Let’s make a cherry pie! I love cherry pie. My cherry pie is fragrant with orange zest, almond extract, and cinnamon. My recipe adds in both a pinch of black & pink peppercorns. My secret ingredients! Adds a little bit of complexity to the flavor, but also creates a lovely balance. Everyone loves my cherry pie! … Continue reading Cherry Pie
Blueberry Pie
My secret ingredients to this delectable blueberry pie are lemon and lavender! These flavors are just beautiful together!!! They belong together. The lavender that I used was gifted to me from my friends at Friends of the Earth Lavender. It’s grown in Central California. https://www.friendsoftheearthlavender.com/ Ingredients: 6 cups of blueberries.1 cup of sugarJuice & zest … Continue reading Blueberry Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin pie is my favorite pie. The silky texture. The custard. The warm autumn spices! I love every bit of it. My mother always used Libby’s recipe from the back of the can. It’s tried and true and fool proof. I now use it as the base recipe for my pumpkin pies because the ratio … Continue reading Pumpkin Pie
Galatopita- Greek Milk Pie
The first time I went to Greece as a married woman, one of the pites (pies) my mother in law had prepared for us was her famous galatopita. Galatopita means milk pie. It is a sweet dessert pie that is made with milk custard and a semolina base. Regionally, it can be made with or … Continue reading Galatopita- Greek Milk Pie
Horiatiko Psomi- Greek Village Bread
So I made Horiatiko Psomi which is Greek village bread. More specifically, this is a 4 grain bread from Crete that I watched Zinonas Christoforidis, a fantastically endearing Greek chef, make it. I also translated the recipe and adjusted it to my usual sourdough bread measurements. It’s beautiful and will be in my bread rotation. … Continue reading Horiatiko Psomi- Greek Village Bread
Melopita – Greek Honey Pie
This beautiful and light cheesecake hails from the Greek island of Sifnos in the Cyclades. It is a simple recipe that comes together in no time! It’s called Melopita, which is Greek for honey pie. There is no sugar in this recipe at all. Sweetened with gorgeous Greek honey, then drizzled with honey, and dusted … Continue reading Melopita – Greek Honey Pie
Frigania Zakynthou
This beautiful dessert comes from the Greek island of Zakynthos! It is the island right next-door to Kefalonia, the island that my family comes from. I can literally wave to it it from my village. Frigania is dry wheat rusks that look like palm sized toast. They are usually eaten for breakfast with butter and … Continue reading Frigania Zakynthou
Tomato Galette
I visited the farmers market the other day and picked up the most beautiful heirloom tomatoes! I have been wanting to make a tomato galette. It’s so simple to make. Galette is a French free form pie. I use my all butter pie crust. You can easily take a short cut & pickup a store … Continue reading Tomato Galette
Roselle Hibiscus Jam
I have a favorite farmers market and it’s up in Oxnard at the Channel Islands Harbor. I always find the most delicious produce up there. But this time, I had found something that I had never seen before. These strange looking red flowers in the produce tables instead of the florists section. The seller told … Continue reading Roselle Hibiscus Jam
Karpouzopita -Watermelon Pie from Milos
In Greece, we will turn just about anything into a pita. And that includes this wonderful and unique pita made of watermelon, call karpouzopita, from Milos in the Cyclades! Greek watermelons are some of the sweetest varieties that you will ever eat! My good friend Demetra is from Milos, and she shared this recipe with … Continue reading Karpouzopita -Watermelon Pie from Milos
Pumpkin Trahana Risotto
I was inspired by Chef Christina Xenos’ recipe for a mushroom risotto that she made for an event that I recently attended, using trahana instead of rice. And so, I made a pumpkin trahana risotto with the same principles. And it came out quite divine!!! We Greeks love our trahana! It is the Ancient Greek … Continue reading Pumpkin Trahana Risotto
Milopita-Greek Apple Cake
It’s mid September and apples are in season! So what better to make than an apple cake! Pita is the Greek word for pies and cakes, and they can be both savory or sweet. So milopita means apple cake. This cake is super moist and very delicious! You will love it. It’s like an apple … Continue reading Milopita-Greek Apple Cake
Kormos Mosaiko (Chocolate Salami)
This classic easy dessert uses simple ingredients that you might already have at home. It goes by a few names. Kormos means trunk, like a tree trunk. Mosaiko means mosaic because of the mosaic pattern of the cookies and nuts. And in Cyprus, it is called Doukissa, which means duchess. This is of course a … Continue reading Kormos Mosaiko (Chocolate Salami)
Yiouvetsi Hirino (with pork)
Yiouvetsi is pure comfort food! You start the process on the stove top and finish it in the oven. The result is a combination of sweet and savory in one bite. Yiouvetsi is made with various types of meat including lamb, chicken and beef. I have even seen it made with shrimp. I had chosen … Continue reading Yiouvetsi Hirino (with pork)
Amygdalota -Greek Almond Cookies
Amygdalota cookies are the classic Greek almond cookies & my favorite thing to make when I have a few leftover egg whites!
