Anastasia

Monday's Greek Recipe - Arni Tavas - Lamb Stew

Ingredients

• 1 kg lamb cut into small portions
• 1 kg ripe tomatoes, peeled and cut into pieces
• 1 kg onions cut in rings
• 1 kg potatoes cut in cubes
• salt and pepper
• 2-3 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1/4 - 1/3 glass oil

Directions

• Remove any excess fat from the meat.
• Salt to taste and place in a 35 cm roasting pan.
• Mix together the potatoes, onions, cumin and pepper in a large bowl.
• Place the vegetables in the pan and mix with the meat.
• Pour over the oil, cover with foil and cook in a moderately hot oven (180*C-190*C) for an hour.
• Uncover and turn carefully.
• Cover and continue to cook for a further 1-1 hour 45 minutes or until the meat is tender - turning carefully once or twice.
• Remove the foil and continue cooking till the meat is golden brown on both sides.
• As the sauce thickens, turn over the potatoes as well.
• Serve piping hot.

Recipe by Sandra Lysandrou

BrainDriver: A Mind Controlled Car

Imagine you could drive your car using only your thoughts. German researchers have just made that possible -- and they have the video to prove it.

Following his recent interview on the Robots Podcast about autonomous vehicles, Raúl Rojas, an AI professor at the Freie Universität Berlin, and his team have demonstrated how a driver can use a brain interface to steer a vehicle. Here's what the researchers say about the project, which they call the BrainDriver:

After testing iPhone, iPad and an eye-tracking device as possible user interfaces to maneuver our research car, named "MadeInGermany," we now also use Brain Power. The "BrainDriver" application is of course a demonstration and not roadworthy yet, but in the long run human-machine interfaces like this could bear huge potential in combination with autonomous driving.

To record brain activity, the researchers use an Emotiv "neuroheadset," an electroencephalography, or EEG, sensor by San Francisco-based company Emotiv, which design it for gaming. After a few rounds of "mental training," the driver learns to move virtual objects only by thinking. Each action corresponds to a different brain activity pattern, and the BrainDriver software associates the patterns to specific commands -- turn left, turn right, accelerate etc. The researchers then feed these commands to the drive-by-wire system of the vehicle, a modified Volkswagen Passat Variant 3c. Now the driver's thoughts can control the engine, brakes, and steering.

To road test their brain-controlled car, the Germans headed out to the former airport in Berlin Tempelhof. The video below shows a driver thought-controlling the car, Yoda-style. "Don't try this at home," the narration says, only half-jokingly.

via spectrum.ieee.org

Would you dare to drive a mind controlled car? Well, I wouldn't! I'm not a daredevil, after all, and want to have full control of my car!

The Carnival in Cyprus

I was a ....Brasileira in 2008 and had so much fun!

While all  Cyprus celebrates Carnival with fancy dress and parties, there is not one city which approaches the show Lemesos annually presents. The Apokreo  festival  begins two weeks before the 50-day Greek Orthodox Lenten period which occurs later than the Roman Catholic pre Easter period. Some trace the customs back to Greek times although the customs are now all their own. The first week is called the Meat Week (Kreatini), as it is the last week for eating meat before Easter. The second week is known as the cheese week (Tyrini), when cheese and other dairy products may be consumed.

Carnival festivities begin on the Thursday of the Meat Week, and the day is known as Tsiknopefti, gaining its name from the unmistakable aromas of the meat cooking. The festival starts with the entrance parade of the King Carnival, entering the town of Limassol which is decorated for the occasion. 

The first of the two Sundays is the Children's Parade and then the serenaders with their melodic guitars and mandolins become the focus of much of the Carnival.  These serenaders will wander the streets on foot enchanting young and old alike. Many fancy-dress balls and parties take place each night.

 Parties are held and people gather to feast, sing satirical songs and play games. The last Sunday of the Cheese Week is the highlight of the Carnival. This is when the Grand Carnival Parade takes place on the last Sunday of the Carnival Festivities before Green Monday or the first day of lent. 

