Vassilopita with phyllo pastry, sesame and spices - Traditional New Year's pie

A different version of the New Year's cake which patiently waits to be cut when the clock strikes midnight! I have told you about the significance and the story (or legend if you like) behind the tradition of the Saint Basil's cake which we have on New Year's day in Greece and I have given you a few interesting and tasty recipes to try out. Today we have something totally different than the classic (or less classic) recipes. It is a traditional one that can be found in various areas in North Greece, especially from the Thrace region. It is a nice idea to have something out of the ordinary this Year and to get to know recipes from different regions of the country. As always, don't forget to put in a coin so to give good luck to the one who will have the right piece of the pie!

Festive rice pilaf "A la Polita" with all ... the trimmings!!!

Serve this delicious rice pilaf as a side dish next to the roast turkey or other meat you might have at your Christmas table! A dish that is very popular in Greece and it is brought to us from the Greeks of Asia Minor. Colourful and full of festive flavours, it will satisfy your guests and family and it is great idea to serve at any formal occasion

Christmas roast turkey with apples and orange

Recipes for roast turkey and especially the Festive period ones are countless! Each country, region, household has its own special version for this (unlucky) bird to cook and enjoy with family and friends! The combination of ingredients regarding the "trimmings" and the stuffing is mainly where things differ and here today we have one more version which could become one of your favourites!

White Christmas Pavlova garnished with lemon whipped cream and Winter berries sauce

Airy and delicious, with its crispy crust and its soft, light inside Pavlova is an ideal dessert during the Festive season and there are not many who would say no to such a dessert so to close their Festive meal in the best way

Christmas "Sarmades" - Pickled cabbage rolls stuffed with mince and rice

Another traditional and delicious recipe coming (mainly) from Northern Greece and which in many areas is considered as a classic Christmas meal but it can be found during the Winter-time in general. The main difference between the classic stuffed cabbage rolls and the Sarmades (Sarmas in singular) is that in the latter pickled cabbage is used instead of fresh cabbage. Also, this version rather rarely is served with the customary lemon and egg sauce (avgolemono) like we usually do with the classic cabbage rolls. Today's version can be found in Kastoria region and as you'll see the ingredients are rather few and the most basic for stuffed cabbage rolls. But, regardless the possible differences from region to region, this recipe is a great sample of what we call "comfort food"

White Christmas chocolate log with chestnut filling, covered with white chocolate and cream cheese frosting

A delicious and so good looking Festive dessert which will make you proud to treat your guests with it after a beautiful Christmas dinner!!

Winter time chicken with quinces and raisins

Based on a recipe coming from Arta in North Greece, this is one of the best examples of good traditional recipes and which enriches the Greek cuisine during the Winter time

Spicy chocolate Fondue

It's not as complicated as it might seems at first place.... It is fun and delicious and a great idea to serve it as a dessert when you have friends invited for dinner so to close this gathering in the best way!

Spicy carrot and corn soup

This tasty, nutritious and good looking soup is a great idea to open a nice dinner or to be served as a quick evening main meal

Easy skillet potatoes with leeks and cheese

A delicious vegetarian Winter-time recipe to enjoy as a main meal along with a salad or to accompany nicely a chicken or beef fillet

Easy home made calzone with ham and Kasseri cheese filling

If pizza and calzone are home made are always better and here is a nice and easy recipe to enjoy this little Italian treasure with a small Greek twist

Spicy pot roast beef with walnut and cheese sauce

The comfort food season slowly starts.... This is a delicious, hearty, filling and seasonal recipe which will make you want to cook it often during the Winter months! A great idea for a family-friendly Sunday meal which is inspired by traditional Greek recipes from around the country. The classic Sunday pot roast changes completely thanks to the luscious walnut-based and cheese sauce. The best company for this meal is to be served either on a bed of warm thick pasta like bucatini or penne or along with fries

Easy syrupy croissants with almonds and orange filling

A great idea for breakfast (if liqueur is omitted) or as a quick dessert for all seasons. Instead of throwing them or just reheat them or making the same old bread pudding dessert, stale croissants, can be transformed into a tasty surprise with just a few ingredients used

Chilled apple cream with vanilla-flavoured mascarpone cream and grape must cookies crumble

An easy, light and delicious recipe which is very much into season now! A great dessert to serve after a rich meal with the sweet and sour apple cream coming together perfectly with the smooth buttery mascarpone cream and the cookies crumble!

