To be honest, I have written this blog out of adoring my new activity to cook, and aiming at no success , but I already happen to have a publishing offer, which am going to finance soon. And now basically in one year, 4000 pageviews are near.
So for that to celebrate , here's an idea of how you may make:
MY FAVOURITE PIZZA
To make a nice elastic pizza base:
White bread flour or plain flour
Yeast
Sugar
Salt
warm water
yeast, sugar,salt in equal proportions or other combinations depending on your taste preferrence.
Mix the ingredients and leave to rise for 30mins-2 hours, its up to you and how much time you've got.
Knead the dough well and roll it out with a thick rolling pin.
Turn on the oven at 250degrees
Pour some lugs of olive oil in a large oven tray, place the pizza base on it.
The basic tomatoe sauce I use:
Tint tomatoes or Passata sauce
garlic
Thyme
The toppings I like are:
Onions
Rocket (on top, after the pizza is cooked)
Artichoke hearts
Black pitted olives
Proschuto or greek tiny meatballs (with feta cheese in them) (please look at the mezes in 2011 recipies in this blog)
a ball of Mozzarella (shredded)
some Parmezan
Some tomatoe slices
and fresh basil
Also sprinkle oregano , salt and black pepper
Pour some lugs of olive oil on the toppings and place the tray in the oven for about 20mins or more, if you like it more crispy.
You may put sides of chips, pasta or greek salad.
With a glass of dry white wine this meal will make you happy and leave you very content:
Attraverciamo!
Thursday, 10 January 2013
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
My pasta bake
I have been stagnated for a long time, as I didnt get inspiration nor pleasure out of my cooking. In that time I have tried to create something simple based on my own difficult taste. So finally I tried 'my pasta bake' , it was so gorgeous that I would recommend you to try it.
Penne pasta
Good tinted tomatoes
Black pitted olives
red chillie
One onion
Salt and pepper
Oregano
Put the pasta in a pot with water to boil (10 mins). Cut the onion, the chillie and put them in a small bowl. Add the olives, the tomatoes, salt and pepper, oregano and some grated chedar cheese. Mix with a wooden spoon. When the pasta is ready, put the pot lid on top of the pot half way, and pour out the water out (leave a bit of water in). Then throw into the pasta the mix, and give it a couple of stirs. Empty the ingedients into a medium sized tray.
Heat the oven at 250 degrees.
White sauce (or bechamel without the egg)
Butter
Plain flour
Milk
Melt the butter in a pot on low heat, throw the flour in and with a wooden spoon stir the roux. When the roux is getting a bit thick , put warmed milk in and stir quickly until it becomes a slightly thick white sauce. Add some nutmeg (a pinch or two) , stir and take it off the heat. Pour the sauce onto the pasta mix. Add a lot of cheddar on top.
Put the tray in the oven and let it cook for 15 mins. Take it out and put some (tiger type) of sliced bread, in pieces, on top of the pasta bake. Make sure you dont press the pieces too much into the bake. Put the tray in the oven for another 10 mins.
Take it out and let it rest for 10 mins. Serve as much as you like and enjoy with some white wine. (I omit the wine as I am not a drinker).
And voila, my pasta bake.
Penne pasta
Good tinted tomatoes
Black pitted olives
red chillie
One onion
Salt and pepper
Oregano
Put the pasta in a pot with water to boil (10 mins). Cut the onion, the chillie and put them in a small bowl. Add the olives, the tomatoes, salt and pepper, oregano and some grated chedar cheese. Mix with a wooden spoon. When the pasta is ready, put the pot lid on top of the pot half way, and pour out the water out (leave a bit of water in). Then throw into the pasta the mix, and give it a couple of stirs. Empty the ingedients into a medium sized tray.
Heat the oven at 250 degrees.
