Prosphoro, or the Divine Liturgy, is the gift, the offering given by the faithful in order to perform the mystery of the Divine Eucharist. It is bread that is round (formerly, before the Fall of Constantinople, square was used), symbolizing the "beginningless" and "endless" nature of God. The seal on it has certain symbols. First, the cross stands out, each center of which has 3 equal-sized squares where we see in each square a cross with the letters IC-XC-NI-KA (Jesus Christ Conquers). On the horizontal part of the central cross, on one side we see a triangle representing the Virgin Mary with the initials MT (Mother of God), and on the other side the 9 orders of angels in 9 small triangles (3 rows of 3 triangles). The prosphoro is kneaded from pure first-quality wheat flour, and not other cereals (corn, rye, etc.). The leaven that we put in the prosphoro is made with basil from the Holy Cross or with holy water instead of yeast. This is also the proof of how wonderful our faith is. The kneading process of the prosphoro is accompanied by the corresponding sanctity and devotion. Silence prevails in the space, and the only thing heard is the prayer that is made parallel to the kneading.
The utensils to be used (bowl, towel, pan) are only for the prosphoro. We do not use them elsewhere. The waters with which we will wash our utensils are collected and poured onto ground that will never be trodden. The preparation of the space is necessary for the kneading process. The space must be spotlessly clean, we must have lit our vigil lamp, and incense and a candle should be burning on the table.
When the prosphoro is baked, we wrap it in a clean towel (which is only for the prosphoro) and thus offer it to the priest for the mystery of the Divine Eucharist.
The priest will cut it into 5 pieces. The central piece, which symbolizes the Lamb, is placed in the center on the Holy Paten. The next piece is that of the Theotokos (the left one, that is) which is placed to the right of the lamb on the Holy Chalice. Then the triangles of the ranks of Angels, 9 in total, are cut to the right and placed to the left of the Lamb, on the Holy Paten. The next piece is for remembrance for health, and the last piece for repose where the priest commemorates the names given to him by the faithful, taking out a crumb for each name.

OUR INGREDIENTS FOR AN 18-POUND PAN
200 g leaven ½ tsp salt
700 g high-gluten flour
200 g lukewarm water
1 small piece of pure candle wax.

The impressive red velvet cake with its wonderful velvety cream will steal the show wherever it is presented, not only for its striking appearance but also for its delicious taste. We serve it at festive tables, official birthday parties or celebrations, Christmas, Easter, and even Valentine's Day with heart decorations.

Ingredients:
• 500g cake flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3 tbsp cocoa powder
• 350g granulated sugar
• 125ml vegetable oil
• 125g melted butter
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 250ml buttermilk
• 3 tsp red food coloring
• 1 tsp vinegar

For the frosting:
• 250g cream cheese
• 380g powdered sugar
• 85g butter
• 200g whipped cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• a pinch of salt

Christmas is coming, and we prepare the house, decorate it, and of course, the dessert plates will have their special place! And here we reach the point where every Greek household has its little battle every year: Kourabiedes or Melomakarona? For me, ever since I was little, it's always been Kourabiedes! So, let's make the most fluffy and delicious ones, with whole almonds inside, Kourabiedes!!!!!

Ingredients:

950 grams all-purpose flour

500 grams fresh butter

1 egg yolk

2 vanilla pods

250 grams powdered sugar

½ shot glass of cognac

200 grams blanched almonds

Rosewater for spraying at the end

Powdered sugar for dusting

Hidden moments of delight, filled with scents and smiles, arrive along with the festive atmosphere. Christmas cookies, these small works of art made from dough, bring the magic of the season into every home.
With a wonderful batch of dough, these cookies serve as an easy canvas for you to create whatever your imagination allows. Cookie cutters, crafting tools, and the boundless creativity of children are all you need to craft masterpieces. Allow your children to explore their creative world, play with colors and shapes, and craft unique designs.
It's also a wonderful opportunity to share love through taste. Make cookies for grandparents, for friends, for them to dip in their milk. These little pieces of sweet art bring smiles to every face that savors them.
With dough as the canvas and imagination as the brush, create the most stunning cookies to adorn your Christmas tree or to share the flavor of the holidays with your loved ones. And after you've made them with love and imagination, share them with joy and anticipation. Are you ready to embark on the magical journey of flavors? So, let the holiday adventures unfold before you!

Our Ingredients
450g sugar
450g honey
340g butter
150g eggs
1350g all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1.5 tsp baking soda
1.5 tsp salt
1 vanilla extract
2 tsp cloves
6 tsp cinnamon
4 tsp ginger
4 tsp cardamom
1? tsp pepper

Fasting Christmas cookies are a delicious and healthy option for those who follow the Orthodox faith, as they are made with ingredients that do not contain yeast, milk, or eggs. Their preparation is simple and will add a sweet note to your table, especially during Christmas or Easter holidays. Follow our instructions and enjoy these tasty cookies that are easy to prepare and will surely become favorites for your family.

