Hi Adlanders. THIS IS MY ALL THINGS CHRISTMAS TOPIC!    I hope you'll share Pictures,  family stories / Christmas memories and Yummy recipes here.  Let's have fun and celebrate the holiday.

Merry Christmas to Everyone!

God Bless you during this season.

Pat

MELOMAKARONA

Dough
 

6 cups all purpose flour

1 cup oil

2 tablespoons vegetable butter

0,5 cup sugar

0,5 cup orange juice

some orange zest

1 cup brandy

2 tablespoons Baking Powder

1 tablespoon baking soda

some cinnamon

some ground cloves

1 cup chopped  walnuts

Syrup

1 cup sugar

2 – 3 tablespoons honey

1,5 cups water

some cinnamon

some lemon juice

Method

Combine oil, orange juice and sugar in a mixing bowl. Add flour, B.P., butter, soda, brandy, orange zest, cinnamon and ground cloves. Mix thoroughly with hands until well combined. Take off pieces of dough and form into flattened oval shapes. Place them in a pan on  ungreased paper sheets. Put the pan in a medium temperature oven for 20-30 minutes – until crust turns golden brown.

In the meantime prepare the syrup by stirring all the syrup ingredients in a small casserole. Bring to a boil for about 8 minutes. Remove from heat.

When melomakarona are cooked, dip each one into the syrup and arrange them in a platter. Sprinkle them with the chopped  walnuts.

Here is a story about the Christmas Nativity.  Isn't the picture pretty!!   I hope you enjoy it.  Pat

The Nativity described in the bible, begins when Joseph and Mary had to travel up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem.  Joseph belonged to the house of David and was required to register for a census in King David’s home town. Mary, who pledged to be married to Joseph, was expecting a child.  While in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to her first son. She wrapped him with strips of cloth and laid him in a manager because there was no room in the inn.   This best describes the heart of the Christmas Nativity, with the core of the Nativity scene being Mary, Joseph and the Christ Child in a Manager.

That night some shepherds where guarding there flocks in the fields outside the Village, when suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared among them and the radiance of the Lords glory surrounded them. “I bring good news” the angle said, “The Saviour – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born tonight in Bethlehem. You will find him in a manger, wrapped in strips of cloth!” Then suddenly the armies of Heaven appeared and began praising God. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God Favours”   (Just imagine if you where one of those shepherds and seeing the armies of heaven)

So the Shepherd ran to the Village and found Mary, Joseph and the Baby in a Manager.  As a result of this the shepherds are part of the Nativity. The bible describes how the shepherds go back to there flocks glorifying and praising God because they had seen the Christ child as the Angel had said.  I am sure the shepherds lives where never the same again after that amazing night.  

That describes the places and circumstances surrounding the birth of our Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ. Known today as the Christmas Nativity Scene, or just Nativity.

http://www.1nativity.com/index.html

Hi Dimitra.  Welcome to my ALL THINGS CHRISTMAS topic. Thanks for posting the recipe for MELOMAKARONA.

My husband and I had these in Portland's GREEK FESTIVAL this last October and they are Delicious!!!   I bet you're a good cook!!

I hope you'll come back often and post more good Greek holiday recipes.   What a lovely Christmas tree picture you posted also!!

Thank you, Pat