Marinated cauliflower, olives and Spring onions salad with spicy lemon dressing

A very nutritious salad which can be also served as a first dish! The fresh, crunchy cauliflower along with the rest of the ingredients blend together nicely offering a very tasty and seasonal dish

Sea bass baked in red wine sauce with vegetables

A very tasty recipe and very nutritious at the same time! Sea bass is ideal for this recipe but anglerfish and monkfish are very suitable too

Easy three-layers almond cake filled with jam

A really easy classic cake which can be served on any occasion or any time during the day thanks to the simple but delicious flavours of it!

Spaghetti with eggs, anchovies, capers and olives

A filling and delicious pasta dish like this one is a great idea to prepare during the week without losing too much time in the kitchen!

Skillet pork chops with garlic and ouzo sauce

A very easy and tasty recipe for a lazy Sunday meal for the whole family! Easily the pork chops can be replaced by pork fillet or chicken breast fillets (skin on)

Easy milk and 2-cheese savoury rice pie with phyllo

A delicious rice and cheese savoury pie inspired by various traditional recipes from around the country. A nice idea for a light meal along with a salad or to be served as a first dish on any occasion and for all seasons

A very much Greek-style cheesecake with Anthotyro cheese and grape molasses

A delicious and very seasonal dessert for the whole family and friends! Three ingredients that are very much part of the Greek cuisine, Anthotyro cheese, grape must flavoured cookies (moustokouloura) and grape molasses (petimezi), make the difference in this refreshing cheesecake! If you'd like to try the recipe out using these tasty cookies you can find various versions of the recipe in the Internet, otherwise use the biscuits of your choice

Goat kid and aubergines casserole with cheesy potato mash topping

Could this be the Greek answer to the English shepherd's pie? Hmmm it could in a way but I prefer to think that this dish is just inspired by that delicious English recipe and nothing more! A very filling, family friendly meal to enjoy one of the most tasty and popular Summer vegetables before we get into the Autumn cooking for good! Lamb instead of goat kid can of course be used

Muscat wine and lemon flavoured crème brûlée

This recipe, based of course on the famous French dessert, is a great idea to finish a rich meal! Light and aromatic this version of crème brûlée can be served all year round

Super garlicky chicken drumstics with olives, red peppers and potatoes

An easy but very tasty recipe for all seasons! Simple ingredients which come together nicely giving the chance to enjoy a great family-friendly meal. Also the fact that everything ends in the same pan saves you a lot of time!

Grilled fresh peaches with chilled Greek yoghurt sauce

Aromatic, juicy peaches and an easy yoghurt sauce are more than enough for this dessert! The last of the Summer fruit in a light and delicious recipe to enjoy after a nice dinner!

Shrimp, ham and pineapple rice salad

Full of (still) Summer flavours this is a light, refreshing and delicious salad which can also be served as a first dish! Summer won't stay with us for too long so lets take advantage of the various savoury and sweet flavours to enjoy it until the last moment!

Phyllo triangle pies with feta cheese, fresh oregano, roasted red peppers and Greek yoghurt filling

We love savoury pies in our family in every possible size and little "tyropitakia" like these here are one of our favourite treats! Simple Greek ingredients are used for this recipe and the taste is sooo good! They can be served as a snack, at a party, in a picnic, as a first dish, even for breakfast!

Easy savoury biscuits with Kefalotyri cheese

Inspired by the French recipe for "bâton salé" this is an ideal savoury treat which can be served in various occasions. These cheese biscuits are easy to prepare and you can choose the cheese you prefer. If sesame (black or white), nigella or poppy seeds are used for coating before baking the biscuits, the flavour will be even more interesting

Braised Amaranth leaves (Vleeta) in light tomato sauce - The King of Summertime Greek greens!

