Spicy fried green olives stuffed with herbs and Feta cheese - Great, all-season appetizer!

You'll definitely need large green olives for this recipe and my suggestion are those coming from the Halkidiki region which are well known abroad as well. I have even discovered them recently in a very nice rural farmers shop not faraway from Worcester, believe it or not!! It is a great idea to serve this recipe as an appetizer or first dish but also, as most of this kind of Greek food, at a buffet table. It is always better if you buy the olives whole and not pitted and do it then at home but I do appreciate the difficulty of doing this so it's up to you. *** No salt at all is needed in this recipe because both the olives and the cheeses have more than enough!

Cheesy orzo-tto with country-style sausages and cherry tomatoes

Inspired by traditional recipes.... Not complicated but a delicious pasta recipe which is cooked following, in a way, the risotto method of cooking. A very nice idea for a hearty mid-week meal to enjoy withe the family. The sausages and the cheese only add extra flavour to the pasta and make it a really filling dish

Leeks and other Wintertime vegetables stifado braised in light tomato sauce - Vegetarian comfort food in its best!

Some of the most popular (and personal favourite) Wintertime vegetables are involved in this vegetarian version of stifado. Stifado because the little sweet onions are involved giving a special taste to the food. Fresh country-style bread and feta cheese will complete this delicious meal in the best way!

No-knead pizza Margherita - It never fails to please!

There is not much to say about pizza is there? This sinful but delicious treat which we can enjoy any time of the year, any hour in the day and more or less all around the world! The homemade pizza is always better but I do know some people (myself included) that there are pizzas they prefer to have from specific pizza places and mainly because of the dough type they use. Here today we have a very easy and simple kind of pizza dough to make which can replace proudly all the ready-made or restaurant-bought pizzas! I thought that the best pizza to show off this dough is the simple but delicious Margherita where you can decide which cheese you'll use on top. But in my opinion, whatever cheese you might choose, Mozzarella is a must to be added and the fresh one is really special

Individual Bougatsa pies with mastic-flavoured cream - Elegant twist to a classic dessert!

Those who follow this blog or have visited it many times will probably remember what Bougatsa is and the importance of it in the Greek traditional cuisine. Here today this luscious pastry pie becomes even more interesting and tasty thanks to the subtle but distinctive presence of mastic. A nice dessert idea which can be served all year round to please your guests

Garlic and fresh herbs-crusted slow roasted pork shoulder with pomegranate and grape molasses glaze

Delicious Wintertime comfort food for a special Sunday meal! The shoulder is one of the most tasty and tender parts of the pork anyway but in this recipe, as it is slowly cooked, it absorbs the sweet and sour glaze and ends up so luscious and moist!

Greek-style fried pumpkin balls with herbs - Great seasonal appetizer

Simple, easy and delicious recipe which you can serve as a first dish or along with other savoury bite-sized treats at a buffet table. Feta cheese is an option that goes well with the rest of the ingredients but even if you stick to the original version you'll end up with a very tasty dish to treat your guests

Cauliflower and potatoes braised in tomato sauce

This classic vegetarian dish can be eaten as a light meal along with toasted bread and feta cheese or serve it with some fluffy rice pilaf. A very easy recipe with simple ingredients but with a great taste

Easy & light spicy spaghettini with smoked salmon, rocket and lemon zest

This recipe is ideal for many reasons! It's easy and quick to prepare any day in the week and for when unexpected guests arrive, tasty and nutritious, filling but light as well to serve as a lunch or dinner! What more do we need, especially during the week when most of us return late from work and we need to cook something in no time if possible...

