Category Archives: Food

Easter Biscuits – Koulourakia

 

Welcome to Greek Lifestyle!

As we approach Easter Sunday, now is the time to dust off your cookbooks and prepare to make the all time favourite Easter biscuits known as koulourakia.  Traditionally these are baked on Easter Thursday or Easter Saturday. Here’s one of my favourite recipes:

Koulourakia                                              

Ingredients

½ block of unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup caster sugar

3½ cups plain flour

Pinch of salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

3 eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla essence

1/3 cup milk or orange juice

Grated orange rind (optional)

Egg glaze  

2 egg yolks

2 tablespoons milk

Place the egg glaze ingredients into a small bowl and whisk together with a fork. Using a small pastry brush, glaze the koulourakia before baking.

Method

Preheat oven to 190 degrees.

Warm the butter and add to the sifted ingredients.

Knead until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Add the beaten egg, vanilla and continue kneading.

Add milk and extra flour if required, and knead until smooth.

Break off pieces the size of small walnuts and roll out using your hands. Create traditional patterns of twists and coils.

Glaze koulourakia with the egg yolk mixture before baking.

Bake in a moderate oven for 15-20 minutes.  Cool on wire rack.

Happy Baking!!!

GL xx

Palm Sunday

 

Welcome to Greek Lifestyle!

Today we celebrate Palm Sunday which commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jereusalem.  The church is decorated with palm fronds and daphne, and  at the end of the service the priest hands out cuttings of daphne and intricately woven crosses made from palm fronds for the faithful to take home.

Although Palm Sunday which is a Feast Day  falls during lent, it is permissible to eat fish. Traditionally Greeks celebrate with a lunch consisting of bakalarios (cod) and skordalia (garlic and potato puree) to celebrate this important day.

 

palm sunday

 

The official greeting is now Kali Anastasi, which translates to a good resurrection.

I will be preparing Koulourakia on Thursday and Tsoureki and Red Dyed Eggs on Saturday.

Good luck with your Easter preparations this week. I would love for you to share your special Greek recipes and traditions.

May we all have a happy Easter!

GL xx

Health Benefits of Greek Coffee

 

 

Welcome to Greek Lifestyle!

Could Greek coffee hold the key to good heart health and longevity? A study published in Vascular Medicine, explains how elderly residents from the Greek island Ikaria who drank boiled Greek coffee  displayed overall cardiovascular health. People in Ikaria are known for their good health and longevity, with many living well into their 90’s and beyond.

Greek coffee contains higher concentrations of  protective antioxidants and polyphenols, and the way in which it is prepared (boiled not filtered)  delivers more protective compounds in each cup. It has also shown to help protect the arteries, as well as lower your risk for diabetes and boost overall immune health.

greek coffee

So what are you waiting for?  Take out your breeki (small coffee pot) and prepare this healthyful brew until the kaimaki rises to a deliciously creamy texture.  Gently pour into your favourite demitasse cup, and of course enjoy with a glass of chilled water. Better still, invite a friend to join you!!

Stin iyeia mas!

To our good health!

GL xx

 

 

 

 

The delights of Mediterranean Food

 

 

Welcome to Greek Lifestyle,

Much research has been conducted on the benefits of the Mediterranean diet and especially the food and lifestyle of Greece.   Let’s consider the key factors of what makes the Mediterranean diet not only nutritious but also delicious and  healthy. The Mayo Clinic provides the following key factors of this popular way of eating:

  • Eating primarily plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts
  • Replacing butter with healthy fats, such as olive oil
  • Using herbs and spices instead of salt to flavour foods
  • Limiting red meat to no more than a few times a month
  • Eating fish and poultry at least twice a week
  • Drinking red wine in moderation (optional)

Being physically active, and enjoying meals with family and friends is essential to living the Greek way of life.   Socialising, laughing and story telling are also import components of connecting over a meal – making it more of a shared experience rather than a solo event.

pyramid

Have fun, experiment with your favourite ingredients and remember being healthy doesn’t mean being deprived. Create your dishes using seasonal and fresh ingredients to gain optimum value and nutrition. Cook for the people you love, and break bead with those dearest to you. Remember that cooking is an act of love!

GL xx

Apokreas – Carnivale – Masquerade

Welcome to Greek Lifestyle!

In preparation for Easter, I’m including the list of important dates to help with our spiritual growth during this time.

EasterDates

Apokreas literally  translates to saying ‘goodbye to meat’.  Celebrations will occur in the week preceding Clean Monday as families and friends gather for a final feast before observing  the Great Lent.

Fish may be eaten on the 25th of March being the Annunciation of Theotokos and again on Palm Sunday which falls on 13 April.

Because we all live busy lives, some people choose to observe the fasting period during Holy week, or just on Good Friday. It matters not, as health, wellbeing and work situations need to be also considered. It is a personal choice.

Please share your experiences and or fasting recipes with us here at Greek Lifestyle.

Kales Apokeas!

GL x

Christmas time

Welcome to Greek Lifestyle!

Our aim is to bring you inspiration, tradition and cultural celebrations.

The countdown to Christmas is on and there is much to think about and always much to do.

Now is the time to dust off your favourite Christmas recipes and plan your shopping list in preparation for baking mouth watering kourambiedes, honey dipped melamacarona, or your very own family specialities.  We would love for you to share your favourite traditional recipes with us.

kourambiedes

It’s a special time of the year and one to share with family and friends. Our Christmas celebration is usually a large formal lunch and regardless of what else is on the menu we always start off with Chicken Avgolemono Soup. Our mother lovingly maintained this tradition and we have all taken her lead, and more often than not some of us enjoy a second bowl of this delicious traditional Greek soup!

Soup is followed by platters of fresh seafood garnished with lemon wedges, various meat roasts served with an abundance of vegetables and salads, and a selection of home made kourambiedes, melamacorona, revani, festive fruit cake and other yummy sweets.

Christmas lunch would not be complete without a bowl of dark, plump cherries and wedges of juicy watermelon and…. of course, the exchanging of gifts, and the joy of giving.

Whether your celebration is large or small, noisy or intimate, casual or formal, may your families be blessed with the true spirit of Christmas.

Kales yiortes

GL x