Vleeta or Vlita (Amaranth leaves) is a kind of "horta" (greens) that during the Summer months are very popular around Greece and my personal favourite of all the kinds we have! There are two types in Greece, the red-leafed (or wild grown) and the green which is the cultivated variety. Vleeta are popular not only because of their smooth texture and sweet flavour but also because they are so versatile! My favourite version is the classic recipe where Vleeta are boiled and served as a salad dressed with olive oil and lemon juice or malt vinegar (which, in my opinion, suits them better than the lemon). A lot of people, though, cook them in other ways too. My mother, for example, when she has any leftover vleeta she cooks them in the skillet along with butter and crumbled feta cheese and they are delicious!!! In various areas the vleeta can be part of the filling for various pies instead of using spinach and elsewhere, like the islands, often you'll find them braised along with courgettes, potatoes and/or runner beans. Today's recipe is inspired by the Cretan cuisine and things could not be simpler and easier! Just a few ingredients are enough to have a very tasty vegetarian meal, light and nutritious at the same time! If you have the chance to find Amaranth leaves abroad don't hesitate to cook them at least once in the Greek way and you'll see that I was right

Easy and fast homemade basic mustard recipe + 2 tasty simple ideas

I know..... what's the point to make mustard at home since, nowadays, there are so many companies around the world with some really tasty and well made mustards which make our lives easier... What if I'd tell you that "why not? Just for the sake of it!" or "Why not to have the satisfaction that you did try it at home and probably your mustard would taste much better than the store-bought one?" Would these reasons be enough to convince you? Probably not, as I was not for a long time:-)) But, believe me, once you do it for a first time following this basic recipe, then you'll do it again and again because it's so easy and fast! So, here is the basic recipe which you can easily adapt regarding the quantity of the ingredients but better to start off with a small jar so to see how it goes

Easy and fast mini cakes with fresh plums scented with vanilla and brandy

In Greece during the Spring and Summer months there is a stone fruit called "Vanillia". They are similar to the fresh plums in both taste and colour. This sweet and juicy fruit is the main ingredient for these cute mini cakes. The batter is light and airy, scented with brandy and vanilla and the result is a very tasty Summer dessert! The common fresh plums of course will replace the "Vanillia" ones perfectly but other Summer stone fruits can also be used depending on your preference

Stuffed aubergines casserole with mildly spiced ground meat and almonds

Inspired by the aubergines "Imam Bayildi" (a recipe shared with the Turkish cuisine) and the aubergines "Papoutsakia" - two of the most popular and delicious traditional dishes in Greece - this casserole is a great idea to enjoy the aubergines during the Summer!! The chef combines the best elements of the two recipes to create a really filling and delicious meal for the whole family!!

Fluffy oven-baked omelette with zucchini, basil and pine nuts

Inspired by various traditional omelette recipes with zucchini which can be found in various areas of Greece and especially the islands. This is a light and delicious omelette and the ideal light lunch or brunch during the Summer months

Oven-baked fresh sole fillets with peppers, lemon and plum tomatoes

Another light but delicious recipe to enjoy this tasty fish during the Summer months! An easy recipe to prepare and very nutritious of course which combines simple but tasty ingredients in the best way! Serve it along with a hearty salad or boiled wild greens and you'll have a very filling meal! Beside sole fillets, other white-flesh fish can also be used in fillets, slices or whole

Skillet-cooked mellow potatoes, onions and mixed peppers in ouzo-scented light tomato sauce

This is one of those recipes that we love to eat in Greece during the warm months because they are easy and fast to prepare without lacking in taste at all even without any meat involved! A great Summer dish which, if you adjust the quantities of the ingredients accordingly, it can be served as a really filling main vegetarian meal or as it is to accompany sautéed chicken or white fish

Greek-style refreshing trifle with crispy phyllo and strawberry cream

A delicious, light and so refreshing dessert based on the classic English trifle but with a Greek twist! Crispy phyllo sheets replace the biscuits or cake giving a nice texture and fresh spearmint adds a special aroma in this easy dessert

Tender pork and potatoes baked in beer and orange sauce

The classic Greek dish with the refreshing addition of beer and orange juice for extra flavour! An ideal Sunday meal for all seasons!

