Last Sunday we went to a memorial service for a dear family friend who died one year ago. In Greek, the word for memorial service is "mnimosino" or μνημόσυνο. It is sad to lose a loved one, whether that person is friend or family, but in the Orthodox tradition, we honour and commemorate our dead. Usually, the family will have a memorial service at 40 days, and then on the anniversary each year afterwards. Some families opt for a six month anniversary as well, but these are the two big ones for most families. At these memorials, there are a few things that we usually expect. Typically for a mnimosino, there is a tray of koliva. This is the delicious and beautifully prepared boiled wheat dish that is shared with parishioners. It usually is made with raisins, pomegranate seeds, nuts, and cinnamon. Many people also make koliva for Psychosavato (Saturday of Souls) and for the Saturday of Lazarus.
We also expect to eat fish. But, what happens when the memorial service is during Great Lent, and it is not on March 25 nor on Palm Sunday (the two days of Great Lent when fish is permitted)? Well, the good people preparing the food have to come up with another answer. So for us at the church today, we were served Calamari. There have been times when shrimp or a seafood mix were served, but the calamari was a nice choice.
By asking the good folks who prepared the calamari, we learned that they had bought it already cleaned and ready to cook. That makes it easy. Simply, the calamari was scored across the body to open it up, and then cooked on the flattop grill with some salt, pepper, and lemon. It was light and fresh tasting. So many people know that calamari is easy to overcook; we were so impressed that this was not chewy.
The gigantes (giant Greek lima beans: Day 32 Great Lent Gourmet, 2012) were soft and buttery, and have become a typical offering for a mnimosino luncheon. These, we could tell were the homemade kind - not out of a can. And, then, the rice, salad, and bread are all standard accompaniments for the meal.
When hosting a memorial service, there are so many other details to worry about; cleaning squid should not be one of them. We hope in the future, we will be able to make a calamari dish as simple and tasty as this one.
Zoe se mas ("Ζωή σε μας" - translated as "Life to us").
(English version of Greek Orthodox Memorial Service.
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-JDZB-rHFU)
(Greek language version of the Greek Orthodox Memorial Service.
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcQ_GkYPeEA)
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