I love baklava! Greeks love baklava. In fact, the whole of the Balkans and the Middle East loves baklava. Even better is that everyone I speak to loves baklava!!! Did you know that baklava’s roots trace all the way back to Ancient Greece — as far back as Minoan Crete around 3100 B.C.? An early … Continue reading Baklava with mixed nuts
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
Gigantes Plaki – Greek Baked Beans
Gigantes Plaki. These are the famous Greek baked beans. The ultimate in Greek comfort food! We eat them all year long, and they are perfect as a side dish or the main course. We use Greek gigantic or giant beans for this recipe, but if you can’t find them, you can use Lima beans or … Continue reading Gigantes Plaki – Greek Baked Beans
Kariokes
This is one of my favorite nostalgic Greek treats. And it’s so easy to make too! One of my aunts in Kefalonia always had them in the fridge ready for guests to serve with Greek coffee. I remember them on her three tiered candy dish. It’s the perfect no bake refrigerator dessert. All you need … Continue reading Kariokes
Greek coffee and cocoa infused koulourakia
Koulourakia are a favorite cookie among Greeks! It’s likely the first one you helped your mom shape as a kid with your little hands. It’s a delicious butter cookie. Now did you know that you can play around with the classic flavor and make something different? I was inspired by my good friend, Chef Krystina … Continue reading Greek coffee and cocoa infused koulourakia
Karydopita
Every Greek has a memory involving this dessert. It's a dessert associated with family celebrations and happiness. As far as I can remember, in the family the aunt that made the best karydopita, as I beleive it was her trademark dessert, was my grandfathers sister, our thia Koula. I remember visiting her often as a … Continue reading Karydopita
Cherry Pie
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
on xenia street 