We cannot hold a torch to light another’s path without brightening our own. Ben Sweetland

The ladies of the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church were simply delighted that so many attended our bazaar.

Guests were characteristically wonderful, enthusiastic and so buoyant that we thoroughly enjoyed serving them. Thank you for making our event a success.

Over the years at the bazaars I have had many, many requests for certain recipes. This year a special one called for was “Galatorboureko” (Yes, it is all Greek!)

Since it is a favorite, this is a good season to send the recipe along.

Filling:

1 quart milk

½ cup sugar

½ cup butter

½ cup farina or semolina

6 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

Syrup:

2 cups water

½ cup honey

1 cup sugar

1 cinnamon stick

3 whole cloves

thin slice lemon

Also: 1 pound filo ½ pound melted butter

To make syrup, combine all syrup ingredients in saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer15 minutes. Remove from heat and cool.

For filling: Combine milk and sugar in saucepan. Heat over low heat until scalding. Do not boil. Add butter and stir until melted. Add farina slowly, stirring with a wire whisk to prevent lumps.

Cook until mixture thickens. Beat eggs until frothy, add to milk mixture. Layer 8 filo sheets in 13×9 inch baking pan, buttering each sheet. Pour filling over filo. Layer 8 more sheets on top of filling, buttering each sheet. Lift the sheets of phyllo (filo) carefully and place them lightly on top of the custard. Brush the surface with butter and sprinkle with some drops of water to prevent the phyllo from curling up while baking.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes until the top is golden brown. Ladle the cold syrup slowly over the pastry as soon as you remove from oven. Allow it to absorb the syrup cool slightly. Cut the Galatoboureko in pieces and serve warm or cold, preferably on the day it is made. Keep any leftovers in the refrigerator, uncovered to preserve crispness.

It is the season of Christmas and it remains constant in the way the blend of love, energy and creativity has the power to turn Christmas longings into memories of precious times.

Hope tosses a blanket of calm over the chaos of life. Faith is healing, restoring and renewing broken humanity.

We are all sacred beings on our glorious planet.

May your Christmas overflow with radiant hope and joy.