unusual desserts

Small article about plain deserts you can find at my country's supermarkets, at the confectionery department. Let's begin the list with the plain sweets the kids prefer but also adults.

Υποβρύχιο /ypo'vrihio/ (submarine) is a cultural shock to watch how it is served and particularly how it is eaten. What is it? A thick whiteish syrup made with patience stirring and waiting for most of its water to be evaporated stirring, stirring. The syrup is aromatised when cooler with vanilla and mastic resin oil. Packed in very cheap plastic containers with softer plastic lid you would totally ignore this if you had not seen it being eaten slowly and had one yourself. The desert is rather old and so typically Greek. How it is served. They get a rich spoonful of it from the container and place it in a glass of cold water. It is eaten slowly. Once the chewey syrup submerged in the cold water it gets kinda rigid. You take the spoon out and bite a small bite, put the spoon back in the water. Play the bite around your mouth till it gets softer ,softer and somehow thin. If you watch an adult eating this is like a child play he performs slowly. Kids love this because it is really sweet and it keeps them occupied while parents are talking to friends.

Κυδωνόπαστα/ kitho'nopasta/ quince paste is actually what it says. A thick kind of mashed quinces jam left to cool entirely on baking paper. Later on ,when totally cold cut in thick rectangular pieces. It is not exactly healthy but since it is made of fruits it is ok I suppose.! 

Μαλακό παστέλι./mala'ko pas'teli/ this is actually very healthy and delicious sweet snack. It is made of equal amounts of sesame seeds and honey, a little of sugar and flower water (made of lemon blossom, lemon leaves and orange blossom)

Μελιτζανάκι /melitza'naki/ green unripe aubrrgines.In Greece a very traditional desert is fruit or vegetable preserved in syrup in a pasteurised jar. Out of all fruits they serve green, unripe, aubergine is so special I think. They peel and cut the green aubergine almost half to scrape all seeds off because they are really bitter and then boil aubergines in water and sugar.

Χαλβαδοπιτα /Chalva'dopitta is an airy sweet pie, the recipe is from 1822 and it is a local sweet from the islands of the Cyclades. Soft filling of marengue,almonds and honey and the thin crispy pastry almost like ostia. Such a special treat! Very healthy sweet. The secret ingredient is dry soapwort tea they use in the filling of marengue and almond flour. Very delicate!

Seasonal biscuits made with flour and olive oil, orange zest snd cinammon called μελομα'καρονα/ meloma'karona.Plunged in honey syrup decorated with crushed walnuts. Special edit .