Colorful floats and groups of people, singing and dancing, parade in the main roads of Lemesos -  a truly festive atmosphere. The open-air celebrations and feasting  take place throughout Cypriot towns but the  Grand Parade in Lemesos is the peak focus of the Carnaval. During the Carnival parade large crowds from all over the island gather to watch the floats accompanied by the serenaders and other amazingly- costumed groups.  

During the cheese or Tyrini week of carnival, look out for seasonal specialties such as pastry bourekia filled with mint flavor cheese and ravioli. Also sticky sweetmeats such as daktyla and kandaifi.  Many Cypriots will pack a picnic on Green Monday and head for the countryside where their picnic feast will include vegetables, olives, bread and salad and local wines.

These customs date back to ancient times with a particular nod to the days when Dionysus ruled the Mediterranean Sea as a deity of mystery and wine.  With the passage of time it has acquired a different, purely entertaining character, with a large, popular following.  During the Carnival parade there will be many  serenaders and other masqueraded groups. Also make an effort to attend a fancy-dress ball at a hotel as part of your Carnaval experience. 

Greek Carnival Dates:

Tsiknopempti or "Burnt Thursday": February 24th
Tsiknopempti Weekend: Friday, February 25th - Sunday, February 27th 

Main Carnival Weekend: Friday, March 4th - Sunday, March 6th
Clean / Green  Monday: Monday, March 7th

 

via www.carnaval.com

Do you celebrate the Carnival in your part of the world? And if you do, do you dress up? What are you going to be this year????

Alkis' 60th Birthday

Both workwise and socially, it's been a very busy week which started on a bright note - Valentine's Day on Monday. I know I promised to cook a special dinner - I had thought of paté of  duck liver terrine for starters and roast saddle of veal in cognac cream sauce with glazed shallots and pesto gnocchi. But due to work I didn't have time to cook, so we had an exotic meal delivered and a great greek red called "Vivlia Hora".

However, the highlight of the week was Alkis' 60th birthday - a milestone - which we celebrated just the two of us last night. A couple of weeks ago, I suggested throwing a big party, which wasn't such a great idea as we both had to get up early this morning. So, I surprised him with the traditional birthday cake which we devoured soon after a cosy and festive dinner out.

Tomorrow is the parents' evening - a cocktail party I organise for my students' parents during which we have time to talk about their children's performance and, of course, spend a pleasant evening together.

Saint Valentine's Day - For or Against?

I am an incurably romantic person who believes that love is very important and deserves to be celebrated on a special day. Valentine's Day is an excuse to splurge a fancy dinner, eat chocolate to your heart's content and ....buy lingerie! It is also an occasion to say "I love you." I know that actions speak louder than words, but these three magical words  can do wonders when spoken! Some of you hate the commercial side of  Valentine's Day. But most of you celebrate Christmas or your birthday even though these days also have a materialistic side - organise parties, give and receive presents. We all expect presents at Christmas and on our birthday, so, why not expect presents on Valentine's Day? Not necessarily expensive presents.  Valentine's Day is a also a great reminder that love should be celebrated every single day of the year because true love is timeless.

I'll love you and leave you with my most favourite love song - "Love on the Rocks" by Neil Diamond.

Love on the rocks
Aint no surprise
Just Pour me a drink
And I'll tell you some lies
Got nothing to lose
So you just sing the blues all the time

Gave you my heart
Gave you my soul
You left me alone here
With nothing to hold
Yesterday's gone
Now all I want is a smile

First, they say they want you
They haven't really need you
Suddenly you find you're out there
Walking in the storm
And When they know they have you
Then they really have you
Nothing you can do or say
You've got to leave, just get away
We all know the song

You need what you need
You can say what you want
Not much you can do
When the feeling is gone
Maybe blue skies above
But it's cool when your love's on the rocks

First, they say they want you
They haven't really need you
Suddenly you find you're out there
Walking in the storm
And When they know they have you
Then they really have you
Nothing you can do or say
Youve got to leave, just get away
We all know the song