Country-style fresh artichoke and herbs pie

A great rustic pie with fresh artichokes and seasonal herbs! To make it richer, if you'd like you can also add feta cheese (about 400 gr)

Crispy fresh anchovies fritters

A delicious recipe out of the numerous similar dishes the Greek cuisine has to offer! A great meze dish to enjoy along with a chilled glass of ouzo! If served with seasonal wild greens it becomes a more full meal. Try the same recipe with smelt or whitebait, both are delicious and they are the type of fish that don't need any preparation because they can be eaten whole

Delicious 3-cheese and ham lasagna with a (literally) sweet tomato sauce

Lasagna always is a popular meal in most households, it is for all seasons and it is ideal for big families or when you want to have extras for another day since it very easily can be stored in the freezer. The today's version admittedly is quite rich but it is so delicious since it combines in perfect balance the sweet with the salty flavours, so it is really worth the trouble and the calories to try it out

Greek-style cheesecake with Greek yoghurt and mastic

A light, refreshing and very tasty cheesecake, fully equipped with Greek flavours like the Greek yoghurt and the precious mastic from Chios island! Mastic goes perfectly with various white desserts like panna cotta etc. Try this Greek version of cheesecake and enjoy it with your guests after a nice, rich meal

Slowly baked lamb with carrots, potatoes and artichokes in red wine sauce

Hi there!:-) Back from our holidays in Greece where we had a great time and now we need some days (or a couple of weeks I should say) to adjust and get back to normal... Not easy though! Besides everything else, the classic "what am I to cook today?" big question is back... What easier than a Sunday roast, I'm thinking... and here it is! An easy and delicious meal based on various traditional recipes with baked lamb along with seasonal artichokes to feed the family without too much hassle in the kitchen

Bowtie pasta with creamy lemon sauce and almonds

Creamy, zesty and delicious this pasta dish is ideal for the warm Summer months since it doesn't take long to prepare and the ingredients are so simple! An easy and fast recipe to enjoy when you need something tasty but light

Refreshing shrimps cocktail - A retro dish that never fails!

For years it used to be the star, the "must", the "trendy" appetizer in restaurants and households when some more formal dinner parties occurred but then it became old-fashioned (because some "big shot" chefs decided so...) and people forgot all about it... Lately, though, I notice that more and more often this delicious appetizer appears again in restaurant menus but also at buffet parties at home and I'm pleased because it is worth its fame! Retro dishes like this should never disappear because they don't lack at all in taste or looks and they can easily compete with other "gourmet" dishes which some try to convince us that we should have at our tables... 

Crispy kataifi pastry millefeuilles with feta cheese and salad - An elegant presentation of the famous Greek salad

A delicious and light recipe to serve as a first dish. An unusual version of a recipe well known worldwide which will manage to please your guests to the full! Crispy kataifi pastry (shredded pastry) replaces the classic puff pastry sheets to create this savoury millefeuille. The famous Greek salad presented in a totally new way but with its classic taste unspoilt!

Lemony oven-baked crunchy chicken nuggets

Delicious chicken nuggets on the lighter and healthier side since they are prepared in the oven instead of frying them. Chicken nuggets are popular not only among the children but the adults as well since they can be served as an appetizer along with various dips or as a main meal along with a mixed salad

Medley of sauté stone fruits served with easy peach sorbet

Easy, aromatic, refreshing and delicious Summer dessert to enjoy some of the most popular and tasty stone fruits! A nice and light fruit compote chilled from the fridge along with an easy-made peach sorbet is the ideal way to finish a Summer meal!

Easy grilled fresh swordfish fillets with spicy fresh tomato salsa

I admit that our family is not really a big fan of fish or seafood but there are some types of fish we really like and cook as often as possible. One of our favourites is the swordfish and whenever we can we don't miss the chance to have it, either fresh or frozen. Today's recipe is really delicious! Light and easy to prepare and a great idea for a nutritious Summer meal

Mushrooms and goat's cheese saganaki in fresh tomato sauce

A delicious and very easy appetizer dish to enjoy along with some chilled wine. One of those dishes which are meant to be shared with others in a friendly gathering but which you hope you could not share at all!:-) Simple but full of flavoursome and aromatic ingredients in another version of the popular "saganaki" dish

Easy lemon and lime concentrate lemonade made at home

I've tried a few recipes for home made lemonade through the years but this one I found last Summer I think it is the one that we all enjoyed better. It is a good idea to have the mixture ready in the fridge for whenever you need to treat your family or your guests and it can also be used as the base for other beverages and cocktails. Depending on your preference it can be easily diluted in iced water or soda and it gets an extra flavour if you add a few leaves of fresh mint or spearmint