2011-12-23

Thracian Baklava with Sesame Seeds and Dried Figs


Merry Christmas! I wish you all the best, have fun, enjoy the company of your loved ones and feel the joy!!
Today I have a traditional dessert from my hometown Xanthi - Greece. It's a baklava with sesame seeds and dried figs. Baklava is the most easy dessert to make, so don't be afraid, get the ingredients and serve a succulent dessert. 


Ingredients

For the syrup 
1 1 / 2 cup water 
1 cup sugar 
1 / 2 cup honey 
The peel from one lemon 
1 cinnamon stick 
Juice from 1 / 4 lemon 
For the pie 
1 pack phyllo pastry (500 gr) 
250 g melted butter 
1 cup chopped walnuts 
1 cup roasted sesame seeds
5-6 dried figs, cut into small pieces 
1 tablespoon sugar 
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon  
1 teaspoon ground cloves  
1/2 cup chopped pistachios for serving

Directions

Using a saucepan, combine all the ingredients of the syrup and simmer for 15 minutes. Skim any foams that rise to the surface. Let the syrup to cold.
Thaw phyllo pastry according to package directions. Keep pastry covered with clean damp dish towel to keep it from drying out. 
Place 1/3 of pastry sheets in a greased baking pan, one by one, brushing each sheet all over with melted butter. 
Combine walnuts, sesame seeds, figs, cinnamon, clove and sugar in a bowl. 
Sprinkle the sheets and place the other 1/3 of sheets (don't forget to brush each one with butter). 

Sprinkle some filling again and continue with the last 1/3 of sheets. Bake at 350° until brown and crisp, about 30 to 35 minutes.  
When the pie is ready and hot, pour the cold syrup into the pan and let the pie absorb all of the syrup (2 hours) 
Serve with chopped pistachios on top.

Enjoy the Holidays! 


2011-12-19

Mixed Green salad with hazelnuts and blue cheese vinaigrette



2011-12-03

Chicken Meatball soup with vegetables


How are you, are you shopping for Christmas, decorating, baking?
I love the pre-Christmas time the same as I love Christmas and New Years Eve!
Since i became a mom, I truly enjoy decorating, baking, watching Christmas movies and all these things.. This kid changed my life for sure :)
Today I have a famous Italian - American Soup, simple and broth-like with tasty chicken meatballs, carrots, spinach, corn and orzo. The most easiest, nourishing, colourful and joyful soup so perfect on a cold cloudy day..


2011-11-30

Fennel Risotto with Crispy Sesame Shrimp


Hello hello!!! It got a little chili today and we even saw some snowflakes.. But.. that was it!
I know that for people who live here in Canada for many years, snowing is just so common and normal thing to happen but for me who it's my first year in Toronto it's so exciting!
I love snow! Back in Greece in Athens the weather is warm almost all year round, and maybe you'll see snow for one or two days in a year.. Of course not every year..
Lets go to the recipe now, simple, easy risotto with such an aroma and crispy sesame shrimps! Delicious!


Ingredients (4 people) 

For the risotto 
6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 whole star anise
1 teaspoon ground coriander
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion diced
1 fennel bulb, halved, cored and diced
1 cup Greek Carolina or Arborio or Carnaroli Rice
1 cup dry white wine
1-2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup grated Parmesan and more for serving
Salt and Pepper

For the shrimp 
20 medium shrimp, peeled and deveined ( keep the tails on)
1/3 cup sesame seeds
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
A little grated cheese for sprinkling
A little flour
Salt - Pepper

Directions 

Place a skillet over medium heat and when the pan is hot add the sesame seeds and toast them for 1-2 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and set aside.
We start putting the risotto broth to warm up. In a saucepan, add 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon butter. We have a pan over medium-high heat.
In a medium pot combine the chicken or vegetable stock with star anise and coriander over medium - low heat and keep warm.
Preheta the oven to 400 degrees.
Coat a deep pan with the olive oil and pace over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the onion and fennel. Cook, stirring until the vegetables are soft.
Add the rice and stir for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, stir in the wine and simmer to evaporate the alcohol.
Pour in 1 cup of the warm broth. Stir until the rice has absorbed all of the liquid. Keep stirring while adding the broth cup by cup allowing the rice to absorb the liquid before adding more.
Cook for 18 minutes or untill the rice is tender but firm to the bite. Remove from heat and add the butter and parmesan. Stir.
Meanwhile use a bowl and whisk the olive oil, honey and vinegar. Put the flour in a shallow plate and season with salt and pepper. Dredge the shrimp into flour then in the oil-honey-vinegar and then into sesame seeds.
Use a baking pan covered with parchment paper and lay the shrimps on it. Sprinkle some grated parmesan on top.
Bake the shrimp for 10 minutes.
Serve the risotto with the crispy shrimps on top.

