Clean Monday

Today is known as Clean Monday in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. The clean originally referred to the purification of the soul for Lent. Today it's customary to clean the house thoroughly, and, in Greece, people go on picnics, eat shellfish, and fly kites!

Agenda Today:
1. Clean House
2. Make Skordalia (Greek garlic-potato dip)
3. Prayer of Cleansing

1. Clean House:
Cleaning house is a custom for Clean Monday. In the Ukraine, Russia, and Greece everyone especially cleans the kitchen and the pots with which they have cooked festival foods, because today is the start of the Lenten fast.

I'm recovering from the flu, so, needless to say, the house is not too clean. Today I will sweep the floors, thoroughly disinfect all the surfaces and door knobs, and clean out the refrigerator.

2. Make Skordalia (Greek garlic-potato dip)

I usually make Laguna, a simple Greek flat bread, on Clean Monday. 

Today, though, I felt like trying a new (for me) Greek recipe often eaten during Lent. It's very spicy!

Ingredients:

• 2 medium russet potatoes (about 1 pound)
• Kosher salt
• 1/2 c. whole blanched almonds
• 4 to 6 medium cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar and/or fresh lemon juice
• 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Minced flat-leaf parsley, for garnish
• Warmed pita and/or bread, for serving

Serves 4-

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Peel and cut the potatoes into 3/4-inch cubes. Set cubed potatoes in a colander and rinse under cold water until water runs clear.

3. Transfer to a large saucepan and cover with cold water by at least 2 inches. Season water with salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until a knife easily pierces potatoes- 10 to 15 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine almonds, garlic, 2 Tbsp. cold water, and wine vinegar. Process until garlic and almonds are reduced to a paste. Season with salt.

5. Drain the potatoes in colander, then rinse with hot running water for 30 seconds. Spread in an even layer on a baking sheet and transfer to oven until excess moisture has evaporated and surface of potatoes is dry, about 6 minutes.
Thoroughly mash potatoes with a potato masher in a large mixing bowl.

6. Stir in olive oil and almond-garlic mixture until thoroughly incorporated. If it looks like the oil is not fully incorporating, stir in more cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well, until mixture is emulsified. Season with salt, then garnish with parsley and serve immediately with warm pita.

3. Prayer of Cleansing:

I Cleanse My Soul- Author Unknown 

I cleanse my soul in the dews of spring,

Light of mind's refreshing dew

Love of heart's renewing dew,

Life being's restoring dew,

Cleanse and recreate my soul this night.

May the souls of all beings be

Peacefully preserved

From fall of night

Till day's dear light.