Etymology of CalogeraI spoke to a lovely lady this morning named Rena Salaman who has published several cookbooks about Greek food and Mediterranean cooking (her latest pictured above). She has given me very helpful & constructive feedback on my cookbook proposal and also told me something I didn't know.

Rena is Greek and recognized the name Calogera, which was my grandmother's, as being of two Greek words meaning something to the effect of a good person (Calo) who was married to a monk or someone who was a nun (Gero).

When I Googled it via Behind the Name.com, it came up as Calo (kalos) beautiful and ger0 (geron) elder. It was the name of a 5th century saint, a hermit in Sicily (masculine).

See and my mother never liked her name?! I will take it as beautiful elder which is perfectly befitting of a grandmother. Now there are so many options, I can call my mother: Momma Dolce, Beautiful Elder or Calogera - Momma take your pick?


;)

More on St. Calogero
...during the whole of the first week of July we meet St. Calogero the hermit, considered by farmers the protector of summer harvests. The festival culminates with a contest between the tambourine players of St.Calò. The hermit Calogero, born maybe in Carthage or maybe in Constantinople and reached Sicily in the 5^th century AD, earned the fame of saint because, apart from expulsing the idolatrous priests from Mount Kronio, nowadays Gemeriano, he was a performer of miracles and cured the sick with the vapours of the caves of Sciacca which he understood contained therapeutic values.

The cult of the saint is linked to the miracle which took place in 1578, when Sicily was shaken by a strong earthquake and the company of St.Vito, after various attempts with processions to other saints, tried to promise a procession to St.Calogero if he saved the town, which happened punctually. From that time on, as a thanksgiving, the procession has taken place every year on the Monday after Pentecost and St.Calogero is considered the co-patron together with the Madonna of the Soccorso.

Also in Aragona we find many devotees of St.Calogero, venerated by the offers of the characteristic votive bread. They consist of offerings made of bread rather than wax, in the form of human arms and legs that are blessed and then conserved to be eaten in times of difficulty or sadness.

Tea and Company!

Going for afternoon tea at the Wolseley for Rexi's bday. This is what she has to say about my bday extravaganza at my beloved Greek haunt The Elysee...

...at the Wolseley, there’s no chance of being served by 50 year-old mafia-types, lip syncing Greek rock classics, while sporting killer camel toes. Yes, Sands, ANOTHER dig at your bday, an endless source of material for me.

Don't you just love your friends?? I do.
Now I need to think of a suitably embarrassing gift for her to unwrap at our posh afternoon tea session :)

Greek style
It is my b-day tomorrow and we are going to a Greek restaurant to break plates, drink Ouzo and eat Greek food. If you are not familiar with the Greeks you should see the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding - very funny if you are of any type of Mediterranean descent. These cookies are ones that Eleni's mother made and they are my favourite!

Kourambiedes - Greek cookies

Yield: 50 servings

1 c Sweet butter
1/2 c Powdered sugar
1 ea Egg yolk
2 tb Brandy or Cognac, (optional)
1 ts Almond extract
1 ts Vanilla extract
1 ts Baking powder
2 1/4 c Sifted cake flour; (or more)
3/4 c Ground almonds; toasted
1 lb Powdered sugar; sifted

Some rules to eating these:
-Do not inhale near these as the powered sugar will go up your nostrils; this is very embarrassing and has happened to me while at a Greek fair trying to look cool in front of some Greek boys.

-Don't keep them too close to your nostrils/mouth as when you exhale the icing sugar goes all over the person standing in front of you

So basically, try and take a bite and move away from the cookie! Am sure the Greek's have it down pat but us non-Greeks are still trying to master eating them without having a layer of white powder all over our faces and clothes.

Opa!