Revithada – Greek Chickpea Stew
Revithada is chickpea stew from the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea in Greece.
Fasolakia Yiahni me Arni -Green Beans & Lamb Stew
Greek string bean stew with lamb. I used lamb shanks. On the bone. Cooked long till the meat fell right off in a rich tomato sauce. This is just another example of Greek comfort food. Something your mother or your yiayia might have ready when you came home from school or on a Sunday. Now … Continue reading Fasolakia Yiahni me Arni -Green Beans & Lamb Stew
Koulourakia- Greek Butter Cookies
Koulourakia are the best butter cookies in my book! They are the official Greek Easter cookie, but we do enjoy them all year long. To quote my friend Kathy : “Koulourakia have been prepared since at least the time of the Minoan civilization. The Minoans sometimes prepared the pastries like small snakes, because they worshiped … Continue reading Koulourakia- Greek Butter Cookies
Tiramisu
My husband’s favorite dessert is tiramisu. Hands down! If tiramisu is on the menu, he is ordering it for dessert! What’s not to love about this Italian classic? Coffee soaked lady fingers, luscious mascarpone, cocoa powder. It doesn’t take long to make it either. I made it yesterday for our 24th wedding anniversary! I have … Continue reading Tiramisu
Apple Cider Walnut Olive Oil Cake
You will absolutely love this beautiful cake! As we are still keeping Lent, I wanted to make a lent appropriate or vegan cake. Gotta have something a little sweet you know! I used olive oil instead of butter. And no eggs. It is very easy to make! Ingredients: 2 cups of flour 1 cup sugar … Continue reading Apple Cider Walnut Olive Oil Cake
Manhattan Clam Chowder
Manhattan Clam Chowder. Tomato based, a little bit spicy, herby & smokey. This is such a beautiful soup! Little know fact about me. I used to eat New England clam chowder at nearly every restaurant that offered it. It was my favorite. Then something in my body changed and for the past twenty years, I … Continue reading Manhattan Clam Chowder
Ladokouloura
Beautiful Ladokouloura are a traditional olive oil cookie, that is naturally vegan and perfect for the Greek Orthodox Lent. These are so delicious and so easy to make, you will want to make them often! The traditional aromatics are cinnamon, orange, cognac. Because I was out of cognac, and had a different Greek liqueur made … Continue reading Ladokouloura
Buttermilk Pie
Buttermilk Pie is a pie found in the South! I was looking for recipes to use up some leftover buttermilk. Decided to google and see if this existed, and well here we are, and it’s DIVINE!!! The texture of this pie is velvety! The tang is just right. It’s like a cross between a cheesecake … Continue reading Buttermilk Pie
Chocolate Tahini Orange Olive Oil Cake
Chocolate Tahini Orange Olive Oil Cake.This is lightly sweet, earthy, and a little floral. Perfect with coffee or tea. Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups flour4 eggs1 cup of sugar1 cup olive oil1/4 cup Greek yogurtZest of 2 oranges1/4 cup hot water1 shot of bourbon or brandy 2 tbsp tahini1/2 cup cocoa powder1 tsp instant coffee1 tsp … Continue reading Chocolate Tahini Orange Olive Oil Cake
Ekmek Kataifi
Ekmek Kataifi is my hands down most favorite Greek dessert of all time! I had even requested a huge tray of this dessert for my sweet sixteen. Kataifi phyllo can be found in Greek, Mediterranean, or Middle Eastern markets. It resembles shredded wheat or even vermicelli, but is neither of those things. Kataifi phyllo is … Continue reading Ekmek Kataifi
Trigona Panoramatos
This Greek dessert hails from Panorama, a suburb of Thessaloniki located up on the hill that overlooks the city. It was invented by a local baker there. Trigona Panoramatos are custard filled phyllo triangle cones that are syrup dipped and they are amazing! For a long time I had believed that the custard was a … Continue reading Trigona Panoramatos
Yiayia Erasmia’s Vasilopita
George has always told me about the savory sweet Vasilopita that his mother Georgia used to make. All he could recall was that it has chicken and sugar in it. Well that’s not much for me to go by! And his mother is long gone now. So I decided that this year I wanted to … Continue reading Yiayia Erasmia’s Vasilopita
Baklava Cheesecake
This dessert that has been trending for the past few years. It marries two of my favorite things; baklava and cheesecake! I think that they were meant to go together. The syrup sweetened nutty phyllo becomes the crust, while that cream cheese custard is the filling. You want to parbake the phyllo till lightly golden … Continue reading Baklava Cheesecake
Dolmades – Greek stuffed grape leaves
Variations of stuffed grape leaves or dolmades are made all over the Balkans all the way go the Middle East. They differ according to cultural culinary traditions. This is the Greek version. This one is herby, lemony and filled with ground beef and rice. You can make the same thing with only herbs and rice, … Continue reading Dolmades – Greek stuffed grape leaves
Fasolada- Greek bean soup
