There are a lot of cool/weird/complex/funny Greek traditions out there, some of which are rooted in the ancient days and have since been amalgamated in Orthodox rituals. One nice and simple tradition says that when you need help recovering a lost item or help finding your way out of a problem, you pray to Saint Fanourios (whose name is similar to the ancient Greek verb “faino,” which means “to reveal,” as in “revealing a path”). If you find your lost item or successfully find your way out of a problem or troubled times, you bake an offering food to the Saint as a thank-you.
Food offerings go way, way back and no doubt this has roots in ancient traditions. And who doesn’t like an excuse to bake a delicious cake that has alcohol in it? :) This fanouropita (a cake for St. Fanourios) has half a cup of Metaxa (Greek brandy) and a splash of French orange cognac in it. Best of all, fanouropita is Lenten fast-friendly, meaning it’s totally vegan!
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Maria,
I ran across your picture of Fanouropita on google. I am trying to find an authentic recipe to make for a greek party to celebrate my friends mom birthday. I was wondering if you might share this recipe with me. If you don’t mind sharing your recipes please email to the address above. It looks wonderful! Thanks
Yesterday, August 27th, was the name day of Saint Fanourios, the patron saint of things lost. His name is invoked when prayers are asked for the recovery of things lost items. The recipe below is for Fanouropita, a cake traditionally eaten on his name day.
Ingredients
750g self-raising flour
600 ml orange juice
150 ml must (juice from fresh grapes)
300 ml olive oil
500g sugar
200g grated walnuts
50g sesame seeds
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon grated cloves
Pinch of salt
Icing sugar to sprinkle on top
Preparation
Put the orange juice, olive oil and sugar in a bowl and stir well.
Dissolve the baking soda in the must and add to the mixture.
Separately, mix together the flour, walnuts, sesame seeds, cinnamon, cloves and salt.
Gradually add the flour mixture to the liquid mixture and fold it in.
Grease an oven dish 30cm diameter and 6cm deep and put the mixture in it.
Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180 degrees Celsius for 50 minutes.
After you remove the cake, lightly sprinkle icing sugar on top.
Eat and Enjoy!
Where’s the ouzo & french cognac??? I want that recipe! =]
He has helped me find a lot of lost items and keeps me from getting lost in areas I’m not familiar with…He answers your prayers!!!
Could someone please traslate this recipe into cups, ounces, tablespoons ect.
Here is the recipe with US measures in parentheses. These are approximate.
Fanouropita
750g self-raising flour (1.75 lb)
600 ml orange juice (2 1/2 C)
150 ml must (juice from fresh grapes)
300 ml olive oil (1 1/4 C)
500g sugar (1 lb)
200g grated walnuts (1/2 lb)
50g sesame seeds (2 oz)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon grated cloves
Pinch of salt
Icing sugar to sprinkle on top
Put the orange juice, olive oil and sugar in a bowl and stir well.
Dissolve the baking soda in the must and add to the mixture.
Separately, mix together the flour, walnuts, sesame seeds, cinnamon, cloves and salt.
Gradually add the flour mixture to the liquid mixture and fold it in.
Grease an oven dish 30cm (11 in.) diameter and 6cm (2.5 in.) deep and put the mixture in it.
Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180 degrees C (350 F) for 50 minutes.
After you remove the cake, lightly sprinkle icing sugar on top.
Good luck. This is a delicious cake – and there are MANY versions out there! It’s usually very dense and moist. In case you are unfamiliar, the grape must is “grape molasses.” Plain molasses can be substituted, but it will have a slightly different flavor. Many Fanouropites I’ve seen/made contain raisins, too.
Oops… forgot the musto… that is about 2/3 C.