One of the many Greek myths around the creation of roses, is that Aphrodite or Venus, wept over the wounds her lover Adonis suffered and her tears mingled with his blood and created the red rose. This is where the connection between red roses and love stems, if you’ll excuse the pun. The best roses […]

This recipe is the more traditional way to prepare rose water. You can make a quart of excellent-quality rose water in about 40 minutes. However, if you simmer the water too long, you will continue to produce distilled water but the rose essence will become diluted. Your rose water will smell more like plain distilled […]

Dried beans and peas – limas, pinto, red, black-eyed peas, garbanzo (chickpeas), and Great Northern, to name a few – are favorites in Greek cooking, and easy on the family budget as well. Beans are easy to make, but often not especially quick since most need to be soaked for at least 6 hours, and […]

In Greek: χούμους με ταχίνι (pronounced HOO-mooss meh tah-HEE-nee) This dip is quick and easy to make, delicious, and healthy. No cooking involved. Just grab the blender and go. Chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) and tahini (a paste made from roasted sesame seeds) combine to make a tasty appetizer to serve with wedges of […]

1. Recipes that call for seeded cucumber (cucumber with the seeds removed) are usually looking for that light fresh taste that comes from the inside of the cucumber. This means that the peel should also be removed. Use a peeler and remove the dark green outer skin. 2. Recipes that call for seeded cucumber (cucumber with […]

Tomato-based sauces are a favorite in Greek cooking, and many recipes call for grated tomatoes (tomato pulp). Grating tomatoes is easy and less expensive than buying canned pulp, and the pulp (or pulp and juice) can be frozen to use when ripe tomatoes are not in season. Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 1 minute for each tomato Here’s […]

Melomakarona Yemista me Sousami Melomakarona (also called “phoenikia”) are a traditional Greek cookie, a favorite at Christmas. Most recipes call for the cookie to be dipped in a honey-based syrup, but this recipe calls for a powdered sugar, nut, and spice topping. Since they have no syrup, they can be easily stored in tins or plastic […]

Melomakarona Yemista me Sousami In Greek, these honey spice cookies with sesame centers might be called “Stuffed Melomakarona with Sesame” or “Melomakarona from Rhodes,” where they have become famous. A winter holiday tradition (but delightful any time of year), these cookies bring in seasonal tastes and smells of cinnamon, cloves, and oranges. After baking, the […]

Kourabiethes me Karythia In Greek: κουραμπιέδες με καρύδια, say: koo-rahb-YEH-thes meh kah-REETH-yah Kourabiethes (also kourambiedes) are sugared shortbread cookies made with nuts. In Greece,kourabiethes are served at special occasions and given as host/hostess gifts. This version calls for walnuts (or hazelnuts). Prep Time: 45 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups of shortening 1 cup of confectioner’s […]

Frozen squid is a great choice even when fresh is available. Freezing and thawing helps break down some of the tough muscle fibers and the squid may be more tender. Frozen squid is sold as tubes (cleaned bodies) and tentacles, or already cut into rings for frying or other recipes calling for rings. Follow these […]