Greek Easter v.2010
Here we are, the day after Easter Sunday and another feast under our belts…literally! Easter for Greeks is the most significant religious holiday. With Easter, you get the death and resurrection of Christ…we don’t take death and rebirth lightly. Easter’ parallel with Spring, a new cycle of birth and regeneration all fall together perfectly for […]
Lenten Cinnamon & Tahini Rolls
One of the ways to cope with fasting for Lent is snacking and quite often, I’m left with the constant desire for sweets during this challenging time. No dairy, no eggs makes eating desserts almost impossible. Almost. Enter this easy Lenten treat that’s inspired by the Tahinopites of Cyprus. Close family friend and Cypriot-born Helen […]
Fried Whiting With Makalo (Μπακαλιαράκια-τηγανητά-με-μακάλo)
Tomorrow is a double-celebration for Greeks. March 25th is a holiday in Greece where we celebrate Greek Independence Day. The inspiration is drawn from one of the most holy days in the Greek-Orthodox calendar, the Annunciation of the Theotokos. This is the day that Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would bear a child. […]
Potato Salad With Blood Oranges (Πατατοσαλάτα-με-σαγκουίνια)
This salad comes to you with inspiration of the season, my visit last year to southern Greece (Laconia) and timely in that it’s also a Lent-friendly dish. Let’s examine the ingredients: a new shipment of Greek extra-virgin olive oil, just shipped from the old country and courtesy of a family friend. The early harvest of […]
Cuttlefish With Spinach (Σουπιές-με-σπανάκι)
Cuttlefish. Don’t touch that dial and the cuttlefish is an interesting member of the cephalopod family. That is to say, it’s related to squid and octopus. The cuttlefish has an internal shell, the cuttlebone. Some of you who have spent much time on the beach will have found some cuttlebones in the sand. Others who […]
Kritharaki me Fakkes (Κριθαράκι-με-φακές)
Here’s a wonderful dish that’s suitable for Lent, works as a side dish or served with seafood or fish. You get to pick how you want this dish to appear on your table. Kritharaki is what us Greeks call orzo. Kritharaki is a rice shaped pasta that should be treated as such. Do not add […]
Octopus Salad “Mosaic” (Χταπόδι-σαλάτα-Μωσαϊκό)
Readers of this blog should know by now that Greek food goes beyond souvlaki, spanakopita and pastitsio. There’s nothing wrong with these dishes but as Greeks, we do not eat them every week. The traditional Greek diet is weighted towards vegetables and pulses, grains and bread, fruits and nuts and fish and seafood. It’s a […]
Cabbage Salad (λαχανοσαλάτα)
Greeks eat according to the seasons. In the summer, Greeks will have the bounty of their garden with tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers to make the world famous Greek salad. Although these vegetables are now also available in the winter, there’s a definite shift in ingredients during the winter months. Taste, cost and a little bit […]
Scallops Saganaki (xτένια-Σαγανάκι)
I get my inspiration from many sources: my mother and other family members and friends who I consider culinary wizards, frequent visits to Greece, chatting about food with other Greek food enthusiasts, other bloggers who I respect and consider friends and of course, the well known food and cooking celebrities who enter our homes via […]
Steamed Brocccoli
You have to eat your vegetables. One of the most nutritious, affordable and delicious vegetables is broccoli. It’s loaded with vitamins A, C and K, a good source of fiber. It’s a boon to your immune system and and beneficial for the prevention of heart disease. Another positive for broccoli is that it’s available in […]