White sauce (or bechamel without the egg)
Butter
Plain flour
Milk
Melt the butter in a pot on low heat, throw the flour in and with a wooden spoon stir the roux. When the roux is getting a bit thick , put warmed milk in and stir quickly until it becomes a slightly thick white sauce. Add some nutmeg (a pinch or two) , stir and take it off the heat. Pour the sauce onto the pasta mix. Add a lot of cheddar on top.
Put the tray in the oven and let it cook for 15 mins. Take it out and put some (tiger type) of sliced bread, in pieces, on top of the pasta bake. Make sure you dont press the pieces too much into the bake. Put the tray in the oven for another 10 mins.
Take it out and let it rest for 10 mins. Serve as much as you like and enjoy with some white wine. (I omit the wine as I am not a drinker).
And voila, my pasta bake.
Wednesday, 12 September 2012
The irresistable stuffed vegetables (made in Greece..errr well)
Almost all island greek cooking is similar to the turkish food, and also influenced by the middle eastern recipies, one such recipie is the stuffed veggetables or..dolmas. The success in this is largely based on the freshness and locality of the vegetables used: for example the taste of the Cretan tomatoes and Messara (Crete) potatoes are something to make this dish.. out of this world . The only herb used in this is: Cretan mint, which I dont know how you will find it, but you may use Uk garden mint etc. I find myself smelling this herb for a good few mins whenever I cook this dish, as I find the smell irresistable.
So for a summer dinner in Crete, preferrably eaten outside in the garden under a tree.. here goes:
Large ripe tomatoes
Large potatoes (new)
Large Aubergine
White rice
fresh mint
onion (grated)
half a tin chooped tint tomatoes
Olive oil
Preheat the oven while you do this.
Cut out the top of all veggies in rounds (thick). Use a small spoon or a kitchen tool to spoon out the flesh of all veggies used. In a large bowl, grate all of the veggies flesh you have spooned out. Throw a cup of rice in the bowl. Cut a large bunch of mint in very small pieces, and put that inside the bowl too. Grate a large onion, and add to the ingredients. Add the chopped tomatoes. Pour a couple of cups of olive oil in. Season with a good few pinches of salt and black pepper.
Mix with your hands, and let rest, while you season the veggies and place without the lids inside a large tray.
With a spoon put the mix inside all veggies in the tray (dont completely fill them up, allow a bit of empty space at the tops). Cover with their lids (also seasoned) and put your hand on top of the mix left inside the bowl and empty the oil (and inevitably some of the ingredients) from inside the bowl on top of the veggies.
Add half a cup of water on top of the veggies, and a couple of splashes of olive oil.
Put the tray in the oven, and cook for about 1 hr. Check after half an hour often, to see when the tops look cooked and also the rice is fluffy and ther veggies become more full as the now cooked ingredients make the veggies look...largely..stuffed.
When cooked, allow half an hour to rest. Put your choice of veggies on the plate, and accompany with feta cheese. It will turn out to be your favourite dish,for the summer, and thats a promice!
Kali orexi!
So for a summer dinner in Crete, preferrably eaten outside in the garden under a tree.. here goes:
Large ripe tomatoes
Large potatoes (new)
Large Aubergine
White rice
fresh mint
onion (grated)
half a tin chooped tint tomatoes
Olive oil
Preheat the oven while you do this.
Cut out the top of all veggies in rounds (thick). Use a small spoon or a kitchen tool to spoon out the flesh of all veggies used. In a large bowl, grate all of the veggies flesh you have spooned out. Throw a cup of rice in the bowl. Cut a large bunch of mint in very small pieces, and put that inside the bowl too. Grate a large onion, and add to the ingredients. Add the chopped tomatoes. Pour a couple of cups of olive oil in. Season with a good few pinches of salt and black pepper.
Mix with your hands, and let rest, while you season the veggies and place without the lids inside a large tray.
With a spoon put the mix inside all veggies in the tray (dont completely fill them up, allow a bit of empty space at the tops). Cover with their lids (also seasoned) and put your hand on top of the mix left inside the bowl and empty the oil (and inevitably some of the ingredients) from inside the bowl on top of the veggies.
