The Amazing Port of Call to Drepano, Greece

Each month, the participating affiliated Life Enrichment teams will host games, food, and fun based on a different country or city. For December 2024, the Port of Call theme will be based on the culture of Drepano, Greece!

About Drepano, Greece

Drepano, Greece is a village municipality located on the river Volinaios. In 2021, it was recorded that roughly 451 people were living in Drepano.

Fun Things to Do in Greece

There are so many fun things to do and sights to see in Greece! Let’s explore some of the exciting attractions Greece has to offer.

Museums

There are over 300 national and private museums in Greece! There are many topics to discover in these museums, including archaeological museums, Byzantine museums, and folklore museums. Some popular museums that you and your family can visit in Greece include the Folklore Museum of Nafplio, the Archaeological Museum of Delphi, the Museum of Ancient Olympia, the Museum of Mycenae, and the Thessaloniki Byzantine Museum.

Hiking Trail Fira – Oia

The hiking trail between the Greek villages Fira and Oia is one of the best ways to experience the breathtaking views of Greece. This hike will take you approximately two to five hours depending on your speed.

Ammoudi Bay

Ammoudi Bay is a fun place to visit, offering boat tours where you can explore the beauty of the ocean. You can sightsee majestic volcanos and take a relaxing visit to the hot springs. There are also plenty of restaurants, beaches, and cruises you can have fun with while visiting.

Explore Greek Architecture

Greece is known for its beautiful architecture, from its temples to majestic columns. You can visit classic Greek architecture all over the country, and sightsee the beautiful buildings that were built in different eras.

The History of Greek Food

The culinary traditions of Greece go back almost 4,000 years. In 320 B.C., the first Greek cookbook was written, focusing on a Mediterranean approach using wheat, olive oil, and wine. Fish was also commonly used in the dishes during the time period.

As time marched on, foods from other countries were incorporated into the Greek diet. The Romans invaded Greece in 197 BC, and brought foods such as pasta and sauces. Arab traders brought with them cumin, cinnamon, cloves and allspice. When the Ottoman Turks invaded, they introduced coffee alongside a variety of sweets such as baklava. Today, Greek food celebrates traditions from both the past and present.

Olive Oil

Olive oil was always revered as an important part of Grecian cuisine. Greeks saw the olive tree as a gift from the goddess Athena, and they viewed this gift as a sign of peace, wisdom, and prosperity. Greeks use it in every aspect of their cooking, from using it to flavor vegetables to meats. While it is difficult to pinpoint the exact time Greeks began to use olive oil, it is known that the Minoans on the island of Crete and the Mycenaeans on the Greek mainland harvested olive oil since 3500 BCE.

Grains and Cereal

The Greeks are big fans of grains, cereals, and bread. Cakes were mainly used for secular occasions and festivals, and were often served with honey or dried fruit. Barley bread is mostly eaten by the Greeks for breakfast, and oftentimes with wine as well.

Wine

Wine started in ancient Greece for sacramental purposes, and only the elite had access to it. However, Greece is a country with many places to harvest the ingredients for wine, and eventually, wine became available to everyone. In the 1970s, a movement to modernize wine began, and the Greeks began to improve its quality. Today, Greeks enjoy wine as part of their meals and customs.

Port of Call Menu

Each month, the affiliated dietary departments work hard to bring together a different menu for the Port of Call. Here is what is on the menu for the Port of Call. Please note that this menu is not final, and that the affiliated dietary departments may change the menu without notice.

Avgolemono Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

5 lbs of diced cooked chicken dark and white meat
4 cups of diced carrots
4 cups of diced yellow onions
4 cups of diced celery
1 cup of fresh chopped parsley
1 TBSP of dill fresh or dry
1 cup of olive oil
20 cups of chicken broth
3 EA of bay leaves
2 TBSP of minced garlic
2 cups of chopped green onion
3 cups of rice
1 TBSP of salt
1 TBSP of ground pepper black
1 cup of lemon juice
2 cups of liquid egg

Method:

Sautee the carrots, celery, onion, garlic, green onion, and rice in a large pot for a few minutes.
Add the broth as well as 5 cups of water to the pot. Bring it to a boil and then add the diced chicken, herbs, and seasonings. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add lemon juice.
Bring to a quick boil, then start dropping liquid eggs while stirring. This will thicken the soup.

