Greek Flavors for Thanksgiving

2 December 2014

Traditional Greens and Pumpkin Pies from Ikaria (Pitarakia) Ingredients (for 50 yields) For the dough: 4 1/2 cups flour 1 scant tsp salt 4 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp vinegar 300 gr. water For the filling: 1 pumpkin, about 1 ½ kg, peeled and diced 4 onions, chopped ½ cup olive oil 1 bunch of fennel, chopped 1 bunch of ...

98. Check out Diane’s article on Ikaria in the HuffPost

3 November 2014

I knew I was in Paradise the first time I set foot on Ikaria, the Greek island where my father was born that was catapulted a few years ago to unexpected fame as a Blue Zone, one of the world’s pockets of longevity. It was 1972. After a 14-hour ride, the ferry let us ...

99. Mushroom and Sausage Risotto

7 January 2014

A quick and very easy risotto recipe, ideal for mid-week meals!

100. Macedonian Style Braised Chicken with Noodles (Kotopoulo me Petoura)

18 February 2013

Chicken stews are part of the regional cooking all over Greece. What sets this dish apart is the local pasta it is served with, called petoura, a local pasta from Grevena, in Macedonia. Until a few years ago, petoura, which are either anomalously shaped or wide, slightly curled, relatively short, ribbon-like pieces, were made only at home. Nowadays, they are ...

101. Greek Style Stuffings and Gravy

17 December 2012

Turkey stuffing is one of those dishes that can either carry the weight of tradition or the freedom of experimentation. It all depends on one’s own personal preferences. I like both and sometimes make more than one stuffing as a result. Every holiday, I sift through my recipe files to look for old favorites and new ideas. Images of ...

102. Greek Mushroom Pilafi

28 February 2012

Another simple dish that’s perfect for lent, but also for vegans and vegetarians. It’s an easy recipe to fix on a weeknight. Greece, a mountainous country, is a mushroom-lovers paradise. Many mushrooms grow in the wild, but there are also a few companies that have made a thriving business out of cultivating them.

103. Flavors of Rhodes

10 October 2011

The scene was as incongruous as it was endearing: One fine spring day just as we were walking along the outskirts of the old city of Rhodes, a Chinese bride and groom Chinese– dressed in full nuptial regalia and with an entourage of friends and family, were having their pictures taken. In the distance along the quay, the gargantuan cruise ...