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Living a Village-ish Life in Suburban California

Category: Lessons From My Kitchen

I have learned a few tricks over the years to make kitchen tasks easier and recipes more successful, and I’m sharing them with you!

Cleaning & Preparing Whole Squid

November 3, 2021 by Mostly Greek (Dorie)

Pitting Cherries (Removing the Pits, and Nothing but the Pits)

June 10, 2020 by Mostly Greek (Dorie)

Pressure Cooker “Boiled” Eggs

June 8, 2020March 9, 2021 by Mostly Greek (Dorie)

Using Phyllo Dough (Without Frustration)

February 5, 2020February 5, 2020 by Mostly Greek (Dorie)

Don’t Toss That Pumpkin!!

October 14, 2018September 25, 2019 by Mostly Greek (Dorie)

Harvesting Grape Leaves

July 17, 2018September 25, 2019 by Mostly Greek (Dorie)

Separating Eggs

July 15, 2018September 25, 2019 by Mostly Greek (Dorie)

Peeling Peaches (Using Common Sense)

July 12, 2018January 31, 2019 by Mostly Greek (Dorie)

Pitting Plums (and Keeping Fingers)

July 2, 2018September 25, 2019 by Mostly Greek (Dorie)

Freezing Berries

May 3, 2018September 25, 2019 by Mostly Greek (Dorie)

Storing Root Vegetables

April 6, 2018September 26, 2019 by Mostly Greek (Dorie)

Storing Leafy Greens

February 20, 2018September 26, 2019 by Mostly Greek (Dorie)

Food Canning 101

October 28, 2017April 6, 2020 by Mostly Greek (Dorie)

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Greek mom and yiayia (grandma), living the suburban life with my family in the heart of California like it’s a Greek village!

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I have been having some cravings for a good slice of beef lately, not sure why, but I'm not going to fight it. 😄 There's a cut of beef that I love that not too many people outside of California are familiar with, called the tri-tip. It's super easy to work with and is often less expensive than many other beef roasts. It takes well to marinating and can be cooked up in the oven in about an hour. One of my favorite marinades is this one with onions and whiskey. The onions caramelize and the whiskey blends with the juices from the roasting meat to make the most wonderful sauce. Get yourself a chunk of bread ready, because you won't want to waste a single drop! The meat pairs so well with a wide array of cool weather veggies like broccoli, roasted carrots, etc. So come on over for the recipe and let's continue to enjoy winter meals together!

Today was a very busy day for us in the garden. I got to do fun things like plunge my arms into frigid, murky water up to my shoulders to pull out great big, slimy wads of overgrown plant roots out of our pond and scout for Black Widows in a monster stack of heavy cinder blocks. I found four. Bleh. Such is the life of a gardener! But now it's dark and it's time to relax inside with something to warm me up from the inside out. A cup of earthy Greek Mountain Tea is the perfect elixir. It is similar in flavor to chamomile, and has a load of health benefits to boot. In fact, it's also known as ironwort due to the high levels of iron the plant absorbs from the soil. A little drizzle of honey and it's a soothing and delicious drink that boosts your body, too. I have more information on this lovely tea along with tips for brewing a perfect pot full of it so come on over and let's unwind together!

Winter vacation is over and school is back in session. That means busy evenings after long days are also back in session. Dinners that don't require a drive through may seem like an impossibility sometimes, but the reality is that easy, tasty, and healthy meals are not so hard to put together with the right recipe. This is a frequent go-to dish for me that combines pre-made ravioli with an easy to assemble tomato sauce and then the whole thing is popped into the oven to bake to perfection. No need to simmer the ravioli cautiously, you can choose whatever kind you like (I love a spinach and cheese filled option), and you can kick back and relax while the dish bakes. It works as an all-in-one meal but also pairs perfectly with veggies on the side. I have the super easy recipe ready on my blog, so come on over for a relaxing dinner!

I just made our first harvest of kumquats for the season, and still more are coming soon. While I enjoy eating them fresh, oddly tart as they are, I enjoy them more prepared in the Greek style of "spoon sweets". The task of preserving fruits in a heavy syrup to be served to guests in dainty spoons set on pretty glass plates is an old tradition. It allowed for a proper hostess to always be prepared with a delightful assortment of tasty treats to be ready at a moment's notice. While it is not common for guests to drop in unannounced these days, it is still nice knowing I have something to offer even for well planned visits, or just for enjoying myself! It's actually an easy process that requires only a few ingredients, and the preserves last for a very long time, assuming you let them! I have everything ready for you to try it out, so come on over for a visit and let's make a lovely treat together!

Fun fact: Greeks can find a way to turn almost anything into booze. 😂 The reality is that Greeks are very much into being good hosts and will look for ways to provide their guests with a tasty treat that can be prepared in advance and will last a good long time. You never know when those guests will stop by, so it's best to be prepared. This delightful liqueur is made from kumquats, a small citrus fruit that's unique in that the peel is sweet. The island of Corfu is famous for their kumquat preserves and liqueur and I've always been enamored with them. So much so that I planted my own kumquat tree so that I could make them myself! 😂 There are a couple of ways you could go about making this liqueur, and I have both options for you on my blog. So come on over for a visit and let's make something cheery together!

It is officially cold and flu season (and we won't even talk about that other nasty thing STILL with us). One key thing that any medical professional will tell you is how important it is to stay hydrated and to keep your body nourished to help ward off and recover from those ailments. Every Greek mom will absolutely swear by avgolemono (egg and lemon) soup to do just that. This is the Greek version of chicken soup, enriched with eggs and lemon juice, thickened with rice, and seasoned with Greek oregano. It's hearty, delicious, and sure to keep you going whether you are sick or not. The recipe is on my blog, and it's surprisingly easy to put together if you follow my technique. So come on over for a visit!

I love the fact that I live close enough to go play in the snow without having to live in it. This was the most snow I've seen here in a long time.

Forget the fad diets and just eat real food that's real good. This way you give your body what it needs to thrive without making you feel deprived. This tomato and spinach pasta is a nutritional and flavorful powerhouse in an easy to prepare all-in-one meal. I know the beginning of the year starts off rough after all the indulgences of the holiday season, but don't go crazy eating cardboard and injuring yourself with an exercise routine that you're not ready for. Being healthy is important, just do it right and for the right reasons. 😊 The recipe for this dish is ready and waiting so come on over and let's start the new year off right together!

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