Every March 25th my friends and I celebrate Greek Independence Day with a festive get together. We eat a delicious Greek meal that includes all of the favorites from salads to dessert and everything in between. And, when we can find good salt cod, we make bakaliaros skordalia (fried cod and garlic sauce), which is … Continue reading Festive Blue & White Cookies
Mary Saltas Mannos was just 76 years old when I was born. She’s my Papou Pete Saltas’ older sister, making her my great aunt. My papou had seven siblings and Aunt Mary was the first Saltas born in the United States in 1915. Whenever I visited Aunt Mary, she would welcome me on her front … Continue reading Loukoumades (Greek honey donuts)
Kourabiedes are popular Greek butter cookies topped with heaps of powdered sugar and made for special occasions like weddings, Christmas, name days, and any day that ends in “y”. My earliest memories of kourabiedes aren’t the sweet taste of the cookie. In fact, I don’t even remember taking a bite out of one when I … Continue reading Kourabiedes (Greek butter cookies)
There are two things that are always on my Christmas to-do list. First, I have to watch Kevin McCallister thwart the "Sticky Bandits" in Home Alone and Home Alone 2. My brothers and I never tire of watching bricks being thrown at the heads of Marv and Harry and other torturous, yet hilarious schemes devised … Continue reading Melomakarona (Greek Christmas Cookies)
There are hundreds of saints in the Greek Orthodox Church that can be called upon for special purposes or during times of need. For example, the three Hierarchs, St. Basil the Great, St. John Chrysostom, and St. Gregory the Theologian are called upon for help in studies. I wish I knew that during my anatomy … Continue reading Fanouropita (St. Fanourios Cake)
The greatest debate in all of Greece is this: who makes the best koulourakia? Since we all know what’s good for us, the only correct answer to that is our own yiayia (grandma) does. So, if you’re Greek, please don’t read any further because this recipe isn’t for you. You will hate me. You will … Continue reading Koulourakia (Greek Easter Cookie)
Galaktoboureko (gah-la-toh-boo-reko), or what my friends and I jokingly call, “gala-ta-booty-grow” or sometimes “galactic burrito” is a tongue twister dessert my booty has definitely enjoyed once or twice. But galaktoboureko is more than a tricky name; it’s a classic Greek dessert that is absolutely divine. Galaktoboureko is defined by its filling of gala (milk) and … Continue reading Galaktoboureko (milk custard pie)
If you’ve been looking for a quick, refreshing salad that can wow your guests any day of the week, then look no further than the karpouzi salata (watermelon salad). It’s a popular summer dish that you may have already tried at a picnic or even in your own home. Or maybe you’ve seen it on … Continue reading Karpouzi Salata (Watermelon Salad)
My mom knows rizogalo is the key to my heart. Her yiayia (grandma) dished it to warm the bellies of her grandkids. Her mother did likewise. Then it was my mom’s turn to keep the rizogalo tradition as an after dinner treat the same way her yiayia did. Blending her yiayias recipe with local author … Continue reading Rizogalo
Taste buds give you the ability to taste things, while “taste buds” are food items that commonly go well together. For instance, there’s peanut butter and jelly: a go to lunch for hungry kids. Bacon and eggs: the classic American breakfast. Burgers and fries: an equally classic American lunch. Coffee and paximathia (a semi-sweet cookie): … Continue reading Make Your Own Greek Yogurt
