On the Cover . . Saint Euphrosynos the Cook (Commemorated on September 11) Euphrosynos Was a Monk Who Served As the Cook at a Monastery
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1 On the Cover . Saint Euphrosynos the Cook (Commemorated on September 11) Euphrosynos was a monk who served as the cook at a monastery. Although he served his brothers with humility and patience, he suffered much abuse from them. One night a priest at the monastery had a vision in which he saw Euphrosynos walking in a beautiful garden and asked him what he was doing there. Euphrosynos answered that he lived there and brought gifts from Paradise to serve his brothers at the monastery. He then gave the priest three apples from one of the trees of Paradise. When the priest awoke for the night services, he found the three fragrant applies on his bed. He looked for Euphrosynos at the Church and asked him where he had been. With great humility Eurphrosynos answered, “Forgive me father; I have been in that place where we saw one another.” “What did you give me when we spoke in Paradise?” asked the priest. “I gave you three apples which you have on your bed in your cell, father,” answered Euphrosynos, “but forgive me father, for I am a worm and not a man.” In order to avoid the praise of men, Euphrosynos disappeared following the service that night. Those who ate pieces of the three apples were healed. May God grant us all the grace to serve our families and friends with patience and humility, gathering the best fruit we can find to offer those we serve. 2 Acknowledgements The publication and updating of this cookbook has become a reality because many members of St. John have dedicated many hours of their time to this effort. The following helped with formatting, editing, proof reading and overseeing the final product. Julia Allisandratos Very Rev. Father John Troy Karen Bell Mashburn. Kim Boone Paul Parham Crystal Eastman Judy Perkins Corinne Elliott Paul Sudduth Laura Graham Fran Tylavsky Tina McKelvy All persons have taken the effort to find mistakes such as spellings of names, unreasonable quantities of ingredients and clear directions. With over 500 recipes there are bound to be some errors. We apologize in advance for any errors. Please let Fran Tylavsky know of any changes that need to be made for the next printing ([email protected]). © St. John Orthodox Church, 1663 Tutwiler St., Memphis, TN 38107, 2006 901-274-4119 Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS ON FEASTING . AND FASTING ............................................. 5 PRAYERS BEFORE MEALS ........................................................ 6 PRAYERS AFTER MEALS ........................................................... 7 FASTING AND THE FASTING CALENDAR ............................. 8 MEETING EVERYONE’S NUTRITIONAL NEEDS DURING FASTING .......................................................................................... 12 APPETIZERS ................................................................................... 23 BEVERAGES ................................................................................... 48 SOUPS ............................................................................................... 57 SALADS ............................................................................................ 92 VEGETABLES, OTHER SIDE DISHES AND SAUCES ............ 113 VEGETABLES ................................................................................. 113 MAIN DISHES ................................................................................. 169 BREADS ........................................................................................... 253 DESSERTS ....................................................................................... 283 LITURGICAL OFFERINGS .......................................................... 362 We have taken effort to place recipes in categories that seems logical for the intended dish. Many of the vegetable or other side dishes may be a main dish during fasting. The same is true for appetizers, soups and salads. Browse through the book to find the recipes that work for your family during fasting. 4 Many of the recipes in this book are recipes handed down from family members and for some, many generations. In some cases the quantity listed in the recipe is no longer available, such as specific can sizes. This means that the cook needs to experiment a little. Here is a list of conversions that may be helpful. Can Size Ounces Approximate cups No. 1 11 1 ½ No. 1 ½ 16 2 No. 2 20 2 ½ No. 2 ½ 28 3 ½ No. 3 33 4 No. 10 106 13 Specialty Grocery Stores that carry ingredients contained in some of the recipes that might not be available at the store you may regularly shop for groceries Mediterranean Grocery, 3561 Park Ave Wild Oats Market, 5022 Poplar 5 ON FEASTING . AND FASTING Saint John Orthodox Church is blessed by God with the presence