Eating at Home with Family and Friends

 Eating at Home with Family and Friends 

 

 Once in our Lake-side Holiday House

 

When we went to the old lake holiday house (now sold) we’d need to take food with us as though there was a small supermarket we could not buy everything in this small hamlet. We’d usually meet up with our children and grandchildren and meals would be simple and often outdoors.

The kids loved cooking and my grand daughters started young! 

 

Lemnos House Lunches

 

We had to eat outside until the Lemnos house kitchen was renovated. But now we have a kitchen with every convenience and can enjoy cooking up even difficult meals.

 

Some visitors offer to cook for us and take over the kitchen to make lunch for the whole group, numbering about seven or eight most days mid-summer.

Takis and I enjoy doing things from scratch - making our own pasta, or cooking up sauces or making jams and marmalades.When the grand children visited us in Greece they loved to help.

 

We eat our main meal outside on the terrace during the summer months and only come into the kitchen in October, as the days get cooler. Though, there are days in summer when it is too hot to eat outside!

After a while we got the old furno working and now visitors enjoy using it. We don’t use it often but we find it best to light it the day before to get the bricks warmed, and then relight it the day we want to bake. Visitors enjoy the effort and fund of cooking their own pizzas or bread.

 

Lemnos House Coffee Mornings

 

Lunches in Lemnos tend to occur at three in the afternoon, so we need a break between breakfast and lunch. This occurs at eleven, when all in residence come either into the kitchen or meet on the terrace for coffee. We seem to regularly have six or seven folk who gather with us at this time every day. This is the time when local gossip is shared and we catch up on local events.

Australian Picnics

‘Love is like a picnic, you can plan it but you can't predict the weather.’ Anon

 

Whereas in Greece we tend to go to a taverna for lunch in Australia we often pack a picnic lunch to have on the beach with the family. And unlike Greek summers, the weather is not predicable. So you do tend to check the weather report first.

Or, we might go on a drive into the country with a picnic packed in the car.

 

And of course we get together with the family for special occasions.

One special occasion when family and friends came was my book launch. Takis and I enjoyed sharing food we’d prepared and food helped to make it a special occasion for those who attended.

Australian ‘Bring a Plate’ Lunches

In Australia when a group meet for a meal they usually plan so that each contributes. That is what is meant when the host says ‘bring a plate’. This often has to be coordinated so that the menu covers salads, main meals and desserts. This is the way we organize large family get-togethers such as birthdays and Christmas lunches.

Takis and I also belong to a group that regularly meets in one or other’s house in this manner. This shared lunch usually turns in a loud talk-fest, as we are all interested in local politics, and as the meal progresses the conversations can get louder and louder!

But right now we are looking forward to eating outdoors with our Greek friends again!