Greek Pastitsio Casserole with Roasted Vegetables

2 cups of extra virgin olive oil
10 cups of pasta ziti
5 lbs of ground beef 80/20
3 cups of grated parmesan
2 TBSP of minced garlic
1 cup of red wine
1 EA of tomato crushed # 10 can
3 TBSP of honey
2 TBSP of oregano
2 TBSP of cinnamon ground
1 TEASP of ground nutmeg
1 TEASP of ground all spice
6 cups of all-purpose flour
16 cups of milk
1 cup of liquid egg
1 TBSP of salt
1 TBSP of ground black pepper

Method:

Prepare a medium-sized baking dish by drizzling 2 tablespoons of EVOO on the bottom and set it aside. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Fill a large pot ¾ of the way with water and a pinch of salt. Bring it to a boil. Once boiling, cook the ziti to “al dente” according to the instructions on the package.
When ziti is cooked to “al dente,” strain and transfer it to a baking dish. Put the strainer aside to use for later. Drizzle the ziti with 1 tablespoon of EVOO and sprinkle it with grated parmesan cheese. Combine all the ingredients. Layer the ziti in the bottom of the dish so that there are no spaces, and then set aside.
Heat 2 tablespoons of EVOO in a large skillet over medium heat until the EVOO is shimmering, but not smoking. Cook the ground beef for about 10 minutes until it is fully browned. Add onions and sauté for 3 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add ground beef in crumbles and season it with a little salt and pepper. Stirring regularly, and cook the beef for about 10 minutes until it is fully browned.
When your beef is ready, strain the excess fat from the meat and return it to the stove.
Keep the heat at medium and add red wine, pasta, chopped fresh oregano, allspice, ½ teaspoon nutmeg, cinnamon & honey to skillet with lamb mixture. Stir everything to combine it and bring everything to a boil. Once your mixture is boiling, turn the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
While the meat sauce is simmering, heat 6 tablespoons of EVOO over medium heat in a large saucepan until simmering, but make sure it is not smoking. Stir in some flour and a little salt and pepper. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat milk until it is lukewarm.
Remove milk from heat once it is warm. This step makes the béchamel sauce. Cook the flour mixture in a large saucepan until it is golden and covered in olive oil. Slowly add milk into a saucepan with flour, whisking continuously. Cook the mixture over medium heat for 7 minutes while continuing to whisk periodically as the mixture combines and thickens. Once the mixture is thick, add another ½ teaspoon of nutmeg and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Taste the meat sauce and adjust the salt and pepper levels to your preference. Keep everything on the stove at a very low setting until it is ready to use.
Whisk 4 spoonfuls of béchamel sauce with eggs in a small bowl. Pour the mixture into a saucepan with the rest of the béchamel sauce as you whisk. While whisking continuously, bring everything to a boil. Let the mixture boil for 2 minutes. Ensure there are no remaining chunks in the sauce, remove it from the heat, and allow to cool/thicken. Once finished, the béchamel sauce should be thick and creamy, but also smooth (no chunks).
Add meat sauce on top of the ziti in a baking dish and even it out with a wooden spoon. Ensure the sauce completely covers the ziti in the dish. Top the meat sauce with béchamel with a spatula. Smooth out the béchamel on top with a spatula and ensure it’s evenly distributed.
Place your dish in a preheated oven. Bake for 1 hour until the top is golden brown.
When pastitsio is finished, remove it from the oven and let sit for 10 minutes. Once ready, cut it into squares.

Greek Roasted Vegetables

3 lbs of sliced fresh zucchini
3 lbs of sliced yellow squash
5 lbs of sliced Asian eggplant
1 tbsp of oregano
5 lb of diced large red bell peppers
5 lb of diced large green bell peppers
2 tbsp of chopped garlic
1 tbsp of salt
1 tbsp of ground black pepper
3 lb of diced large red onions
1 cup of olive oil
2 tbsp of brown sugar
4 tbsp of balsamic vinegar

Method

Combine everything in a mixing bowl and coat well. Insert in a 375 f oven and roast for 35 to 40 minutes.