of members from many cultural and ethnic backgrounds. When we share meals together on the various feast days of the Church, it is typical to find good ole’ southern foods alongside dishes from Greece, Syria, Russia, Poland, and many other places. We have tried to bring together a sampling of those cross-cultural recipes in this cookbook, for the enjoyment of our parishioners and friends. Feasting is part of the cycle of the spiritual life of the Orthodox Church. For this reason we have also included a section for “Liturgical” foods. This includes, once again, a cross-cultural selection of recipes for those foods used by the Church in its various celebrations—the Prosphora (Holy Bread) for the Eucharist, bread for the artoklasia, which commemorates certain saints, and so forth. Our celebration of the feasts is enhanced by the Orthodox practice of fasting. Feasting benefits the faithful to the degree to which we have prepared for each feast in the manner prescribed by the fathers of the Church—by fasting, prayer and almsgiving. Recipes which are appropriate for periods of fasting are marked with an asterisk (*) through the cookbook. The seasons and days of fasting prescribed by the Church are listed on the following page. As we live these cycles of fasting and feasting, let us all remember the words of our Lord, as recorded by our Patron Saint, John the Evangelist: “My food is to do the will of Him Who sent me, and to finish His work.’ (John 4:34). 6 PRAYERS BEFORE MEALS In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen, Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and ot the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice) Then O Christ our God, bless the food and drink of thy servants, for thou art Holy always; now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Or They that hunger shall eat and be satisfied, they that seek after the Lord shall praise him; their hearts shall live forever. Amen. Or Bless, O Lord, and these thy gifts of which we are about to partake, for thou art blessed and glorified; now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. 7 PRAYERS AFTER MEALS Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy (thrice) Then Blessed is God, who is merciful unto us and nourisheth us from His bounteous gifts by His grace and compassion, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen Or We thank thee, O Christ our God, that thou hast satisfied us with thy earthly gifts. Deprive us not of thy Heavenly Kingdom; but as thou entered into the midst of thy disciples, O Saviour, and gave them peace, enter also among us and save us. Amen. Or We thank thee, O God, the Giver of all good things, for these gifts and all thy mercies, and we bless thy Holy Name, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen 8 FASTING AND THE FASTING CALENDAR That we will fast is assumed by Christ in Holy Scriptures. It is one of the necessary tools of our ascetical struggle to draw near to God. The Church has a very organized approach to fasting, and while it can be a bit confusing at times, it gives us a rhythm of life that produces peace and joy in the Orthodox Christian. Terms Fasting – This can mean total abstinence from food and drink or simplified eating and drinking. Note that a fasting day is calculated from midnight to midnight with regard to the fasting prescriptions. Total Abstinence – No food and drink (except water and herbal teas, if hydration is absolutely necessary). With the guidance of one’s spiritual director, total abstinence is traditionally observed on the first three days of Great Lent and from Great Friday until Pascha. Eucharistic Fast – The total abstinence at least from the previous midnight for communing at a morning Liturgy or from the partaking of a light breakfast (certainly no later than noon) until Holy Communion is received at an evening Liturgy. The traditional fasting discipline – Refraining from eating meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine and oil. Shellfish is traditionally permitted. It is good to moderate the amount of food we consume on these days (consider eating smaller portions) and to refrain from eating between meals. Under the advice of a Spiritual Father some people may only eat one (1) meal per day during fasting periods. Remember that all fasting should be under the guidance of your spiritual advisor. In certain circumstances he may relax the traditional fast at his discretion. Katalysis – a slight relaxation of the fasting regimen, such as the allowance of wine and oil, or fish, wine and oil. 9 Seasons of Fasting The GREAT FAST – The traditional fasting discipline is observed during the Great Fast which lasts from Pure Monday through Great and Holy Saturday (with katalysis for wine and oil on Saturdays and Sundays [except on Great and Holy Saturday when oil is not permitted], and for fish, wine and oil on the Annunciation [March 25th] and Palm Sunday).