Add half a cup of water on top of the veggies, and a couple of splashes of olive oil.
Put the tray in the oven, and cook for about 1 hr. Check after half an hour often, to see when the tops look cooked and also the rice is fluffy and ther veggies become more full as the now cooked ingredients make the veggies look...largely..stuffed.
When cooked, allow half an hour to rest. Put your choice of veggies on the plate, and accompany with feta cheese. It will turn out to be your favourite dish,for the summer, and thats a promice!
Kali orexi!
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
A quick snack on a combination of 'southern' flavours
Without a plan, and having limited time to prepare a snack and share it with friends over a glass of wine, and living room atmosphere, also allowing us to be standing up and share from a plate in the middle of it all, helping in creating a day party (including children), and also looking for an easy way of 'expensive taste' and also 'not aiming at getting stuffed' as we would under a normal dinner party with invitations, I ve come up with the following recipie: tried and tested to be an absolute 'success' combined with a glass of white wine (only for the adults in the party).
Main ingredients bought from an average grocery store:
Puff pastry
Mozarella
Ham (cooked)
Tomatoes
Eggs (hard boiled)
Butter (melted)
Preheat the oven whilst preparing the 'greek zamponotyropitta' (ie. Ham and cheese 'pie'). Roll out the pastry and cut out in a circle. Put sliced ham on and mozzarella broken into pieces. On top slices of tomatoes. Season (salt and pepper). Take one side of the pastry and over to the other side (shape of a semi circle). With a fork push the edge round the semi circle. Pierce the top with your fork (a couple of times). Brush melted butter and put in the oven. (Usually brownish after 15-20 mins). Boil an egg (secret put some salt into the boiling water so the egg doesn't crack). It needs to be hard boiled (10 mins). When the pie is cooked, take it out on a big plate , cut it in pieces (that way its not so hot when you eat it). Peel the shell out of the hard boiled egg and cut it in thick pieces (at the side of the same plate) and season with salt and cayenne pepper.
You can add some crisps on the side of the plate or a little salad portion of your choice. When you hold it up for your friends to come and share its the 'party' way and also you can make more (one plate between two friends) and still you can stand up, share and conveniently gets you out of the 'formality' of sitting around a table. A Quick Fix of 'expensive taste and party atmosphere. Secret : it has to be enjoyed straight out of the oven for maximum pleasure. As you make the plater (s) you can still allow your 'party friends' to stand with their shared plate by you in the kitchen, and eat . This combination of simple flavours is 'surpisingly' tasteful too!
Main ingredients bought from an average grocery store:
Puff pastry
Mozarella
Ham (cooked)
Tomatoes
Eggs (hard boiled)
Butter (melted)
Preheat the oven whilst preparing the 'greek zamponotyropitta' (ie. Ham and cheese 'pie'). Roll out the pastry and cut out in a circle. Put sliced ham on and mozzarella broken into pieces. On top slices of tomatoes. Season (salt and pepper). Take one side of the pastry and over to the other side (shape of a semi circle). With a fork push the edge round the semi circle. Pierce the top with your fork (a couple of times). Brush melted butter and put in the oven. (Usually brownish after 15-20 mins). Boil an egg (secret put some salt into the boiling water so the egg doesn't crack). It needs to be hard boiled (10 mins). When the pie is cooked, take it out on a big plate , cut it in pieces (that way its not so hot when you eat it). Peel the shell out of the hard boiled egg and cut it in thick pieces (at the side of the same plate) and season with salt and cayenne pepper.
You can add some crisps on the side of the plate or a little salad portion of your choice. When you hold it up for your friends to come and share its the 'party' way and also you can make more (one plate between two friends) and still you can stand up, share and conveniently gets you out of the 'formality' of sitting around a table. A Quick Fix of 'expensive taste and party atmosphere. Secret : it has to be enjoyed straight out of the oven for maximum pleasure. As you make the plater (s) you can still allow your 'party friends' to stand with their shared plate by you in the kitchen, and eat . This combination of simple flavours is 'surpisingly' tasteful too!