Portokalopita Greek Orange Cake

5 cups of plain Greek yogurt
20 EA of Eggs
7 cups of orange juice
3 cups of vegetable oil
6 cups of granulated sugar
3 tbsp of vanilla extract
1 cup of baking powder
10 EA of phyllo dough boxes of 15 oz
3 Ea of thing fresh sliced oranges

For the syrup:

Water
Sugar granulated
Orange zest
Cinnamon stick

Method

Remove the phyllo sheets from the packaging, tearing each sheet roughly into shreds, and place in the baking pan. Make sure to use the phyllo dough that is fully thawed (if you bought frozen phyllo dough). You should have 15 ounces of phyllo sheets.
Leave the pan to sit out for at least 1 hour to allow the phyllo sheets to dry out. You can also do this by placing the baking pan in the oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, just make sure to toss them once or twice.
In the meantime, prepare the syrup. Add the water, granulated sugar, peeled orange, orange zest, and cinnamon to a medium-sized saucepan. Bring it to a boil and boil vigorously for 8 minutes until the sugar has dissolved. Remove the mixture from the heat and allow the syrup to cool while you prepare the cake. If you used a cinnamon stick, remove it. For this, you should use 1 1/2 cups water, 2 cups granulated sugar, 1 orange peel, 1 tablespoon of orange zest, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
Once the phyllo sheets have dried out enough, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a big bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, sugar, and eggs. Add the yogurt, orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla extract. Whisk to combine them. Add the baking powder and whisk lightly. You should use 7 ounces of Greek yogurt, 5 eggs, 1 cup of orange juice, 1 cup of light cooking oil, 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon of orange zest, 4 teaspoons of baking powder.
Pour the orange and egg mixture over the shredded phyllo in the baking pan. Optionally, decorate with orange slices. You should use 2 oranges for this.
Place the baking pan in the preheated oven and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 to 45 minutes until fully cooked. Remove the pan from the oven and immediately pour the syrup over the hot cake.
Allow the cake to cool for at least 1 hour or until all the syrup is absorbed. Slice the cake into squares and serve. You can serve it with a dollop of Greek yogurt.

NOTES:

Use a baking pan with dimensions approximately 8 x 12 inches or 9 x 13 inches.
Make sure to use Greek yogurt that isn’t flavored.
We would recommend orange peel and zest from organic oranges.
We would recommend using orange juice from oranges that you squeezed yourself for the flavor, but you can use store-bought orange juice if you prefer. Just make sure to use pure orange juice not from concentrate.
If possible use thin phyllo dough (as opposed to country-style phyllo). However, if you can only find one type of phyllo at the grocery store, just use that.
Make sure that the phyllo dough is thawed before using it if you bought frozen phyllo dough.
If you can’t tear the phyllo sheets into pieces right away, leave them out to dry first and rip them into pieces later.
This cake can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Life Enrichment

Each month, the participating Life Enrichment departments will create fun and games based on the theme of the Port of Call. Here are some ideas our teams have for December! Please know that this list is not final, and that activities are subject to change.

Dunmore

At Dunmore, the residents will decorate small Christmas boats, which is a holiday tradition in Greece.

Farmville

At Farmville, we plan on painting the Santorini Greece Landscape.

Spruce Manor

Spruce manor is going to be taking our virtual tour of the Greece while we enjoy the delicious Greek dish Spanakopita and learning all about the Drepano culture. The Activities room will be decorated in Blue and white for the colors of Greece.

Urbana Health and Rehab

Urbana Health and Rehab plans on making a fun VR day with the residents!

Saber Healthcare

Saber Healthcare is an organization that provides consulting services to more than 130 buildings across the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana, and Delaware.

Saber Healthcare is an organization dedicated to providing consultant services to long-term care providers. This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to be seen as professional advice. Please consult with a medical expert before relying on the information provided.

Sources

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