Velvety cheesy mashed potatoes garnished with caramelised onions

An unusual but very tasty version of mashed potatoes which can accompany various meat and poultry dishes but which can be also served as it is for a light meal! The feta cheese inside gives a slightly tangy but nice taste and the caramelised onions on top give a subtle sweet flavour which balances perfectly with the rest of the ingredients

Marinated cabbage and carrot salad "à la Polita"

Cabbage (red & white) with carrots is my farourite Wintertime salad but this one today is a special version. "Politiki salad" or "à la Polita", coming from "Poli", Constantinople. A different cabbage salad than the classic version we make in Greece. Another recipe coming with the Greeks from Asia Minor. More tangy and maybe more interesting in taste which sometimes can be found with blond raisins added in

No-Bake traditional "Skaltsounia" halfmoons with chocolate

This is a traditional sweet recipe which can be found in Crete but also in various Aegean Sea islands. The recipe differs from region to region regarding the type of filling but also regarding the preparation of the recipe because we have those which are fried or baked and those without any cooking. This last one is the version of Skaltsounia (or "Kaltsounia" or "Kalitsounia") I'm giving you today and it is a sweet treat that it is commonly served in special occasions like Easter, Christmas, Weddings or Christenings but you can enjoy them anytime accompanying your coffee. The traditional recipe is without any chocolate in the dough mixture but here we have a more modern version. Try them out when you have the chance, you'll see how addictive they can become

Easy braised chicken with mushrooms cooked in wine and mustard sauce with fresh herbs

Things are very easy in this recipe! A classic dish which is a great idea for a hearty Sunday meal. Slow cooked chicken smothered in a delicious wine-based sauce with plenty of fresh mushrooms and refreshing herbs. These dish can be served as it is. But, if you want, the options to accompany it are numerous... from fried potatoes to rice pilaf and even spaghetti. It's up to you and your family what you prefer best

Beer-batter crêpes with hot dogs and sauce - The ultimate homemade fast food for an easy meal!

Fast food at home! Clean "junk food" which doesn't make us feel guilty! Classic hot dogs in a different way.... Delicious savoury treat for all seasons and occasions to enjoy with the family and friends, giving us the satisfaction that is homemade with ingredients chosen carefully by us! And of course, as it happens often with such kind of recipes, you can use your imagination to play with other ingredients that could go in these savoury rolls. Don't stay at the mustard as the only option for example... *** If the crêpes are for children too then omit the rum in the batter

Velvety chicken-broth soup - A hearty traditional soup for the cold Winter days

This is a rather unusual (for our times) recipe for a soup but it shows one more time that the housewives from the long past were well aware (and smart) of how to invent ways to make a simple dish look more "rich" and "plenty" on the plate with just a few ingredients... In this recipe it is the humble flour that makes things so rich and tasty! The flour thickens the broth and turns it into a hearty soup like those our grand and great grandparents had the joy to taste especially in the Cretan cuisine or the gastronomy of the Greeks of the Black Sea (Efxinos Pontus). If you find it a loss of time to prepare your own chicken broth then feel free to substitute with store-bought broth (from cubes or canned) but be sure that the taste will not be the same. Just be careful with the salt if you use a store-bought broth

Easy ginger and aromatic spices honey biscuits

The main ingredients of aromatic mild spices, some of my favourite ones like cloves and cinnamon and ginger for extra flavour, give a subtle "kick" to these tasty biscuits. Biscuits which can be a great snack for all hours to enjoy with your coffee, tea or milk. The only thing you have to keep in mind with these cuties is that their texture is something between a biscuit and a cookie. Don't make the mistake I made first time:-)) Not too hard or not too soft so keep an eye on the baking time

Fast and easy open sandwiches with creamy mayonnaise pesto, fresh tomato and anchovies for a great appetizer or snack!

Such an easy and tasty appetizer this one which can be served any time regardless the season! Great idea to treat your guests before a meal or to enjoy with your drinks when unexpected visitors arrive. Of course they can easily turn out into a proper sandwich for lunch! The quantity of the ingredients can be adjusted very easily to prepare as many as you need

Oven-cooked Greek meatballs

A different version for light and delicious "keftedes" which you can enjoy hot or cold. A quick recipe without too much preparation, which can be served any time as a main meal along with salad and fries but also it can be a very tasty appetizer or a dish for a buffet party!