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
for the kids
One of the most difficult tasks of any mum is to ...make their children eat a lot and in a healthy way. However, some 'treats' are healthy, especially chocolate! Funnily enough, chocolate has a lot of concentration calories and calories in general. It is suggested to university students, that after a long night of revising before the actual exam, they should eat a bar of chocolate to actually 'wake up' and energise their minds, although tired, to perform well in the exam.
As children are energetic and go to school too, a bar of chocolate won't harm them. Of course not every day but it is not as bad as mums and dads think.
Also, the taste buds of an adult are different than those of children. Adults who don't drink prefer less fat in their eating habits. However, people who drink prefer a fatty breakfast or a late night fatty snack. The way we eat is judged by our family background, personal preference and money, but also the media. In UK and all over the West there have been massive media and marketing efforts to 'eat our veggies' or 'eat healthily'. Also, Jamie Oliver, a very funky chef, has introduced 'healthy eating' in schools, by managing the same budget available to them too.
An amateur chef like me, also working with my Little Cook too, my 5 year old, I have introduced the spirit of 'cooking' in my household. Let's face it, instead of staring at the telly or..the wall, preparing a meal is an art but also a game, and also a sociable aim too. In my daughters school, they have an hour of cooking class which is optional, and in fact my background, makes me feel so surprised that lots of little boys join, and more surprised that their mums and dads approve of that too.
I feel through my 'very special recipies' I can influence the 'international' idea for cooking in my daughters class too (obviously adjusted by me and in the end the teachers , so that the kids can understand the main idea).Also the aim is to understand that food is an interaction of culture and different countries, but share a similar idea : sitting around a table and eat with our family and friends.
Not to condemn telly or ds games, but today we have less and less communication in our lifes, relationships are based on materialism and self or social power. Through the love of cooking and eating together in our home, the reaction of seeking communication and love would probably warm us up later in life.
As children are energetic and go to school too, a bar of chocolate won't harm them. Of course not every day but it is not as bad as mums and dads think.
Also, the taste buds of an adult are different than those of children. Adults who don't drink prefer less fat in their eating habits. However, people who drink prefer a fatty breakfast or a late night fatty snack. The way we eat is judged by our family background, personal preference and money, but also the media. In UK and all over the West there have been massive media and marketing efforts to 'eat our veggies' or 'eat healthily'. Also, Jamie Oliver, a very funky chef, has introduced 'healthy eating' in schools, by managing the same budget available to them too.
An amateur chef like me, also working with my Little Cook too, my 5 year old, I have introduced the spirit of 'cooking' in my household. Let's face it, instead of staring at the telly or..the wall, preparing a meal is an art but also a game, and also a sociable aim too. In my daughters school, they have an hour of cooking class which is optional, and in fact my background, makes me feel so surprised that lots of little boys join, and more surprised that their mums and dads approve of that too.
I feel through my 'very special recipies' I can influence the 'international' idea for cooking in my daughters class too (obviously adjusted by me and in the end the teachers , so that the kids can understand the main idea).Also the aim is to understand that food is an interaction of culture and different countries, but share a similar idea : sitting around a table and eat with our family and friends.
Not to condemn telly or ds games, but today we have less and less communication in our lifes, relationships are based on materialism and self or social power. Through the love of cooking and eating together in our home, the reaction of seeking communication and love would probably warm us up later in life.
One for the Kids....Yummy!
Sometimes people eat and/or cook their own favourites at home, wherever side of the world they are in, on and on over the years without realising that many of those dishes 'came' from a different country.
In an attempt to help young children nowadays understand what is really the food they eat, I ve decided to provide their 'favourite' recipies ;
So let's start with....
'Can I have some PIZZA mum?'
Usually children refer to Margarita when they call out for Pizza, although Pizza can be Vezouvio, Meaty,Napolitan, Vegeterian etc.