Enjoy!!


2011-10-13

Quince Traditional spoon sweet

One of my favourite spoon sweets and one of the most famous in Greece.  The sweet and a bit of sour quince is absolutely a must try!


2011-10-11

Pasta with bell peppers and light Greek yogurt sauce

I love pasta in combination with Greek yogurt! Try this recipe and you’ll find out what I mean. It’s such an easy and light dish yet so fresh and hearty!


2011-10-06

Delicious (Rolo Kima me Vassiliko) Meatloaf with basil sauce

You can still find some basil on the market ( in case you don’t have it in your garden).. this is a super delicious dish, so easy to make, with such an aroma that will blow your mind!

2011-09-29

Tart “Mediterraneo”

A yummy tart with popular Mediterranean ingredients.  I could almost see and smell the Mediterranean sea in Toronto this weekend..

2011-09-20

Spanakopita – The famous spinach and cheese pie

I think that Spanakopita is the most famous recipe of the Greek Cuisine that you can find anywhere.
 This is a slightly different version with feta cheese and béchamel sauce.

2011-09-16

Lentil Tabbouleh

Tabbouleh salad is one of the most famous salads in the Middle Eastern Cuisine. The last 10 years this salad has gained its place in Greek Cuisine. I am suggesting a different kind of a tabbouleh salad not with bulgur but with lentils. I hope you like it!

2011-09-13

Greek "Fricassee Aygolemono" with chicken, lettuce and celery root

Back in Greece,  Fricassee with lamb is one of the most classic and famous dishes. My suggestion is a lighter version made with chicken, potatoes, celery root and of course the main ingredient Romaine lettuce. The dish is served with the most widely known Greek lemon-egg sauce “Aygolemono”.


2011-09-08

Green Salad with Oyster mushrooms, walnuts and Graviera cheese

I love grilled Oyster mushrooms and the combination with walnuts and hearty Greek cheese is so delicious!

2011-09-07

(Cyclades Revithada) - Chickpeas Oven Baked

This is the most popular chickpea recipe in the Islands of Cyclades. It is traditionally cooked in special clay pot and it’s baking in a wood oven over night.

2011-08-31

Greek Risotto with shrimp and zucchini

Back in Greece we traditionally use a local variety of rice called Carolina. It’s not so easy to find it here in Canada although some big markets got it in their Greek sections..If you cant find Carolina Rice you can use the Italian style rice.


2011-08-19

Pork tenderloin stuffed with sun dried tomatoes, bell peppers and feta cheese

Yummy dish , easy to make although it doesn’t seem that way. Use your imagination and fill your pork fillets with whatever ingredients you desire.

2011-08-12

Beet Salad with yogurt and walnuts

Classic Greek salad with beets and yogurt. One of my favorites, hearty and refreshing! 


2011-08-11

Cretan Kaltsounia filled with anthotyro cheese and fresh mint

We love Crete so much..! Lovely people, amazing landscapes, great culture and excellent food!
I decided to make Cretan Kaltsounia  and bring Crete a little closer.. So.. Last Saturday we traveled once again to Crete with these traditional mini cheese pies!


2011-08-09

Tender Potato salad with sundried tomatoes, green onions and lemon vinaigrette

 Who wants to stay inside a kitchen when the weather is too hot? Thank God for Barbeque and this salad can be the perfect side for steaks, burgers even fish. Simple and delicious!


2011-08-08

Chubby home made Loukoumades :) (Greek Donuts)

(In Greek)

Traditional Greek Loukoumades is the breakfast food that I grew up with.
Every weekend our breakfast table was full of fresh fruits, yogurt, honey and Loukoumades!
These chubby donuts are so delicious and you can have them drizzled with honey or Maple syrup.


2011-08-05

Greek Shrimp “Saganaki” (Oven baked)

This is one of my favorite appetizer recipes, very common in Greece, especially when you’re sitting by the sea with friends drinking Ouzo!

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