Happy Easter (Christos Anesti)
Flaounas Time
Christos Anesti (Happy Easter) everyone, yes it’s that time of the year again here in Cyprus where celebrations related to Easter are in full swing. Christos Anesti, meaning Christ is risen, is the greeting given by Cypriots as they meet today and celebrate, but they never forget what and who is the main reason for their celebrations, and the whole family will be involved as they prepare for feasting today.
On Friday I joined our Symbethera and her family as they prepared the traditional Flaounas, her two grandchildren Panagiota and Stavro were in the thick of it, covered in flour and egg wash as they were determined to produce Flaounas as good as their Yiaya.
This traditional Cypriot/Greek Easter bread is made with Gruyere and Haloumi Cheese, Raisins, Mint, then brushed with an egg wash and sprinkled with sesame seeds, before being placed in the hot clay oven.
Although this is the traditional recipe, everyone has their own method of producing this tasty product, and of course, everyone’s Flaounas are better than anyone else.
As those in the kitchen were finishing off their tasks, dad Savva was busy with the Forno, the clay oven outside, which is traditionally used for baking the Flaounas.
Once ready the Flaounas were placed inside and left for only a short period before they were golden brown, as they came out our symbethera sliced one open, and the aroma of Cheese & Mint made my mouth water. Left to cool a little I tasted my first homemade fresh Flaouna of the Easter period, and it was delicious, at the side was also another of my favorites, Cypriot Coffee, Sketo.
Today as my wife Nina and I enjoy the long-awaited warm sun relaxing on the veranda overlooking a calm blue Mediterranean, we taste yet again delicious slices of Flaounas with a Cypriot coffee, Sketo of course.
As we do this, as always, I express my sincere gratitude at being blessed with the good fortune of being able to live where I live and enjoy the wonderful Cypriot family life as I do. I am indeed truly blessed.
Keep a look out for blogs about Cyprus and the joy of living here.
Bless you all and thank you for reading this blog.
I wish for you what I have: People around you…who care
John Warner Author/ Creator The Tales of Padistan Bear.
John Warner Author 