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Η συνταγή και στα ελληνικά στο τέλος της ανάρτησης!

Once upon a time on a sidewalk of a big city there was standing a tree. It was an ugly tree, with withering leaves, completely neglected by people. No birds were singing on its branches and the rays of sun only barely were giving it some warmth. People were passing by, indifferent, without even looking at it as if it was not standing there.

Lately the tree has seen some strange people going around it with some funny stuff in their hands discussing what should be done to extend the sidewalk around it. Dreadfully, started to consider whatever would happen to it in such a case. The tree suddenly became very sad that Christmas afternoon, watching happy children decorating their trees and houses. Oh, how much would it love to be part of these festivities! To be one of those Christmas trees people decorated in their houses with all these beautiful ornaments and lights! The tree was very sad.

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In that same city there was living a boy too. A boy with no one to look after him. In the mornings, he was doing errands for people here and there to gain some money to live. At nights he was staying in an old, desolated house sleeping in a small room, the only one with a roof, which used to be a laundry room during the days when this house was full of life. He was sleeping on the floor covered with some ragged blankets. That boy, now that Christmas was coming, felt really sad. He wished he could be one of those children who were dressed nicely, decorated their homes and stayed with their loving families.

Fate, that strong Greek goddess who influenced the lives of people, brought the lonely boy and the neglected tree to meet each other. The boy had a very difficult day and as he was loitering, he saw the tree. He looked at it and the tree started saying to him how beautiful all these trees looked. Then it pleaded him to decorate it. The boy as if talking to a tree was the most natural thing in the world, said that he had nothing to decorate it with. The tree insisted and the boy found some candy wrappers. He cut the buttons of his coat and covered them with the wrappers. He then hung them on the tree. Some bubbles from dirty waters heard the tree and came to sit on its branches. The tree was so happy! Suddenly some fireflies came and sat proudly on the tree making it glow like it was magical.

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Cold has become bitter and the boy sat underneath the tree tightening up his trimmed coat. All of a sudden, the boy saw a carriage full of presents and a rubicund coachman who was driving. The carriage stopped in front of the boy and a beautiful princess came out. She asked who decorated that beautifully the tree and the boy replied that he was the one who did this. The princess then asked him to come with her and decorate the beautiful trees of her kingdom in a country far away from where they were. The boy said that he would go only if the tree was coming with him and the princess ordered the coachman to remove carefully the tree and put it in the carriage. In moments, both the boy and the tree were “sitting” comfortably in the carriage, flying away to beautiful warmer places.

Stories of the elderly say that on this sidewalk it used to be a tree and one day during Christmas time they found a boy frozen underneath its branches with a tranquil smile on his face. Story says that every Christmas Eve, fireflies come and fly over the sidewalk searching for something.

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This is a summary of a Christmas fairytale written by Eugene Trivizàs. Trivizàs was born in Athens, Greece in 1946. He studied Law, Criminology and Economics. He is a teacher of criminology in England and he has published many books with children stories.

As I was translating this story, I couldn’t help thinking about all the children who suffer in this world. Let’s all make a wish that soon all of them will be able to enjoy peace, happiness and safety. Perhaps if we all unite our prays, they will make a difference.

This chicken with prunes and orange juice is ideal for any festive table. Apart from being super delicious, it is very easy as well.

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Menu 4

 

Appetizer

 

Feta Cheese Quiche 7b.JPG

Feta Cheese Quiche

 

 

Salad

 

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Green Salad with Sun-Dried Tomato Vinaigrette

 

Main Course

 

Herbed Salmon 3.JPG

Herbed Salmon over Couscous

 

Dessert

 

Kourabiedes 1a.jpg

Christmas Buttery Cookies

Chicken with Prunes.JPG

4.8 from 4 reviews
Chicken with Prunes and Orange Juice
 
Author/ Συγγραφέας:
Recipe type/ Τύπος Πιάτου: Main Course
Cuisine/ Κουζίνα: International
Ingredients/ Συστατικά
  • 1 kilo/ 2 lb. chicken breasts, skinless, boneless cut in small cubes
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 350 gr. / 12 oz. prunes without the pit
  • Juice of 1 orange
  • 1½ cup dry white wine
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • ½ cup hot water
  • Salt and pepper
Instructions/ Εκτέλεση
  1. In a pot heat the olive oil and sauté the chicken pieces until they become pale.
  2. Pour the orange juice and ½ cup hot water.
  3. Boil for 15 minutes in low heat.
  4. In the meantime, soak the prunes in the wine.
  5. Throw the prunes and wine in the pot, season with salt and pepper and simmer for another 15 to 20 minutes.
  6. If the sauce is runny, you thicken it with 1 tbsp corn flour dissolved in 1 tbsp water.
  7. Serve with rice as I did or with pasta or mashed potatoes.

4.8 from 4 reviews
Κοτόπουλο με Δαμάσκηνα και Χυμό Πορτοκαλιού
 
Author/ Συγγραφέας:
Recipe type/ Τύπος Πιάτου: Κυρίως Πιάτο
Cuisine/ Κουζίνα: Διεθνές
Ingredients/ Συστατικά
  • 1 κιλό στήθη κοτόπουλου, χωρίς πέτσα, χωρίς κόκαλα κομμένα σε μικρούς κύβους
  • 2 σκόρδα λιωμένα
  • 350 γρ. δαμάσκηνα χωρίς το κουκούτσι
  • Χυμό από 1 πορτοκάλι
  • 1½ φλιτζάνι ξηρό λευκό κρασί
  • ¼ φλιτζάνι ελαιόλαδο
  • ½ φλιτζάνι ζεστό νερό
  • Αλάτι και πιπέρι
Instructions/ Εκτέλεση
  1. Σε μια κατσαρόλα ζεσταίνετε το ελαιόλαδο και σωτάρετε το κοτόπουλο μέχρι να πάρουν ένα ανοιχτό χρώμα.
  2. Ρίξτε το χυμό από το πορτοκάλι ½ φλιτζάνι ζεστό νερό.
  3. Βράστε για 15 λεπτά σε χαμηλή φωτιά.
  4. Εν τω μεταξύ, μουλιάστε τα δαμάσκηνα στο κρασί.
  5. Ρίξτε τα δαμάσκηνα και το κρασί στην κατσαρόλα, αλάτι και πιπέρι και σιγοβράστε για άλλα 15 έως 20 λεπτά.
  6. Αν η σάλτσα είναι αραιή, δέστε τη με 1 κουταλιά της σούπας κορν φλάουρ διαλυμένη σε 1 κουταλιά της σούπας νερό.
  7. Σερβίρετε με ρύζι, όπως ή με ζυμαρικά ή πατάτες πουρέ.