Margarita is the 'basis' for most Pizzas, as it made by the basic Pizza dough, tomatoe sauce for pizza and sprinkle cheese. The simplicity of the Margarita makes it the favourite for children as they don't need to taste and test and possibly reject 'strange' ingredients as for example other pizza toppings: anchovies, spicy chicken etc.
Also , not only kids but also some adults don't know that Pizza generally is from a place called...Italy. Italians eat pizza and pasta daily. And my question is: 'why do they keep slim and healthy?'...but that will be answered in another chapter.
How do we make it?
Basic Pizza dough (medium crust)
Tomatoe sauce
Sprinkle cheese
Roll out the Pizza dough into the shape of a circle, allowing the outside circle end to be thicker than the inside. Spread out, with the back of a spoon, the tomatoe sauce and sprinkle a generous amount of grated cheese (cheddar, or mozzarela) all over the base. Place on an oven tray in a preheated oven and cook on medium heat for about 20 mins. Check when the cheese has cooked and starts to get brownish, and take it out to cool down for 5 mins and cut into triangles and serve! Gusto Perfecto (in Italian it means: perfect taste!)
'Mum!!! Make some Hot Dogs tonight!'
Hot Dogs is a derived German end, Die Wurste, which means the well known 'sandwich' with the special sausages in a long soft bread roll, sprinkled with ketchup usually. Germans make sure they have a couple during their driving stops in Autobang (motorway), but they are popular with..hot mustard and the sausage is put through the bread roll 'vertically'. It is a fact that 'hot dogs' were made popular by USA and enjoyed all over the world.
It looks easy to make and in the UK the special sausages are even sold in a can with a smaller version sausages, perfect for 'small' tummies.
Also, there is an old english version : the sausage rolls (very popular and in different sizes), originally made in the farm kitchens along with scotch eggs.
Daddies can barbeque lightly the sausages for the Hot Dogs, or mummies can oven cook them or lightly fry them, as they are smoked cooked before they are put in the cans by the factories. The secret for a perfect sausage is to cut it through vertically but only on the top . While frying or baking them warm up the bread roll in the oven. Take the bread out and cut it vertically and place the hot sausage inside. A thin line of ketchup (or mustard) on the sausage..makes it a Gooden Abend! (Nice evening in German). Or ' woohoo' (yeah! In usa) or 'lovely jumbly' (how nice in old english).
A tasteful Tapa for Children
Spanish Tapas are like the greek Meze , tiny snack dishes, usually aimed for adults. Tapas come from Spain solely. Here we will try to make a kids friendly one, simple and tasty. Mummy is always tired and she might work a lot too so if you need something quick to enjoy ask for this:
Enchilada with ham and cheese
Puff pastry
Your favourite cheese
Ham
A spoonful of ketchup
Butter
Roll out puff pastry (from the shop)
Use a round glass and cut circles of the pastry. Brush melted butter on them and place cuts of cheese and ham in the centre and put a bit of ketchup on them. Bring one end of the pastry over the ham and cheese mixture, to bring it to the shape of a semicirle. With a fork press the ends of the semicircle to seal it. With a knife make a small cut on the top and bake in a hot oven for about 15 mins or till the 'enchiladas' turn light brown. Astaluego: in Spanish it means 'See you later'
Greek meatballs platter
My daughter loves this and I am tempted to cook it for her friends also. This platter contains 5 greek meze dishes each downsized to a tiny portion for kids to enjoy variety and very healthy eating, seasoned with lemon and olive oil which makes it very Nostimo (tasty in greek).
For the basic 'hidden meze': the meatballs, be prepared for a lot of work and preparation but only for the first day.
1 Onion (grated)
Steak Mince 250gr
Old bread (soaked in water for a min or two)(squish the water out with your palms)
One egg (lightly beaten)
A handful of chopped up parsley
(Optional some chopped up mint)
Salt and pepper (a bit)
Mix all ingredients well with your hands. Roll small balls of the mix and...