Our Ingredients:

900g flour

100g olive oil

150g vegetable oil

300g orange juice

180g powdered sugar (inside the mixture) and we will need the rest of the bag for sprinkling 150g coarsely chopped almonds

40g cognac

1 tsp baking soda

2 vanilla beans + 1 in powder form (capsules) confectioner's

sugar for dusting

The traditional Kimi kourabiedes with their distinctive finger-like shape, as they have been made by generations of housewives from Kythnos. The recipe is passed down from grandmother to granddaughter.

Ingredients:

½ kilogram powdered sugar

250 grams butter (fresh, from Epirus, Corfu, etc.)

200 grams granulated sugar

250 grams coarse chopped and toasted almonds

3 vanilla pods + 1 in the powdered sugar (capsules)

1 kilogram all-purpose flour

A little rosewater

During these festive days, we associate certain smells and tastes with the holiday season. What could be more beautiful than having a delicious Christmas pie on the table? It can be a great addition to your Christmas feast, both impressing your guests and satisfying their taste buds!

Here are the ingredients you will need:
• 1 package of pastry sheets
• 500g ground beef
• 2 Portobello mushrooms, finely chopped
• 1 dry onion, finely chopped
• 300g chicken liver, minced
• 2 leeks, finely chopped
• 200g grated pumpkin
• 100g grated quince
• 200g boiled and finely chopped chestnuts
• 5 dried figs, finely chopped
• Pomegranate seeds
• 1 fennel bulb
• 60g fig or honey
• 60g red wine
• Salt, pepper, and cinnamon
• Olive oil
• Mixed butter and seed oil for brushing the pastry sheets
• Black sesame and sesame seeds for the pastry

Ferrero Rocher-style Chocolate Balls:

Delicious Ferrero Rocher-style chocolate balls that will impress and delight you. They are very easy to make with just 3 ingredients!!! Yes, yes!!! Find me a reason now why you shouldn't have these amazing chocolates at home to enjoy!

Here are the ingredients you'll need:

200g hazelnut wafer cookies

260g hazelnuts

250g Nutella-style praline spread

Christmas hot wine We always make this wine and keep it near the fireplace to keep it warm. So during these festive days, we have our characteristic drink that... let's be honest... our memories are full of images, flavors, and aromas of these days. So it's easy, fragrant, and you can adjust it to your taste!

Ingredients:

800g red wine

Juice of 1 juicy organic unwaxed orange

Orange peel

2 sticks of Ceylon cinnamon

3 pieces of star anise

2 pieces of broken nutmeg

5-6 pieces of cloves

3 tablespoons of thyme honey

It originates from the Turkish word "corek," meaning sweet yeast bread. In our country, it is an integral part of major Christmas and Easter celebrations.
Its significance is symbolic, linking Easter to the resurrection of Christ, where flour comes to life and becomes bread. The braiding symbolizes the expulsion of evil spirits.
For these unique tsourekia, fluffy, aromatic, and incredibly tasty, anyone who makes them will undoubtedly steal the show! I assure you that if you follow the steps, the result will be immensely satisfying.

Ingredients:
• 400g lukewarm to warm water
• 60g fresh yeast
• 140g melted butter (70g fresh, 70g vegetable) - Be careful not to burn it.
• 360g sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1,100g strong flour (hard type for bread, tsourekia, etc.) plus approximately 100g for kneading
• 4g mahleb
• 3g ground cardamom
• A pinch of salt
• ½ vanilla
• Sliced almonds
• +2 egg whites for brushing

Who doesn't have memories of the unique custom of Vasilopita (Greek New Year's cake)? Who doesn't reminisce about their childhood upon hearing the word Vasilopita, recalling gatherings with beloved people, laughter, joy, and festivities? And the time changes, counting down... 10, 9, 8... 2, 1, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Hugs, kisses, songs, and our beloved Vasilopita takes its place on the festive table. We cross it three times and start cutting... for Christ, for the house, for the poor (some cut it for the Virgin Mary, St. Basil, etc.), and then the sharing of the pieces begins, accompanied by joy and anticipation: Who will get the lucky coin this year? We all sit silently in our places, examining our piece, until suddenly we hear... "I FOUND IT!!!" and wishes start flowing from our family and loved ones. The small piece of the precious Vasilopita is usually wrapped in aluminum foil and kept for the morning, to be enjoyed with coffee as a way to start the new year with flavors and aromas that will bring us good luck.

