kalea delea! That’s good afternoon in Ancient Greek(or at least close enough that I’m telling you that). Ahh, Greece. What a wonderful land…
Me At The Acropolis
Racing At Olympus
As you might have figured out by my class load, I’m a Classics nerd major at my University. I’ve taken Greek for 2 years now, and took a trip there in 10th grade. And what’s not to love? The language, the culture, and–of course–the yogurt. But when I’m not in Greece, I like to get my authentic greek yogurt fix in the form of Oikos! They currently have a contest going you can read all about here, and this is my entry into it.
Let me explain to you why I need to say “Ohm”. Sometimes life gets really hectic in this “cozy” dorm room of mine. Book are lying here and there and on the bed. Frankly, I was a little rambunctious with signing up for classes, and the proof for that is about 50-70% of my classmates are upperclassmen and 5-10% graduate students. How did that happen? Well, I knew I wanted to be a Classics major coming in, something I didn’t actually have to decide until after Sophomore year. I also, however, want to find something fun and new(and might actually lead to a career) to double major in. So that left me with working towards my 1st major’s requirements in Freshman year, taking classes which students might not be forced to take until Junior or Senior year. Right now I’m taking a 3rd semester Greek and a 1000′s level Latin language course. Besides those, I’m taking a Greek History course only offered every other year that’s primarily for upperclassmen late-concentrators, and an Epic Poetry class I took “for fun” even though English was my weakest subject and I haven’t taken a “formal” class in it for 2 years. After doing the work for all that and running and blogging, sometimes I just need to stop and do a little yoga:
Doing Yoga
Ok, who am I kidding? Yoga’s not my thing. But thankfully baking is! That’s where I find my “zen”. Here is my recipe developed with Oikos yogurt: Banana Kalos Sitos(or Banana Goodness Bread if we’re talking English).
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1/3 cup oatbran
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 tablespoons ground flaxmeal
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 5.3oz vanilla oikos(or 1/2 cup plain yogurt)
- 10 ounces banana, mashed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together flour, oat bran, baking soda, flaxmeal, cinnamon, salt, and chocolate chips. In a seperate bowl, whisk together the sugar and oil, beating in the eggs 1 at a time. Mix in the yogurt and vanilla extract. Mash the bananas and incorporate into the wet. Pour the wet into the dry and mix until just incorporated. Pour the batter into a loaf pan. In a small cup, mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over the top of the loaf. Bake the bread for 55 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Turn off the oven and open the door, letting the bread sit there for 5 minutes or so. Remove from the oven and transfer onto a plate until cooled completely.
Sit back, cut a slice, eat it with some Oikos and Banana Pineapple Rum Jam, and just say “Ohm”
jealous that youve been to greece! definitely on my list of places to visit! good luck getting zen
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i think its so cool that you’ve been to Europe!! I feel like the only kid at my high school who has never been! Thats really cool that you have been consistent with your major throughout college! I always hear about people changing every other month.
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Sounds delicious!
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INCREDIBLE photos! Greece is such a beautiful location.
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Beautiful photos! I enjoyed reading your essay. I didn’t realize you were only a freshman. I thought you transferred to Brown from another college! You’re a smart cookie
I hope you win!
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haha you look like a true yogi!! ok…..maybe not but hey…its never to late to learn!!
great photos! I want to go to greece SO bad!! its one country I have never been to and dying to get to!
amazing recipe! thanks for sharing!!
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doing yoga..in greece.. I’m speechless – you basically lived out my biggest fantasty, Evan! BEYOND jealous!
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i used to live in a greek neighborhood when i was in NYC. it’s always been my dream to go there!
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I want to go to Greece!
Can’t wait to try the recipe! Seriously, would you consider becoming my personal chef? haha!!
I totally get what you mean about having too much to do and stress – I have work fulltime, yoga-training (with practice/readings), running, gym, cooking, aaannnd trying to blog and write (what I really like)…
Do you mind if I ask how you prioritize?? Do you put any one first or just allot time for each, etc. ??
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Evan Thomas Reply:
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:20 pm
My prioritizing is far from perfect, but I just tell myself that so long as I’m working towards something that I plan on doing before the day ends, then I’m doing good enough
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That’s great that you’re a classics major, kudos to you! I love the yoga-in-a-toga, totally awesome;)
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what a great entry
and I was wondering if anyone would post a toga picture!!
The recipe sounds great!
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