. Just make sure that they don’t burn on the bottoms; These cookies will lift up easily from the cookie sheet in order to check without breaking.

Because there are no eggs or butter in these cookies, they store for a long time - if they last! Just seal them up in a bag or a jar after they’ve cooled down.

This recipe made 32 cookies for me.



The crumbly flour/oil stage.



The dough before kneading.



Ready to go into the oven.



A curly "s" or snake shape and a spiral.




Saturday, September 18, 2010

Names from the Patras City Guide - 1875

Patras

Notaries:

Andrikopoulou B.
Andropoulou Theod.
Tomopoulou N.
Kouka Leonida
Pappagianopoulou Andrea
Petropoulou N.
Stavropoulou Io.

Private Schools:

Vasilaki
Thiveou
Pappanikolaou A.
Porfiropoulou
Farmakidi
Chrisochosidi
Paschali
Chrisanthis

Foreign Language
Teachers:

Marsel - English
Raptis - Italian
Schield - English
Chorafas - Italian

Music Teachers:

Kartonis
Glakos

Lawyers:

Aggelopoulos Georg.
Athanasiadis
Antonopoulos Dion.
Votsis D.
Gerakaris Evst.
Gerokostopoulos
Golfinopoulos Konst.
Dimitropoulos P.
Digenopoulos
Efstathiou
Zografos Aristeidis
Zografos Io.
Iliopoulos L.
Theofilou Panag
Kanellopoulos
Karatzas N.
Karonis Dim.
Kokkinos
Kontogouris Arist.
Korilos
Kouvelis
Kristenitis Aristeidis
Lekas P.
Mavriopoulos Konst.
Michalopoulos S.
Nezeritis P.
Pappagiannakopoulos A.
Pikramenos Ant.
Polichroniadis Ath.
Sagias N.
Skizas Georg.
Sotiriadis Georg.
Trousas D.
Tsertidis Georg.
Fakiris Andreas
Filopoulos K.
Filopoulos N.
Chamomitsopoulos Ant.
Chidas Pafsanias
Chrisanthis Arist.


Doctors:

Anatsitos
Akratos
Vasilakis
Vasileiou
Vachatoros, Oth
Vlachos A.
Galiatsas
Giannopoulos
Diamantopoulos P.
Diplaropoulos
Theofilou N.
Karokis
Katsaitis
Korilos
Melisinos
Stamatis
Strouzas
Chatsopoulos
Sparros Dim.


Pharmacies:

Venetsanopoulos D. N.
Vlachos
Golfinopoulos
Thomopoulos
Kokkinos
Pappadopouloss Dion.
Pappazoglous Konst.
Peristerianos G..


Pastry Shops:

Gika Io.
Kainouriou Io
Kalevra Theod.

Beer

Zoula Brothers
Kalligerou B.
Halkiopoulou F.

Cafes

Antonopoulou S.
Golfinopoulou
Kiraggelou Dionisiou
Sfika Dim.



Bankers:

Varf and Co.
Gerousis M.
Kremidis P.
Petzelis and Papamithiotis
Stroumpos G.
Tzetzos Anagnostis
Fels and Co.


Brokers:

Vallosis G. Dim.
Vitalis Thomas
Gaitanos Th.
Gikas S.
Diamantopoulos P.
Koutsikopoulos Io.
Panagiotou Leonidas
Pappageorgiou Ath.
Papparitor K.
Pappoutsopoulos P.
Pratsikas X.
Stamatopoulos Tassos
Stavropoulos Dion.
Stavropoulos and Kiriakoulakos
Tsenieris Epam.
Helis Elefth.

Imported Groceries:

Avthelopoulos and Kazakos
Agapitos Theod.
Athanasiou Dim.
Athanasopoulos and Lagogiannis
Anagiostopouloi Brothers
Anastasopouloi Brothers
Asimakopouloi Brothers
Vasileiou Brothers
Katsirakas Dim.
Kolla M. Gie.
Kontadriopoulos Andr.
Kontadriopoulos Io.
Laggouris Theod.
Laggouris and Meitanis
Bourloumi Brothers
Nikolopoulos N.
Pappageorgiou Brothers
Pappageorgiou Ath.
Pappathanasiou P.
Pappamikropoulos Geor.
Petta Brothers
Pettas and Daras
Stavropoulos Anastasios
Stavropoulos and Markou
Sotiropoulos Anastasios
Tranti Brothers
Trivelopoulos Kanellos
Trivellopoulos P.
Tsinis Theod.
Farlopouloi Brothers
Farsis and Pappapetropoulos
Haidapoulos N.