Love on the rocks
Aint no big surprise
Jsut Pour me a drink
And I'll tell you more lies
Yesterday's gone
And now all I want is a smile

Manners Maketh Man

I can't stand rudeness in any shape or form as this is a sign of disrespect for other people. Having finished work today at 9:00 pm, I went to the parking place where I had parked my car only to see that a very rude person had double parked, thus preventing me from driving home after a long day at work. If there is something I really hate as a driver is to blow the horn - especially at a relatively late hour when children might be sleeping. I waited for about 10 minutes, but nothing happened. I could have called the police but I changed my mind as this would probably delay me even more. Despite feeling guilty, I blew my horn. Five minutes later, the owner of the double-parked car arrived. He didn't even apologise!

I was raised in a family where good manners mattered. At a very early age, I was taught to say please and thank you, sit properly at the table, open doors for my elders and stand aside to let them pass. By the age of four, I had also learned to greet the people who visited us and use in greek the polite form of "you" to address them. It just annoys me to see that there are so many people out there who don't think that good manners are important. For instance, some of my students - especially teenagers - won't even say "Hello, miss" when I greet them. I guess it all starts in the home, when children are little and still learning. 

As William of Wykeham said "Manners Maketh Man", originally meaning that manners are the basis of our society and extended to manners are created by our society. We need to nurture something to be proud of., don't we? You reap what you sow, after all.

Do you think good manners matter? Do you try to instill good manners in your children?

Mondays vs Weekends

My weekend passed in a flash and here is Monday again. Mondays are, almost invariably, busy days at work as I finish classes later than usual - I'm never home before 9:30 pm - and have lots of office work and marking to finish in the morning. But I had a very pleasant and enjoyable weekend which gave me loads of energy and stamina to face the week ahead.

The Medieval Castle in Larnaca

Just after work, I spent most of Saturday afternoon at the gym. Alkis and I had invited some good friends to dinner, so later in the evening. I prepared a king prawn cocktail with calypso sauce for starters, my famous Beef Stroganov served with rice and and a variety of fresh vegetables for main course but I got the dessert from the cake shop - apple-pie and tiramisu. Then I served cognac, liqueurs and coffee or tea in the living room by a glowing fire and lots of candles. Despite all the cooking, I didn't feel tired at all! It was such a pleasure to cook for good old friends and chat away till the early morning hours.

Finicoudes Seafront

On Sunday morning, I woke to a bright, sunny day and incredibly blue skies! Alkis came back from work a bit earlier, so we spent some time strolling along Finicoudes Seafront - a pole of attraction in Larnaca, especially when it's sunny! Finally, we had lunch at our favourite Latouros Restaurant in the surrounding countryside, near the village of Mazotos. It's by far one of the best tavernas in the area.

I'm off to sleep. It's been yet another long Monday!

Happy February!

Despite the cold , 6*C at 8:00 this morning, I set off to the gym in high spirits. Forty-five minutes of Body Attack (my favourite class) were more than enough to warm me up for the rest of the day. Now I understand why I hardly felt the cold in Vienna (-6*C). That's because I walked so much every day! Ah right! Most of you know that I hate cold weather but I did survive in Austria and really loved the snow, yet I am looking forward to our long, hot summer.

This said, let us not forget that every cloud has a silver lining....even in the very heart of winter. It's precisely  because of this silver lining that I love February!  I love Saint Valentine's Day ! I love the party, the spirit, the roses, the teddy bears - what a wonderful way to celebrate Love! Unfortunately, this February I am going to miss Valentine's Party because I finish work late on  Mondays. But I may just as well plan a Valentine's lesson for my IGCSE kids - a short break after all the hard work would be more than welcome, I think.

Soon after Valentine's Day, it's Alkis' birthday and then parents' evening. I feel I owe my students'parents a special treat and an honest report on their children's performance. There's so much to look forward to in February. Most importantly, February is the last winter month. And somehow, in late February or early March, a swallow will herald Spring.