You know Christmas is coming when.....

..................CHRISTMAS FAIRS start to be advertised. Our first of the year was today in Hersonissos, Crete. It's like most others an annual event, recently moved indoors, good idea, to a local gymnasium. Plenty of space and it stays warm.
  Our local KAPI took part of course. The ladies choir gave a small concert, but the main aim of the day for the members of this senior citizens organisation is to raise m oney to keep the situation ticking along.
   The ladies produce a varied and wonderful range of typical Greek home-made pies, cakes and sweets which are soon snapped up. Other local groups offer different items so that there seems little of no rerpeat of items for sale.

Forget the calories!!

DECEMBER and already there is more than the hint of Christmas in the air, and the first activity of the month comes with Loukomades Day or small fluffy inside and crisp outside donuts. They are hand-made by the ladies of our KAPI organisation and handed around to anybody, and we mean anybody who cares to drop in on the day.
 They started early getting the mixture of flour and yeast to prove until it was ready to be introduced to the hot oil. It is something that has to be done by hand, taking a scoop of the mixture and then squeezing it out to the required amount - they have been doing it for years and results in the perfect small ball dropping into the hot oil.
   When it gets golden brown it is taken out and doused in a honey/water mixture and then a spoonful of finely chopped nuts are added - forget the calories - simply enjoy. The enjoyment includes huge metal trays of these golden balls being taken to the local town hall to be shared around. Don't worry there is always a back-up bowl fermenting ready to be called into the action. Some people have been known to go back for a second plateful, not sure how they manage it.