Ravani poured with mastic-flavoured syrup - An elegant twist to the classic dessert

Another version of the traditional fluffy dessert from Veroia region of Northern Greece. The taste and aroma of the mastic gives a very interesting twist to it. If you can not find a mastic liqueur you can use the dried mastic "drops", breaking them into powder in a mortar along with a bit of sugar to help it not to stick

Cockerel marinated in muscat wine and slowly cooked in tomato and cinnamon sauce -- The ideal comfort food for a cold Sunday

This is a classic traditional recipe which you can find around the country and in some areas it is considered as the local speciality. We could think of it as the Greek version of the classic "coq au vin" but it's not really. Anyway, the thing is that it is a rich and hearty dish for a Winter Sunday meal to enjoy with friends and family! Those who live in big cities but have friends or relatives living in villages must feel privileged because they might have the chance to enjoy a free range bird at their tables and then..... big smiles all around!!!

Easy penne dish with pumpkin, thyme, parsley and lighter creamy cheese sauce

Nice and easy pasta recipe for something different to cook during the week and while pumpkin is still in season. The original recipe includes a special Greek low-fat cheese (white with creamy texture) called "Katiki" coming from the Domokos area in Central Greece. It is ideal for spreading and as a dip but also is used in various salads, savoury pies and other recipes. *** Not so easy to be found abroad but for the specific recipe it can be replaced by cottage cheese or soft-texture Feta cheese mixed with a couple of tablespoons of milk so to thin it out

Greek-style cauliflower gratin with creamy cheese sauce and cumin

A luscious and slightly different way of cooking the cauliflower in the oven with a nice aromatic crust on top. The classic "cauliflower au gratin" in the Greek way using Greek cheeses and cumin which gives an extra kick to the final result. A tasty recipe to serve as a first dish or to accompany various meat, poultry and even fish dishes

Moist and fluffy flourless almond cake with citrus flavour

Cakes... A delicious and easy (relatively speaking) sweet treat that it is sooo versatile! No matter the season or the day of the week or the hour of the day.... a generous slice of cake is always welcomed by most people and I don't blame them! The possibilities are countless regarding the shape, the size, the flavours... everything really! It is one of my favourite sweets and I like to try different flavours especially when citrus are involved which they "break" down nicely the sweetness of the cake. And today this is what this cake is about. Just a simple, sponge-like cake, fluffy and moist with an exciting but not overwhelming touch of lemon and orange flavour. Enjoy it with your coffee, tea or a snack anytime! And if you have the time and you are in the mood to take an extra step, then pass the cake with a nice jam glaze as the recipe indicates further down 

Homemade warm chocolate drink infused with mint liqueur

I love hot chocolate and I love it even more when it is homemade. This version is an easy one to prepare and very tasty too, giving you that special cozy feeling that only a cup of hot chocolate can during a cold night! Chocolate and mint suit each other perfectly as we know so indulge yourselves with this smooth hot drink any time in the week. Something we have tried out and we did like was to replace the mint liqueur with banana liqueur which again goes well with chocolate. In that case you'd also add a couple of black peppercorns in to give an extra kick to the drink

Lentils and fennel salad with green olives and citrus dressing

Simple, but very tasty, refreshing and nutritious salad which can be served lukewarm or cold but also to enjoy it as a light meal. The ingredients suit each other very nicely and the orange & lemon dressing give that extra kick to the dish. It is a great accompaniment to various grilled fish or squid and cuttlefish recipes

Meatloaf wrapped in puff pastry

A different kind of meatloaf with a great result! A traditional recipe dressed up in a modern way