Flour
Roll them on a plate with flour. Dust them out lightly.
Olive oil
Heat up olive oil in a non stick pan (but don't let it get too hot) and place the meatballs inside and let them cook, turn them round in the oil until they are brown. Take out with a slaughted spoon and squish
Lemon on them while hot.
(You can keep the mix for two days in the fridge and cook as much as you want for the two days).
Feta cheese
Cut a thick piece of feta sprinkle some olive oil and oregano on top.
Tzatziki
You may buy it ready from the dip section in the supermarket. Or make it as there is an easy recipie for it.
The Greek Platter
Use a big shallow plate. Put 3-4 meatballs, a spoonful of tzatziki, chips, some feta (as prepared), tomatoe and cucumber cut in small pieces. Warm up some pitta bread and cut it in pieces to serve with the platter. Kali Orexi! (Good Apettite in greek)
Chicken Souvlaki/kebab
This dish is healthy and kids love it. Its best done on a barbeque but they can be cooked in a non stick pan. Greeks and Turks have similar dishes in their kitchen. Souvlaki is the greek word for the turkish term 'kebab', although 'kebab' is the most english friendly word for it. The most 'boring' procedure is the marinating but then that's what gives it the irresistable and unique flavour. So...for the little tastebuds get ready Big Cook.
Two chicken breasts cut in thick cubes
Olive oil (just under half a cup)
Oregano (two pinches)
Pepper
Put the chicken in a large bowl, add oregano, oil and pepper and let marinate for 6 hours tossing here and there.
When ready to cook, drain the chicken and put through a squer , alternating large pieces of green pepper and onion. Grill or barbeque and squish some lemon over them when ready. You can eat them with chips and.
.ketchup.
Chocolate Chip Cookies: A Mistake
All kids love cookies or..bikies...especially when they know mum has stocked them up for..special occasions, somewhere in the kitchen cupboards.
Now, the very popular choco chip ones are in fact...some American woman's ..mistake, that happened in the late 30s. Her name was ....... She and her husband owned a bed and breakfast and she was responsible for making the breakfast for the guests. She was making the 'butter biscuit' recipie when she thought of adding a Nestle unsweetened chocolate bar , that she broke into pieces, aiming at turning the butter biscuits into chocolate ones. However, to her surprise and to everybody elses till now delight, the chocolate chips didn't melt after baking the cookies, they remained as they were within the cooked biscuits!
Mexican Tortillas ...simplified
We have all tried them. The tortilla wraps are now sold in all supermarkets, a hidden meaning that they are very popular within the British market. Also, burittos and chicken wrap packs etc.
In my home, my Little Cook loves a derived personal version: The Chip Wrap.
Easy to make, difficult to resist.
Tortilla Wrap
Chips
Greek Yoghurt
Slices of cucumber
Pinch of salt
Fry or oven bake the chips
Warm up the wrap for less than a min. Lay it flat on a large plate. Spread a large spoon of Greek yoghurt.Put the desired amount of cooked chips on it. Sprinkle evenly the chopped cucumber. A pinch of salt over the ingredients. Roll the tortilla carefully over. Irresistable!
In an attempt to help young children nowadays understand what is really the food they eat, I ve decided to provide their 'favourite' recipies ;
So let's start with....
'Can I have some PIZZA mum?'
Usually children refer to Margarita when they call out for Pizza, although Pizza can be Vezouvio, Meaty,Napolitan, Vegeterian etc.
Margarita is the 'basis' for most Pizzas, as it made by the basic Pizza dough, tomatoe sauce for pizza and sprinkle cheese. The simplicity of the Margarita makes it the favourite for children as they don't need to taste and test and possibly reject 'strange' ingredients as for example other pizza toppings: anchovies, spicy chicken etc.
Also , not only kids but also some adults don't know that Pizza generally is from a place called...Italy. Italians eat pizza and pasta daily. And my question is: 'why do they keep slim and healthy?'...but that will be answered in another chapter.
