-= Exported from BigOven =-

Pork Braised With Celery Avgolemono

Recipe By:
Serving Size: 4
Cuisine:
Main Ingredient:
Categories: Greek

-= Ingredients =-
3 pound Lean Shoulder ; Or Leg Of Pork
4 tablespoon Butter ; Or Margarine
1 Onion ; Finely Chopped
Salt & Pepper ; Freshly Ground
3 cup Hot Water ; Approximately
1 Bunch Celery
2 tablespoon Flour
2 Egg Yolks
1 1/2 Lemons ; Juice Only
Parsley ; Or Celery Leaves

-= Instructions =-
Wipe the pork with damp paper towels, then cut into 1-1/2 inch cubes (the fat and skin may be left on during the cooking and removed later). Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a heavy pan or Dutch oven. Add the onion and cook until soft and transparent, then add the pork and cook, stirring, over medium heat until the raw meat color disappears. Season with salt and pepper, add hot water to cover, then cover and simmer gently (or bake in a 325 F oven) for 30 to 35 minutes, or until almost tender. (The timing is important because the celery is to be added and cooked with the pork only until both are tender but not overcooked.)

Meanwhile, prepare the celery. Wash the stalks and scrape the heavy ones slightly. Cut each stalk once lengthwise (if large) and then across into 1-1/2 inch slices. (Use the leaves as well, if desired, but a few might be saved for a garnish or an accompanying salad.) Add the celery to pork and continue simmering 25 minutes until both are tender. Using a slotted spoon, remove the pork and celery and place in a serving dish, first removing and discarding the fat from the meat. Keep warm. Skim the fat from the cooking liquid, then add water or boil down rapidly to make to make 1-1/2 cups. Keep hot while you prepare the avgolemono.

To prepare the avgolemono, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a pan. Stir in the flour, and after cooking over low heat for 1 minute, gradually add 2 cups of the hot cooking liquid from the meat. Stir until the sauce comes to a boil. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, beat the two remaining egg yolks and add the lemon juice, droplet by droplet, beating all the while. Beat a little of the thickened cooking liquid into the yolk mixture, then add the yolks to the pan of hot liquid. Mix well and cook over low heat until thickened. Pour the hot sauce over the pork and celery, garnish with parsley or celery leaves and serve warm.

NOTE: Celeriac may be substituted for the celery. Use 2-1/2 pounds of celeriac, and peel, quarter, and cut it into 1/2 inch slices before adding it to the pork. A little scraped, diced carrot may be added with the celery.

From: “The Food of Greece” by Vilma Liacouras Chantiles. Avenel Books, New York.

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-= Exported from BigOven =-

Vasilopita (new Year Bread)

Recipe By:
Serving Size: 1
Cuisine:
Main Ingredient:
Categories: Greek

-= Ingredients =-
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 package Active Dry Yeast
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon ; Ground
3/4 cup Milk ; Lukewarm
1/4 teaspoon Masticha ; Ground
3 Eggs ; Beaten
1/2 cup Butter ; Melted
1 1/2 teaspoon Orange Rind ; Grated
1 Egg ; For Glazing
3/4 cup Caster Sugar
Blanched Almonds ; Split
4 1/2 cup Plain Flour

-= Instructions =-
New Year Bread is traditionally cut at midnight on New Year’s Eve. After baking, a coin is inserted through a slit in the base. The person who finds the coin will have luck in the New Year. Long ago the coin used to be a gold one, then later a silver coin was used. These could be incorporated into the dough before baking. Nowadays because of the nickel content of coins it is undesirable to bake a coin in the cake.

Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup of the milk. Add remainder of milk, eggs, orange rind and sugar. Sift 3 cups flour, salt and spice into a warm bowl and make a well in the centre. Pour in yeast mixture and stir to blend in flour, gradually adding warm melted butter. Mix dough with hands until it comes away from sides. Turn on to a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, adding remaining flour as required. Knead for 10 minutes. Place ball of dough in a clean bowl brushed with melted butter. Turn dough over to coat top with butter and cover bowl with a cloth or plastic wrap. Leav to prove (rise) in a warm place until doubled in bulk. Punch down and turn on to lightly floured surface. Knead lightly and shape into a round loaf. Place on a large greased baking sheet or in a greased 25 cm (10 inch) deep cake tin. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled – about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Glaze with well-beaten egg and arrange blanched almonds in numbers to denote the New Year, pressing in lightly. Bake in a moderately hot oven for 45 minutes until golden brown and cooked when tested. If bread browns too quickly place a piece of greased brown paper on top. Cool on a wire rack.

From: “The Complete Middle East Cookbook” by Tess Mallos

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