Today, we will make an easy Vasilopita with walnuts, almonds, and Aegina pistachios. However, since some housewives have a baking dish with a diameter of 27cm, while others have a round baking dish with a diameter of 34cm, I will provide two measurements so you can make the Vasilopita that suits your needs.

For a 34cm baking dish:

• 1 self-rising flour (self-raising flour)
• 250g fresh butter
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 cup sugar
• 5 eggs
• 100g broken walnuts
• 20g broken Aegina pistachios
• 20g broken almonds
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• Orange zest
• 1 packet baking powder

For a 27cm baking dish:

• 380g self-rising flour
• 190g fresh butter
• 150g orange juice
• 150g sugar
• 4 eggs
• 75g broken walnuts
• 20g broken Aegina pistachios
• 20g broken almonds
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• Orange zest
• 2 tsp baking powder

Fantastic melomakarona filled with aromas, to which we will add a little figto the syrup and this hint of fig molasses   will bring out all the spices. The house will smell amazing!!!!!

Our ingredients:

1,200g flour

250g olive oil

250g vegetable oil

270g orange juice

120g sugar

80g cognac

1 tsp cinnamon powder

1 tsp clove powder

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

Zest of one orange

250g chopped walnuts for sprinkling

100g Aegina pistachios for sprinkling

For the syrup:

500g sugar

600g water

380g thyme honey

70g CUMA fig molasses

1 lemon peel

1 cinnamon stick

6-7 cloves

A very easy and quick to make, fasting cream with very few ingredients. Served in the cups of the oranges themselves, it's perfect to offer to your guests and the kids will love it too!!!

Ingredients:

1 liter freshly squeezed orange juice

4 tbsp Grelia honey (adjust the sweetness according to the sweetness of your oranges)

4 tbsp corn flour Orange zest

1 tsp cinnamon-clove

liqueur Chopped nuts, or any other desired topping (e.g. dried fruit)

Chocolate Melomakarona Are you a fan of melomakarona? Do you also love chocolate? Well, here I have the most delightful recipe for delicious chocolate melomakarona.

Ingredients:

1 kg all-purpose flour

250g vegetable oil

250g olive oil

50g cognac

180g orange juice

200g sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 whole cloves

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking powder

A pinch of nutmeg

Zest of 2 oranges

250g walnuts

For the syrup:

500g sugar

500g water

500g thyme honey

Zest of 1 lemon

1 cinnamon stick

3-4 cloves

For the topping:

250g dark chocolate

250g white chocolate

250g milk chocolate

Whole and crushed walnuts

The most famous dessert which is the symbol of New Year's Day and the first sweet we eat after the New Year. According to Christian tradition, the governor of Cappadocia asked the residents to collect taxes. The residents were afraid because they were poor, so they asked for protection from the then bishop Basil. He reassured them and told them to gather whatever valuable items they had and to give them instead of the taxes to the Governor, which they did. Bishop Basil spoke to the Governor and convinced him not to accept anything from the poor residents, and thus he did not take anything. However, it was impossible to return to each person the items they had offered, so pies were made where each person's contribution was hidden inside. Miraculously, the pies contained what each person had offered to the Governor! Since then, we celebrate the Vasilopita (St. Basil's pie) with a coin inside, which gave it its name, and it can be found in many variations depending on the local customs of each region. The most popular variations are as a cake or traditional sweet bread (tsoureki). A coin or a small branch of an olive tree or a fruit tree, depending on the region, is placed inside the dough, and whoever finds it is believed to have good luck for the year.

The recipe is provided for a 27cm pan and a 34cm pan.

Ingredients:

For a 27cm pan:

• 200g lukewarm water
• 25g fresh yeast or 2 sachets of dry yeast
• 68g fresh butter
• 180g sugar
• 75g eggs
• 3g mastic
• 3g cinnamon
• 2g Chios mastic gum
• 600g strong flour
• 1/4 tsp salt

For a 34cm pan:

• 400g water
• 50g fresh yeast
• 135g fresh butter
• 360g sugar
• 150g eggs
• 1100g strong flour (maybe a bit more)
• 5g mastic
• 5g cinnamon
• 4g Chios mastic gum
• 1/2 tsp salt

For decoration:

• 1 egg white for brushing
• Dark chocolate for decoration
• Sliced almonds

During these festive days, we associate certain smells and tastes with the holiday season. What could be more beautiful than having a delicious Christmas pie on the table? It can be a great addition to your Christmas feast, both impressing your guests and satisfying their taste buds!

