New Year’s is best with the family
Vefa Alexiadou, who prepares her famous recipes on television every morning, recently made the best but most difficult suggestion: «Gather all the family together around the festive table.» And she mentioned a friend of hers in America who brings her whole family together, 50 people including children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. That is real joy these days, when children prefer to go skiing or travel to the Caribbean with their friends and leave their parents at home to cut the Vassilopita, or New Year’s cake, into slices for the whole family. Congratulations, Mrs Alexiadou for your timely wish. Her own recipe for Vassilopita contains flour, butter, separated eggs, a pinch of salt, baking powder, orange juice, orange zest, crushed walnuts and grains of cooking chocolate. We saw her make it in front of us, watched it rise and fill a plate half the size of a table. Alexiadou didn’t mention whether she added a coin for good luck. According to tradition, the coin should be gold or silver and from the hand of a loved one. Happy New Year from Helbi, who also has recipes, for conventional and for political cuisine. Yesterday, senior ministry officials said the matter should be settled to the taxpayers’ satisfaction before February. Sources said the government’s final decision on the matter would depend on a series of anticipated appeals by municipal authorities.