Booksellers:

Agapintos A.
Mitropoulos D.
Sekopoulos B.


Leather/Hides:

Georgiou Diogenis
Pliopoulos and Petropoulos
Haidopoulos

Tailors/ Clothing:

Apostolopoulos A.
Machairas A.
Paizi Brothers
Rossis G.
Stavrou Brothers
Sotiropoulos N.

Tabacco Sellers:

Evaggeliou K.
Evaggeliou A.
Koliou Brothers
Tsolias G.


Lumber/Timber:

Anastasopoulos Char.
Giaouris and Sakellaropoulos
Kanellopouli Brothers
Pappathanasiou P.
Spiliopoulos Chr.
Stamati Brothers
Sotiropoulos Io.

General Store:

Gatopoulos Andreas
Gatsoi Brothers
Koutokostas
Papoutsopoulos Chr.
Filiotis Andreas

Liquor Sales:

Giannakoulopouli Brothers
Kapralos D.
Bourdopoulos G.
Rizos P.
Sakellaropoulos, Andr.








Produce:

Koursas Frantseskos
Nikolaou Brothers
Ekonomou Geor.
Pappatheodorou Klearchos
Pratsika Brothers
Chistopoulos Panag.

Iron:

Vasileiou Adelfi
Gerousis K.
Kolla M. Gioi.
Kremidas P.
Trivelopoulos P.

Raisins:

Athanasopoulos Ath.
Anninos Petros
Varf S. and Co.
Gerousis K. L. and Company
Gerousis M.
Gavvas N.
Thomopoulos Al.
Karavas Io.
Kremithas P.
Maltezos Dion.
Maniakis Io.
Mavrokefalos Anas.
Bogthanos Io.
Panagoulas D.
Petsalis and Papamithiotis
Raftopoulos G.
Spiliadis G.
Spiropoulos Emm.
Stamos Georgakopoulos and Panagopoulos
Tsiasianos A.
Tsiklitiras Io.
Tsoukos G.
Fakiris and SP. (CO.?)
Fels and SP. (CO.?)
Hairetis M.

Glassware:

Kokkalis A.
Mentosilos Ilias


Cloth/Fabric:

Athanasopoulos Ath.
Androutsos Geor.
Alexopoulos Geor.
Antonakopoulos Antonios
Vionnis Alex.
Gazetopoulos and Sotiropoulos
Georgiou Char.
Galekas and Psomakis
Gounaris P.
Gounas B.
Digenopoulos and Pappandropoulos
Dimitropoulos and Theofilou
Desoulas Alex.
Drakopoulos Petros
Drakopoulos and Poniris
Sotos M. and SP. (CO.?)
Kaliafils and Co.
Kostas G.
Lappa N. Brothers
Lappas G. Anas.
Lappas K. and Co.
Lappas L. S.
Markopoulos Chr.
Masson E. Io.
Mourtsopoulos A. and Co.
Moustakas Th. and Co.
Daniaris Andreas and Co.
Daniaris N. G.
Nikolaou Petros
Pezis Dion.
Panos G.
Palaiologos L. and Co.
Pappagiannis Io.
Papparritor G.
Pappas Dim. and SP.
Petralias E. and Co.
Spanopoulos and Maniatopoulos
Spanopoulos Char.
Spirakos S. and Co.
Stampados D.
Stavrou P. and Co.
Fels and Co.
Fragopouli Brothers
Chrisopoulos Chr.

Jewelers/Goldsmiths:

Giakos Dim.
Kontiadis Geor.
Lepesotis A.
Braropoulos Io.
Tsavos Dim.
Chrisikopouos Geor.
Chrisikopoulos N.

Small Sundry Shops (no food except candy, gum, etc.)

Alexopoulos A.
Daskalopoulos Brothers
Pappadimitrakopoulos and Venetzanopoulos
Stavropoulos Stavros


Noodles

Dikifronos N.
Karabela V.
Liali Brothers



Yarn

Giorgitou Foteinou
Kogou and Co.
Kogou Marias
Pappatheodorou Klearchou

Distillers:

Giannoulopouli Brothers
Kaprallou Dim.
Sakellaropoulu Andr.

