I was first introduced to the za’atar spice blend by a Lebanese client of mine, who had me over and pulled out some za’atar bread, cheese, tea & a hookah pipe for us to share. The next day I found a middle eastern market, purchased a jar, and have been in love with the spice … Continue reading Za’atar Chicken Thighs
Vlita are nearly every Greeks favorite greens. Because they are hard to find in the US, they tend to create nostalgia among us Greek Americans. Vlita from Mary & Yianni’s garden. I had visited my friend Mary the other day, and her husband offered to cut me a few bunches from their garden. They are … Continue reading Vlita – Boiled Amaranth Greens
Cactus or Prickly Pears always remind me of our visit to Greece in 1982. I have a distinct memory of my yiayia Artanoula taking my sister and me on a short walk (and climb) to the field behind her home to pick some prickly pears. In Greece they are called “fragosyka”, and in Kefalonia “barbarosyka” … Continue reading Prickly Pear Salad
This right here, is my husband’s favorite dip! Tirokafteri literally means hot (spicy) cheese. It is made with wonderful creamy, salty feta, Greek yogurt, Florina peppers, garlic, olive oil & red pepper flakes. Traditionally served with warm bread or pita. I also love it with a plate of cool crispy crudités (veggie sticks), pita chips … Continue reading Tirokafteri- Spicy Feta Dip
This is one of my favorite traditional Greek dips. The first time I ate it, I was in a restaurant in Astoria, NY, which is NYC’s Greek town & is full of some of the most authentic Greek restaurants & markets in the United States. Melintzanosalata You start by roasting your eggplants. I do that … Continue reading Melintzanosalata, Greek Eggplant Dip
Politiki Salata is a traditional salad brought to us by the Greeks of Constantinople, which is modern day Istanbul. It is made with both green and purple cabbage, shredded carrots, celery, spring onions, fresh parsley, and roasted red peppers. It is tangy and bright, and among Greeks, considered a winter salad. In essence it is … Continue reading Polítiki Salata
Roasting peppers is super easy! I only roasted one as that is all I need for the next couple of recipes, which call for it. So I decided to roast a red pepper on the stove top. Now, as the recipes that I will be making this week are Greek, they are specifically calling for … Continue reading Roasted Red Peppers
One of the health issues that I deal with is Candida. And it can be a very unpleasant pain in the you know where! Candida Albicans is a gut bacteria that exists in everyone’s body. For some of us, an overgrowth can be triggered that will cause an abundance of yeast production & fungal infections … Continue reading Candida Pau d’arco Detox Tea
Have you ever made kitchen medicine? I often do! I look to some of the sage advice that my pappou (grandfather) taught me about some of the traditional botanicals he had learned about from his parents. Add in my own research, and I discover even more! Greeks call those “yiatrosofia” which are what we call … Continue reading Onion, orange peel & ginger tea with Sideritis (Greek mountain Tea)
Last week when I was playing around with ideas for different switchel recipes, I came up with one that actually helped me, my husband and a friend with some stomach bloating, water retention. So my beautiful friend Villie, named it Diana’s Detox Elixir! Grapefruit & lemon verbena switchel “Diana’s Detox Elixir” Here is why it … Continue reading Diana’s Detox Elixir
on xenia street 