The movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” didn’t exaggerate when it portrayed the role that food plays amongst Greeks. Greeks love food and have taken meal preparation to a whole ‘nuther level. For Greek women, being regarded as a good cook is like winning Gold in the Olympics (which Greeks invented, in case you didn’t know). It’s not about fancy. It’s about looking appetizing, being tasty, filling you up, while being resourceful, and all at once. It’s about preparing a meal where everyone actually believes you when you say you “slaved over a hot stove all day”. And in the end, it’s really all about love.
Do you have a particular ingredient you want to use? Type it into the handy search bar below and see what comes up! Check out my gardening section to find out how to grow many of your own ingredients for the recipes below.
I’m a huge fan of being able to combine form and function in my garden (and life overall). If something can be both attractive and useful, that’s a huge win to me!
Continue reading Scented Geranium & Apple Jelly (No Added Pectin)
One of the things I’m looking forward to when I someday retire is having time in the mornings for breakfast. You know, an honest-to-goodness meal where I get to sit down and actually enjoy eating at a leisurely pace. Until then, I at least have weekends.
Continue reading Cheesy Egg & Sausage Casserole
Hospitality is huge in a Greek household. No self-respecting Greek will want to have a reputation of being a poor host or hostess. So how do you best show your guests some love? Sugar. Lots of sugar!
Continue reading Greek Green Almond Spoon Sweet (Glyko Tsagalo)
The irony does not escape me that I write recipes for other people to follow, while I seldom follow anyone else’s. Hopefully no one takes it personally. I don’t always follow my own, either.
Continue reading Pomegranate-Apple Jelly (No Pectin Added)
You’ve likely heard the phrase “timing is everything”. I can’t think of any better way to describe making this traditional treat from Greece and the Middle East.
Continue reading Pickled Green Almonds
I don’t know about you, but when I hear the lyrics of the Christmas song “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” where the carolers are demanding figgy pudding, I can’t help but thinking that they’re being a little rude. Like, did I even ask for you to come to my house and start singing in the first place?!
Continue reading Figgy Pudding
My family likes to eat at a local Chinese restaurant owned by a man nicknamed Homer (Homer, as in the ancient Greek author). He got this nickname decades ago by a family friend of ours (who happened to be Greek) who was Homer’s sponsor when Homer immigrated here from China. I have no idea what his real name is, but even the other people at the restaurant call him Homer, too.
Continue reading Ginger Beef Noodle Soup
Eggplant is one of those vegetables that can elicit a love-it or hate-it kind of response (my mom loves it, my dad hates it, it’s a mixed marriage). I have learned that the key is all in how it’s prepared. So let’s prepare it right, shall we??
Continue reading Melitzanosalata (Greek Eggplant Dip)
Give me a fruit, any fruit, and I’ll show you how Greeks turn it into dessert.
Continue reading Greek Grape “Spoon Sweet”
The words “pickled” and “egg” don’t seem like they should belong together. For me, pickled anything was supposed to exist exclusively in the world of plant material and never cross over to anywhere else. I might have been wrong about that.
Continue reading Quick & Easy Pickled Eggs
Mostly Greek 