Baked cuttlefish with cauliflower in light tomato sauce

Mussels, octopus, shrimps, squids and cuttlefish are so versatile and they can join us at the table as a meze or as a main meal depending on how we cook them. Some of us when thinking of the sea food our minds travel back to sunny beaches and Summer time but we can enjoy them all year round in different luscious recipes. Here we have a simple but so tasty dish with cuttlefish which can be served as it is or along with some nice rice pilaf. Good chance to have something different on a Sunday especially after all that meat and poultry we consumed during the Festive period

Skillet aromatic, crunchy potatoes with cheese, garlic and parsley

Serve this really delicious potato dish as a side dish or as a main vegetarian meal along with a green crispy salad. It is so easy to prepare but so tasty although not too many ingredients are involved. Just choose any day in the week and go "meatless" for a change and I promise you, you won't regret it!

Oven-cooked omelette with leeks, potatoes, cheese and apples - A great Wintertime easy meal!

Omelette has always been an easy way out in our family either when we are not in a great mood for too much cooking, either when not at home on time or when we can not decide what we'd like for dinner:-) So yes, an easy way out but what a delicious one! Not to mention how versatile it can be giving countless options regarding the ingredients going in. This frittata type of omelette is sooo tasty and filling since it encloses some really popular Winter flavours in a combination that works perfectly!! It can be served for brunch or as a light meal along with a salad, it can turn your sandwich into something exciting or even to get packed and taken at a picnic. The options are there for you to choose! 

Traditional chickpeas stew with celery and orange in light tomato sauce

Hello everybody! I hope you all had a great New Year's Eve and an even a greater New Year's Day either you stayed at home celebrating with family and friends or at some place out, full of noise, cheers and music! Another year is gone and sometimes it feels a bit sad but we should see this change from its positive side. As another opportunity for new plans, dreams and efforts which will make us and our beloved happy:-) But enough with this! No need to tell you things that you have already thought! Besides, this is a food blog, so lets get back to normal business! After all that rich in flavour, aromas and calories food during the Festive season we all, more or less, had, lets get things easier, simpler and lighter. Lets take a look in this traditional dried pulses recipe which is full of flavour! "Revythada", as we call it, is a tasty type of stew with chickpeas and its origin comes from Sifnos island. There are various versions of chickpea stews and soups around the country but when you hear about "Revythada" your mind goes mainly to the traditional dish from this beautiful island. In today's recipe the stew is enriched with the flavour of orange and it is cooked in a light tomato sauce making it even tastier and fuller in taste

FESTIVE SEASON 2013-2014: Marinated traditional wild pig "Salmi" served with an aromatic garlicky sauce

Such a tasty way to finish 2013 and hoping for even more delicious recipes in the New Year... Inspired by traditional recipes this is really delicious and fans of game meat will be thrilled with its flavour and tenderness! The marinade ingredients work perfectly keeping the meat juicy and tender but also helping to break down a bit the distinctive, strong taste and smell game meat in general tends to have. It needs its time this recipe and a slow cooking but in the end you will be rewarded with a delicious dish! Silky mashed potatoes or, for a more rustic approach, thick macaroni pasta are two great choices to serve this meat with

All the Best from Our Family to All of You

and Your Beloved Ones 

For A Great New Year,

Full of Health and Happiness!!

---------------

My Special Thanks to All the Followers of this Blog

and Those who Spent some of Their Precious Time for Stopping By Honouring Us with their Visit and Comments

FESTIVE SEASON 2013-2014: Festive salad with chicon, radishes, walnuts, blue cheese and apples

A special meal for such a special day it would not be complete without a special side dish and this is what this seasonal salad offers! Belgian endive (or chicon) is probably the best choice for a crispy, refreshing salad that will accompany in the best way various roasted meat and poultry dishes and we actually discovered last year, when we first had this salad, that its subtle bitter/peppery flavour really compliments game meat like the wild pig for example. Chicon, in this salad, works wonderfully with the rest of the ingredients and it comes in a nice balance with the apples and the honey-mustard dressing. It is a great seasonal salad which can also be served as a first dish in other occasions through the Winter months