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
Bone broth is what I refer to as old world medicine. While I have purchased store bought bone broth, making your own is what I consider a food that you made for free. It is made with scraps of foods that you have consumed. And you control all of the flavors. It is the perfect … Continue reading Bone Broth
Have you ever heard of a Switchel? It is an old world electrolyte rich beverage created in the 17th C in either New England or the Caribbean. There is tradition for this drink in both places. In the American Colonies it became a traditional thirst quencher to offer farmers at hay harvesting time, as plain … Continue reading Switchel
on xenia street 