According to the traditional calendar, the herds of sheep
\ndescend from the mountains, weather permitting, from September until around the
\ncelebration of Saint Demetrius, when they are given back to their owners until
\nspring. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Giving back the sheep is also marked through traditional
\ncelebrations, when a number of mutton dishes are prepared. Apart from pastrami,
\nthe shepherd’s mutton dish in its own fat, suitable for the cold season, is
\nalso prepared. To prepare thisdish, cut the meat in medium-sized
\npieces, and allow it to boil in its own fat. Add finely cut onion and garlic,
\npepper, bay leaves and salt. When the meat has boiled long enough to fall off
\nthe bone, place it in enamelled or wooden pots and cover it with the molten
\nfat. The layer of fat at the surface protects the meat from getting stale. The
\npots must be kept in a cool place, in cellars or storerooms. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Another dish prepared by shepherds is the so-called
\nsheep’s bread. This dish is usually made on the evening of November 7th,
\na day before the Feast of St. Michael and Gabriel. On the morning of November 8th,
\nthis bread is thrown into the sheepfold at the moment when rams are also
\nallowed inside. It is believed that if the bread falls face up, all sheep will
\nbreed in spring. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
To make this bread, you need one kilo of corn flour and a
\nhandful of wheat flour. Put the cornflower in a pot, pour some hot, slightly
\nsalted water over it, and then add the wheat flour. Stir into the flour mixture, adding a little bit of sugar, until the doughgets easily separated from the side ofthe bowl and forms a ball.
\nPunch the dough down and shape into loaves. Put them in a clay pot and cook
\nthem in an oven or in embers. Eat the loaves as you would regular bread. Enjoy!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This time of the year is traditionally associated with the migration of sheep to the lowlands for winter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":125,"featured_media":173968,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45767],"tags":[43064,45917],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-173967","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-cooking-show","tag-romanian-cuisine","tag-shepherds-dishes"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n