Fasolada is the national dish of Greece 🇬🇷. The humblest of bean soups with the simplest of ingredients. Make THIS hearty soup this winter! I am using my late mother in law, Georgia’s recipe. She was an AMAZING cook! A true master of the kitchen. Most of all, she loved her family fiercely. Taken in … Continue reading Fasolada- Greek bean soup
Makaronia me kima
Makaronia me kima- Greek spaghetti & meat sauce. Classic Greek mama food. How I loved coming home from school & seeing this on the stove top! Comfort food at its finest! It may look like a bolognese sauce, however it is certainly a different dish. It’s really a simple recipe made with a lot of … Continue reading Makaronia me kima
Loukoumades
Have you ever had loukoumades before? If you are Greek, definitely! If you have visited a Greek church festival, surely! Well this is the sourdough homemade version! Some folks call them Greek baby donuts. My yiayia Anneta, who this blog is inspired by was the person who made them a staple of our childhood. They … Continue reading Loukoumades
Moussaka
Moussaka is one of the most popular Greek dishes by far. It is layers of potatoes, eggplant, cinnamon infused meat sauce & creamy béchamel sauce. Some cooks also add sliced zucchini. There are similar versions of it all over the Balkans and in the Middle East, making it a beloved dish shared among many nations. … Continue reading Moussaka
Bouyourdi – Greek spicy cheese dip
The first and only time that I had ever eaten bouyourdi was in 2016, when I spent the afternoon with my friend Eleni in Thessaloniki, which is the capital of Macedonia, Greece. I had spent a few days visiting my in laws in Trikala, and was going to fly to Kefalonia to visit my parents. … Continue reading Bouyourdi – Greek spicy cheese dip
Lamb Klephtiko
Lamb Klephtiko is a legendary Greek dish that at least dates back to the days of the Ottoman occupation of Greece. The klephts were Greek warriors who fought the Ottoman Turks to free Greece from 400 years of occupation, or “sklavia”, which we considered to be slavery. So that they would not be detected up … Continue reading Lamb Klephtiko
Portokalopita- Greek Orange Cake
Portokalopita is a traditional Greek orange cake. The concept is similar to that of bread pudding, where you make a custard and bake soaked stale bread. However, you use phyllo dough that you dehydrate in the oven, so no flour is needed. It also uses the whole orange, so you will boil that orange in … Continue reading Portokalopita- Greek Orange Cake
Summer Berry Pie
Summer Berry Pie is one of my absolute favorite pies to bake. Paired with a flaky all butter pie crust that is super easy to put together. Strawberries. Raspberries. Blueberries. These are in season, so take advantage of that! Ingredients: 6 cups of berries. Mix them up.1 cup of sugarJuice & zest of 1/2 a … Continue reading Summer Berry Pie
Apricot Clafoutis
This is such a beautifully silky treat! Barely sweet custard studded with apricots. Stone fruit are in season and I had 8 apricots that were sitting in a bowl getting ripe. Clafoutis is a French dessert. A baked custard usually made with cherries. I used both fragrant orange & lemon zest in mine. And the … Continue reading Apricot Clafoutis
Sourdough Citrus Cinnamon Buns
I have been making sourdough bread for the past couple of months, and of course I have ventured out to other sourdough goodies. I am in love with these sourdough citrus cinnamon buns. If you know sourdough, then you must know that patience is a virtue. I suggest letting the dough rise overnight because you … Continue reading Sourdough Citrus Cinnamon Buns
Tiropita Kouro – shortcrust cheese pies
One of my favorite types of Greek pastry dough is this savory kourou. It is based in yogurt and olive oil with a bit of grated cheese in it. The dough comes together in nearly five minutes. And of course you can fill them with anything you like. I filled these with feta, kasseri & … Continue reading Tiropita Kouro – shortcrust cheese pies
Tsoureki – Greek Easter Bread
We bake this once a year for Orthodox Easter. It is a sweet bread in the brioche family that everyone looks forward to. There are a couple of variations of aromatics. This is how yiayia Anneta made it, with a couple of additions from me. If you are Greek, then this is something that you … Continue reading Tsoureki – Greek Easter Bread
Carrot Pecan Muffins
Who doesn’t love a great muffin? I know that you will enjoy these carrot pecan muffins as much as we do! They are super moist and packed with flavor! I used the carrots, the juice and zest of an orange, cinnamon, cardamom & maple syrup. I added in some golden raisins and chopped pecans. They … Continue reading Carrot Pecan Muffins
Mizithropita (Ricotta Cheesecake) from Kefalonia
There is one dessert that reminds me of yiayia Anneta, whose kitchen I grew up in. While she made multiple types of traditional desserts that I associate with her, this one in particular no one else that I knew made. It is a ricotta based cheescake that is a regional sepcialty to Kefalonia, where we … Continue reading Mizithropita (Ricotta Cheesecake) from Kefalonia
on xenia street 