Here are the ingredients you will need:

• 1 package of pastry sheets
• 500g ground beef
• 2 Portobello mushrooms, finely chopped
• 1 dry onion, finely chopped
• 300g chicken liver, minced
• 2 leeks, finely chopped
• 200g grated pumpkin
• 100g grated quince
• 200g boiled and finely chopped chestnuts
• 5 dried figs, finely chopped
• Pomegranate seeds
• 1 fennel bulb
• 60g fig or honey
• 60g red wine
• Salt, pepper, and cinnamon
• Olive oil
• Mixed butter and seed oil for brushing the pastry sheets
• Black sesame and sesame seeds for the pastry

Do you like tsoureki? Are you fasting or aiming for a lighter diet without eggs, milk, butter, etc.? Do you want a tsoureki that's full of flavor, aromas, and, above all, rich in fiber? Well, here's the recipe you've been searching for! You'll enjoy a delicious, fluffy tsoureki without any guilt. Let's go through the recipe step by step.

Ingredients:
1. For activating the yeast:
? 250g lukewarm water
? 20g dry yeast
? 80g tsoureki flour (in a yellow package)
? 1 tbsp sugar
2. Ingredients for our tsoureki:
? 1500g tsoureki flour (in a yellow package)
? 400g sugar
? 500g orange juice
? 250g vegetable oil
? 4g mahleb
? 4g ground cardamom
? A pinch of salt
? Powdered sugar for glazing: 2 tbsp powdered sugar, 4 tbsp water

Don't be afraid at all!!! It's very easy and very quick!! You can make it and decorate cakes with all your imagination and passion!!! The ingredients we will need are:
1 kilogram of powdered sugar
2 packets of 10g gelatin
1 tsp glycerin (edible, from the pharmacy)
½ cup of glucose
 ? cup of water
2 vanilla extracts

Can Christmas be complete without melomakarona? So, let's fill the house with the aroma of the most delicious melomakarona, filled with fragrances and a hidden whole walnut in the center!!!

Ingredients:
1 kilogram all-purpose flour
250 grams vegetable oil (for a fluffy texture)
250 grams olive oil (for its aroma)
50 grams cognac
180 grams orange juice
200 grams sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
2 teaspoons baking powder
A pinch of nutmeg
Zest from 2 oranges
250 grams walnuts (50 grams crushed for the end)
100 grams Aegina pistachios, crushed

For the syrup:
500 grams sugar
500 grams water
500 grams thyme honey
Zest from 1 lemon
1 cinnamon stick
3-4 cloves

Get ready for a sweet and enchanting taste experience with this recipe! This recipe will take you on a journey to a world filled with aromas and flavors from the very first bite. The result is a sweet masterpiece that will create a unique atmosphere and immerse you in the joy of the holiday season. It's the perfect festive treat that is simply... delightful!

Our Ingredients:

• A batch of chocolate sponge cake

For the Filling:

Pat-a-Pompe Mousse

• 100g egg yolks
• 100g sugar
• 40ml water
• 500g whipped cream
• 350g melted dark chocolate

In a mixing bowl, whisk the egg yolks until they start to whiten. In a saucepan, combine the sugar and water, and heat until it reaches a light syrup consistency. Slowly pour the syrup into the mixing bowl with the yolks, whisking continuously. Incorporate the whipped cream gently, being careful not to deflate it, and add the melted chocolate, stirring gently.

For the Finishing Touch:

• Chocolate Anglaise Cream
• 200g milk
• 200g cream
• ½ tsp vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 chocolate bar
• 125g sugar
• ? tsp salt

In this magical season of celebrations, when the atmosphere is filled with love and joy, we have the perfect opportunity to welcome into our homes one of our most beloved cakes - the Christmas Cake. At first glance, this cake exudes an aura of magic and nostalgia, bringing to mind warm moments by the fireplace and delightful times with our loved ones.
And how could you not fall in love with it? With the first bite, the airy texture of the cake captivates your senses, while the aromatic embrace of cinnamon, cloves, and ginger elevates the flavor to a supernatural level. This unparalleled taste experience is complemented by the balance of ingredients - from the crystalline sugar to the rich butter and yogurt that provide the essential elasticity and moisture.
So, from the very first glance at its glittering appearance to the initial substantial taste, this Christmas cake undoubtedly becomes an integral part of our festive life. With a promise of simplicity and pure enjoyment, this recipe becomes the ally of the magical moments we share with our dear ones, creating memories that will accompany us for years to come. It's tasty, easy, and quick... what else could you ask for?

Our Ingredients:
• 290g granulated sugar
• 250g butter
• 440g flour
• 250g dark brown sugar
• 6 eggs
• 200g full-fat yogurt
• 1 shot of cognac
• 1 (150g) can of candied fruits (100g for the cake, 50g for garnishing)
• Cherries for garnishing
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ? tsp ground cloves
• ? tsp ginger
• ? tsp nutmeg

For the glaze:
• 300g powdered sugar + 50g warm water