How do we make it?
Basic Pizza dough (medium crust)
Tomatoe sauce
Sprinkle cheese
Roll out the Pizza dough into the shape of a circle, allowing the outside circle end to be thicker than the inside. Spread out, with the back of a spoon, the tomatoe sauce and sprinkle a generous amount of grated cheese (cheddar, or mozzarela) all over the base. Place on an oven tray in a preheated oven and cook on medium heat for about 20 mins. Check when the cheese has cooked and starts to get brownish, and take it out to cool down for 5 mins and cut into triangles and serve! Gusto Perfecto (in Italian it means: perfect taste!)
'Mum!!! Make some Hot Dogs tonight!'
Hot Dogs is a derived German end, Die Wurste, which means the well known 'sandwich' with the special sausages in a long soft bread roll, sprinkled with ketchup usually. Germans make sure they have a couple during their driving stops in Autobang (motorway), but they are popular with..hot mustard and the sausage is put through the bread roll 'vertically'. It is a fact that 'hot dogs' were made popular by USA and enjoyed all over the world.
It looks easy to make and in the UK the special sausages are even sold in a can with a smaller version sausages, perfect for 'small' tummies.
Also, there is an old english version : the sausage rolls (very popular and in different sizes), originally made in the farm kitchens along with scotch eggs.
Daddies can barbeque lightly the sausages for the Hot Dogs, or mummies can oven cook them or lightly fry them, as they are smoked cooked before they are put in the cans by the factories. The secret for a perfect sausage is to cut it through vertically but only on the top . While frying or baking them warm up the bread roll in the oven. Take the bread out and cut it vertically and place the hot sausage inside. A thin line of ketchup (or mustard) on the sausage..makes it a Gooden Abend! (Nice evening in German). Or ' woohoo' (yeah! In usa) or 'lovely jumbly' (how nice in old english).
A tasteful Tapa for Children
Spanish Tapas are like the greek Meze , tiny snack dishes, usually aimed for adults. Tapas come from Spain solely. Here we will try to make a kids friendly one, simple and tasty. Mummy is always tired and she might work a lot too so if you need something quick to enjoy ask for this:
Enchilada with ham and cheese
Puff pastry
Your favourite cheese
Ham
A spoonful of ketchup
Butter
Roll out puff pastry (from the shop)
Use a round glass and cut circles of the pastry. Brush melted butter on them and place cuts of cheese and ham in the centre and put a bit of ketchup on them. Bring one end of the pastry over the ham and cheese mixture, to bring it to the shape of a semicirle. With a fork press the ends of the semicircle to seal it. With a knife make a small cut on the top and bake in a hot oven for about 15 mins or till the 'enchiladas' turn light brown. Astaluego: in Spanish it means 'See you later'
Greek meatballs platter
My daughter loves this and I am tempted to cook it for her friends also. This platter contains 5 greek meze dishes each downsized to a tiny portion for kids to enjoy variety and very healthy eating, seasoned with lemon and olive oil which makes it very Nostimo (tasty in greek).
For the basic 'hidden meze': the meatballs, be prepared for a lot of work and preparation but only for the first day.
1 Onion (grated)
Steak Mince 250gr
Old bread (soaked in water for a min or two)(squish the water out with your palms)
One egg (lightly beaten)
A handful of chopped up parsley
(Optional some chopped up mint)
Salt and pepper (a bit)
Mix all ingredients well with your hands. Roll small balls of the mix and...
Flour
Roll them on a plate with flour. Dust them out lightly.
Olive oil
Heat up olive oil in a non stick pan (but don't let it get too hot) and place the meatballs inside and let them cook, turn them round in the oil until they are brown. Take out with a slaughted spoon and squish
Lemon on them while hot.
(You can keep the mix for two days in the fridge and cook as much as you want for the two days).
Feta cheese
Cut a thick piece of feta sprinkle some olive oil and oregano on top.
