Classic Greek Baklavas with walnuts

This is, probably, the most common version of Baklava in Greece and I don't think you need more details about this delicious and famous dessert. In many areas it is considered as the main Christmas dessert and often the women prefer to make their own, handmade phyllo sheets instead of using the store bought ones. It is a long procedure and needs a lot of patience (like my mother's...) to do this because the phyllo in Baklava has to be very very thin. Nowadays, though, at the Greek super markets a very thin type of phyllo pastry can be found easily under the name "Beirut Phyllo" referring exactly to this fine pastry since in Lebanon they are masters of this kind of syrup desserts

Christmas rice pilaf with chestnuts and chicken livers

An excellent sample of side dish next to your turkey, pork or other meat at the Christmas table. It can also be served as a main or first dish all year round. Another delicious recipe from the Greeks of Anatolia

"Saragli" Christmas phyllo rolls with pistachios and walnuts

A traditional syrupy sweet which can be found in various areas of Greece during the Christmas period but not only then. Because of the way it is shaped and cut it can be a perfect sweet treat any time of the year

Christmas stuffed turkey in the Greek way

One of many different versions of roast turkey from the Greek cuisine, maybe the most common and popular. It can be found in various regions around Greece and the variations have to do mainly with the different stuffings. Enjoy it in the Greek way this year!!

Oven-braised beef with vegetables and prunes

This is another classic dish and because it is cooked in the oven you don't need to worry for at least a couple of hours. Slow cooking gives a great taste to the whole dish

Classic "Kourabiedes" - GREEK traditional Christmas butter cookies

Important note and warning!

For those who have visited this specific recipe in my blog,

between November-December 2012

(or going to in the future), via the "Pinterest" site

assuming that when clicking on a specific post they will find

a recipe under the title 

"Classic Russian tea cookies {aka snowball cookies!}"

I'm afraid you've been misled!

I owe to let you know that what you are getting

clicking on that specific post is a traditional Greek recipe!!!

Kourabiedes is a delicate almond based cookie. This is the second most popular Christmas sweet but in various areas of Greece they are also offered as a treat on special occasions, like weddings and christenings. Legend has it that these cookies were crescent-shaped during the Turkish occupation of Greece, in deference to the Turkish flag. However, while crescent-shaped kourabiedes can still be found, after Greece regained independence from Turkey people in many parts of the country resumed making them in different shapes like oval, round or esses. The key ingredient and the secret for the best kourabiedes is the very, very good quality of butter you have to use ("pure butter" as we say in Greece, meaning cow's or goat's butter or a mixture of the two - although in the distant past people used to use lard since butter was not really something you could find in the region). With a good quality of butter you will achieve the most aromatic kourabiedes! Surfing around I noticed that Kourabiedes are quite similar to the "Mexican wedding cookies" and the "Russian tea cakes". There are minor variations for the Kourabiedes depending on the area they come from. Others they use whole almonds in or crushed and others they use walnuts. In some cases they add brandy or ouzo and in other cases, before icing, the cookes are drizzled with almond extract or rose water giving them a divine aroma!