Recreate the taste of Skyros.. at home!

Platters of roasted aubergine with caramelised onions... bowls heaped high with Greek salad and freshly-made hummus... thick slabs of mouthwatering spinach and feta pie... and that's just for lunch! For those that have savoured the taste sensations found on a Skyros Holiday, you'll know exactly what we mean when we describe the food on offer. And for those who haven't? Well, what are you waiting for....

Our local Greek chef Vasso, who cooks for guests at the Skyros Centre, has finally decided to let us in on some of her delicious recipes. If we're lucky, this may even be a regular section of our newsletter! So put on your apron, pour yourself a glass of Retsina and prepare yourself a Greek treat!

Portokalopita (Orange Pie)
A delicious, refreshing pie for the hot summer months! It can also be served warm, but many much prefer it cold. It can also be served with ice cream.

Ingredients For the syrup
1 packet filo pastry (12 sheets) 600 ml water
250g Greek strained yoghurt 250g sugar
4 eggs Juice of 1 orange
2 tablespoons baking powder Grated rind from 2 oranges
Juice of 1 orange
250 ml extra virgin olive oil
Butter to grease oven dish

Preparation
1) Leave the sheets of filo pastry out, separated and uncovered, to dry for a few hours.
2) Tear the sheets of filo into 2cm strips – doesn’t matter about being even just torn, don’t shred with a knife as it loses its consistency.
3) Put the olive oil and eggs in a mixing bowl and whisk well with a metal whisker.
4) Add the yoghurt and baking powder and continue whisking until you have a smooth cream.
5) Add the torn filo pastry and mix in well with your hands.
6) Put in a greased oven dish with additional grated orange zest over the butter and bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes until it turns a golden colour.
7) In the meantime, prepare the syrup – boil the syrup ingredients in a pan for 5 minutes.
After removing the pie, once it is cold, cut into portions and spread the warm syrup on top.

Enjoy!!

With best wishes,

The Skyros Team
Isle of Wight

P.S. Be sure to keep an eye on our Facebook page and Friends of Skyros site for the latest photos, stories and feedback from Greece!

Skyros-in-London presents 'Pocket Cabaret'

In the spirit of Skyros Holidays, The Map Cafe in Kentish Town, London, presents Sunday afternoon ‘Pocket Cabaret’ sessions featuring a mezze of music, poetry, stories, monologues and sketches.

For the tiny price of £5 you can relax in the beautiful boho environment of The Map, experiencing the show, or taking part in it with your own artistic offering. For those who’ve been to Skyros, the elements are the same: great hospitality, like-minded company, a forum for experimental creativity and warm hosting, courtesy of Kate Daniels and Alison Goldie, two of Skyros’s most experienced facilitators. If you’ve not been there yet, Skyros at The Map will give you a flavour of this special holiday – where sharing is key, new talents are discovered, great friendships are made and life feels full of exciting possibilities.

To find out more about our 'Pocket Cabaret' events visit the Skyros Facebook page, or for information on the venue visit The Map website.

Writer's Lab author Monique Roffey publishes new memoir

Acclaimed author, and Writer's Lab facilitator, Monique Roffey is proud to announced the release of her third book 'With the Kisses of his Mouth'. A memoir, the book describes a love affair, a dramatic break up and what happened next – a sexual odyssey. Monique goes on to explain "If Sun Dog, my first novel, written ten years ago, is a coming of age novel, then this is some kind of ‘coming into middle age’ sequel. I’m proud of this book." Some of the fantastic reviews include:

"It is astoundingly brave. It is funny. It speeds along. It has magic at its heart - that indefinable sliver of human warmth that all the best, most searching memoirs seem to have" The Guardian
"An intelligent, dark, thorny, but redemptive book about sex. Men, read at your peril." Robert Rowland Smith, author of Breakfast with Socrates
"At last a book about female sexuality that isn't coy or vainglorious. With the Kisses of his Mouth is a fresh look at love, lust and longing in the 21st Century. And it's funny too." Daisy Goodwin, author of The Last Duchess

Why not join Monique at the Skyros Centre in Greece this summer? A regular to Skyros, Monique will be running her course 'Life Writing' at the Writer's Lab from 21st - 31st August. To reserve your place, call 01983 86 55 66 or book online. Don't miss out, Monique's courses book up quickly!

LATEST ON YOUTUBE

Skyros facilitators Richard Lewis and Mark Gunston have put together a hilarious bond spoof during their time in Atsitsa. Watch the full video here

THE SKYROS BLOG
Atsitsa participant Kate Shore shares her poem "Atsitsa Bay - The Place".

FACEBOOK
This is the place to find out what's happening right now. See the latest photos and videos here, post your own photos and keep in touch with friends, old and new. Your online Skyros community.

YouTube VIDEOS
First session Atsitsa, Second session Atsitsa (both courtesy of Paul McVey & Paul Tate), Skyros Holiday Memories (courtesy of Andrew Risner). Spot the dolphins accompanying the yacht in the second video.

DO YOU TWEET?
Follow us at SkyrosHolidays. Always time for a quick tweet!

CONTACT US
The Skyros office is open from 9.30am to 8pm weekdays and from 10am to 4pm on Saturdays. Call 01983 865566 or email office@skyros.com.

Come and visit us where we're based at The Grange by the Sea on the east coast of the Isle of Wight.
The Grange, set in lush countryside moments from a long sandy beach, offers 4-star b&b accommodation, health and beauty treatments, and a wide range of optional weekend courses including yoga, writing and much more.