Tzatziki
You may buy it ready from the dip section in the supermarket. Or make it as there is an easy recipie for it.
The Greek Platter
Use a big shallow plate. Put 3-4 meatballs, a spoonful of tzatziki, chips, some feta (as prepared), tomatoe and cucumber cut in small pieces. Warm up some pitta bread and cut it in pieces to serve with the platter. Kali Orexi! (Good Apettite in greek)
Chicken Souvlaki/kebab
This dish is healthy and kids love it. Its best done on a barbeque but they can be cooked in a non stick pan. Greeks and Turks have similar dishes in their kitchen. Souvlaki is the greek word for the turkish term 'kebab', although 'kebab' is the most english friendly word for it. The most 'boring' procedure is the marinating but then that's what gives it the irresistable and unique flavour. So...for the little tastebuds get ready Big Cook.
Two chicken breasts cut in thick cubes
Olive oil (just under half a cup)
Oregano (two pinches)
Pepper
Put the chicken in a large bowl, add oregano, oil and pepper and let marinate for 6 hours tossing here and there.
When ready to cook, drain the chicken and put through a squer , alternating large pieces of green pepper and onion. Grill or barbeque and squish some lemon over them when ready. You can eat them with chips and.
.ketchup.
Chocolate Chip Cookies: A Mistake
All kids love cookies or..bikies...especially when they know mum has stocked them up for..special occasions, somewhere in the kitchen cupboards.
Now, the very popular choco chip ones are in fact...some American woman's ..mistake, that happened in the late 30s. Her name was ....... She and her husband owned a bed and breakfast and she was responsible for making the breakfast for the guests. She was making the 'butter biscuit' recipie when she thought of adding a Nestle unsweetened chocolate bar , that she broke into pieces, aiming at turning the butter biscuits into chocolate ones. However, to her surprise and to everybody elses till now delight, the chocolate chips didn't melt after baking the cookies, they remained as they were within the cooked biscuits!
Mexican Tortillas ...simplified
We have all tried them. The tortilla wraps are now sold in all supermarkets, a hidden meaning that they are very popular within the British market. Also, burittos and chicken wrap packs etc.
In my home, my Little Cook loves a derived personal version: The Chip Wrap.
Easy to make, difficult to resist.
Tortilla Wrap
Chips
Greek Yoghurt
Slices of cucumber
Pinch of salt
Fry or oven bake the chips
Warm up the wrap for less than a min. Lay it flat on a large plate. Spread a large spoon of Greek yoghurt.Put the desired amount of cooked chips on it. Sprinkle evenly the chopped cucumber. A pinch of salt over the ingredients. Roll the tortilla carefully over. Irresistable!
Monday, 24 January 2011
Iced cold Frappe
The overly popular greek frappe, is enjoyed by most adults in Greece, adjusted to a european 'frappucino' or 'latte chiller'. But really frappe came from...France, frappe means 'shaken' in french. However, its french origin, its the No 1 coffee in consumption in Greece for the last 35 yrs! Some prefer drinking it only in summer, but can be enjoyed in winter.
Its easy peasy to make: (adjust sugar and milk to your taste)
1.5 tsp of strong instant coffee
1 tsp sugar
Some milk
Ice cubes
Straw
Use a large, long glass. Put the coffee and sugar in, add a tbs of water. The secret is to then use a very strong handheld mixer or frother. Mix well trying not to touch the glass. When its thick and creamy add ice cubes till up to the top. Pour in iced cold water and a bit of milk. Stir with a straw and ...drink slowly.
Its easy peasy to make: (adjust sugar and milk to your taste)
1.5 tsp of strong instant coffee
1 tsp sugar
Some milk
Ice cubes
Straw
Use a large, long glass. Put the coffee and sugar in, add a tbs of water. The secret is to then use a very strong handheld mixer or frother. Mix well trying not to touch the glass. When its thick and creamy add ice cubes till up to the top. Pour in iced cold water and a bit of milk. Stir with a straw and ...drink slowly.
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