Printers:

Agapitou A.
Georgiadi Mich.
Efmorfopoulou P.
Tounta D. Io.

Furniture Makers:

Goudipoulos
Goulimis P.
Lazaridis Io.

Blacksmiths:

Antonopoulos Ant.
Kalekas Dim.
Paschalis Antonios
Spiliotopoulos Ant.

Shoemakers:

Andravidiotis Th.
Antonopoulos Chr.
Argiriadis
Kanellopoulos Andr.
Likiardopoulos Chr.
Raftopoulos

City Guide to Greece from 1875 is available online!

I was excited to recently discover online access to a wonderful Greek genealogical resource: A City Guide for Greece published in 1875 by Miltiades Bouka. If your family was engaged in some kind of business in one of the main cities of Greece at this time, chances are they'll be in this guide. The Guide has been made available on the University of Crete website at:

Οδηγός εμπορικός, γεωγραφικός και ιστορικός των πλείστων κυριωτέρων πόλεων της Ελλάδος του έτους 1875 / Υπό Μιλτιάδου Μπούκα.

http://anemi.lib.uoc.gr/metadata/f/4/6/metadata-01-0000271.tkl

The Guide is written in Greek, but, maybe with a little help from my friends, I will slowly post some of the surnames translated into English.

To start, the cities listed the Guide are as follows:

Athens
Agrinio
Aigio
Amfissa
Andros
Galaxeidion
Zakynthos/Zante
Thira/Santorini
Ithaka
Kalamata
Kerkyra/Corfu
Kefalonia
Corinth
Lamia
Levadia
Mesologgion – no entries
Nafplion
Patras
Piraeus
Poros
Pylos
Pyrgos
Sparti
Spetsi
Syros
Tinos
Tripoli – no entries, info was not received in time.
Halki


*Crete and Thessalonki are not mentioned in this Guide, since they did not belong to Greece at the time.


The University of Crete also lists 3 other Guides which are not currently available. These were all published by Spiridon Kousoulinos (Σπυρίδων Κουσουλίνος)in 1900 and 1904. They are listed as follows:


Οδηγός Αθηνών Πειραιώς και των κυριωτέρων πόλεων της Ελλάδος : 1900.
http://anemi.lib.uoc.gr/metadata/0/d/2/metadata-141-0000486.tkl


Οδηγός Αθηνών Πειραιώς και των κυριωτέρων πόλεων της Ελλάδος : 1900.
http://anemi.lib.uoc.gr/metadata/b/8/d/metadata-01-0001868.tkl


Οδηγός της Ελλάδος : 1904.
http://anemi.lib.uoc.gr/metadata/2/1/a/metadata-235-0000000.tkl


Hopefully, they will also be available sometime soon on the website!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Treasure Chest Thursday - My Grandfather's WWI Honorable Discharge Papers and Victory Medal

Among the many treasured possessions that I hold in trust for my family are my grandfather's WWI Honorable Discharge papers and his WWI Victory Medal:


My grandfather, Clarence Henry Corlew, enlisted in the U.S. Army on 27 May, 1918 at Greenwich, NY. He was 27 years of age and was missing the middle finger on his right hand from a childhood accident with firecrackers. Since he could still pull a trigger, this was not considered to be a problem.


He was a Private First Class with the 232nd M.P. Co. and was honorably discharged 11 Aug, 1919 at Camp Upton, NY.


This photo of Clarence is the earliest one that I can find. I believe that it was taken just before his marriage in 1927 in Oteen, North Carolina. He had been admitted to the U.S. Veterans' Hospital there for successful treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.

His yellowed discharge papers are protected by a black leather-like case. I love to hold them and breathe in their fragrance of musty paper and ink. It reminds me of old books and libraries -how could I not love that!

































































































Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Wordless Wednesday - Memere


Well, maybe just a few words. . . This casual snapshot is of my Memere Nellie in her kitchen in Hudson Falls, New York. I didn't get to see her very often as a child, but my memories of her always seem to center around this room. She was a practical, warm, loving woman, who often fed large gatherings of family and friends at her table.