The Greek title of my cookbook is “Kopiaste stin Kouzina mou”, which means Welcome to my Kitchen.
If you can read Greek or have Greek friends who would like to win it, please leave your comment on my Greek blog.
Κατά καιρούς πολλές από τις αναγνώστριες του blog μου με ρωτούσαν μέσω e-mail εάν το βιβλίο μου κυκλοφορεί και στα Ελληνικά. Δυστυχώς δεν έχω βρει εκδότη για να έχετε το βιβλίο τυπωμένο αλλά τα ηλεκτρονικά βιβλία όλο και πιο πολύ πάνε να αντικαταστήσουν τα τυπωμένα γιατί:
α) Πρώτο και κύριο το ηλεκτρονικό βιβλίο είναι πολύ πιο φθηνό από το τυπωμένο.
β) Δεν χρειάζεται να βγείτε από το σπίτι σας να πάτε να το αγοράσετε.
γ) Δεν σκίζεται, δεν χάνεται, δεν λερώνεται
δ) Το κουβαλάτε εύκολα μαζί σας είτε στο κινητό σας ή στον υπολογιστή σας.
ε) Έχετε την δυνατότητα να επιλέξετε το μέγεθος της γραμματοσειράς που θέλετε, για να σας διευκολύνει στο διάβασμα.
στ) Όλο το βιβλίο έχει συνδέσμους (links) όπου έκολα μπορείτε να πάτε στην παραπομπή που έχει στη συνταγή.
ζ) Δεν χρειάζεται να αγοράσετε ειδικό λογισμικό για να το κατεβάσετε.
Cypriot Eliopita is made by rolling a big piece of phyllo and filling it with olives, onions and aromatic herbs which is then made into a roulade.
The recipe for the phyllo is not quite the same as other types of phyllos as it is kneaded with , fresh orange juice. You can either make it into a roulade or make smaller Eliopitakia (turnovers).
I loved the combination of feta with rosemary and not long after I made “Eliopsomo” another Cypriot recipe, which is an olive bread making my own twists. You can find the recipe here.
Eliopita with Walnuts, Feta, Rosemary, recipe by Ivy
Phyllo dough
For the filling:
500 grams throumbes olives, pitted and cut (or substitute with Kalamata olives)
1 red onion, finely chopped
100 grams feta
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Fresh coriander, finely chopped
A handful of walnuts
Black pepper
A pinch of salt
Poppy seeds, to sprinkle on top
Directions:
Prepare dough and set aside to rest for half an hour.
Mix all the filling ingredients together except the poppy seeds.
When the dough is ready roll out into a thin phyllo and spread the filling all over and roll to form into a roulade.
Brush with egg wash or olive oil and sprinkle some sesame seeds on top.
Bake in a preheated oven to 180o C / 350o F, for about 50 minutes.
Η ελιόπιτα είναι μια παραδοσιακή Κυπριακή συνταγή που γίνεται με φύλλο, διαφορετικό από τα συνηθισμένα γιατί ζυμώνεται με χυμό πορτοκαλιού. Η γέμιση είναι νηστίσιμη και εκτός από ελιές, περιέχει κρεμμύδι και κάποια μυρωδικά. Η παραδοσιακή συνταγή βρίσκεται στο βιβλίο μου.
Ελιόπιτα με Καρύδια, Φέτα και Δενδρολίβανο, συνταγή της Ήβης
Υλικά:
Φύλλο
Για τη γέμιση:
500 γραμμάρια ελιές θρούμπες ή Καλαμών
1 κοκκίνο κρεμμύδι, ψιλοκομμένο
100 γραμμάρια φέτα
3 κουταλιές ελαιόλαδο
Φρέσκο κόλιανδρο
Μία χούφτα καρύδια
Φρεσκοτριμμένο μαύρο πιπέρι
Μια πρέζα αλάτι
Παπαρουνόσπορο, για από πάνω
Εκτέλεση:
Ετοιμάζουμε τη ζύμη και την αφήνουμε να ξεκουραστεί.
Ανακατεύουμε όλα τα υλικά εκτός από τον παπαρουνόσπορο.
Ανοίγουμε ένα λεπτό φύλλο και απλώνουμε τη γέμιση. Το τυλίγουμε σε ρολό.
Βουρτσίζουμε σε ρολό ή με ελαιόλαδο και πασπαλίζουμε με τον παπαρουνόσπορο.
Ψήνουμε σε προθερμασμένο φούρνο στους 180o C / 350o F, for about 50 minutes, μέχρι να ροδίσει.
On March 3rd was my mother-in-law’s 40 days “Mnemosyno”. (A mnemosyno is a special service held in the Orthodox Church for the repose of the souls of the dead). “Kollyva”, which are prepared by the closest of kin of the deceased, are given at mnemosyna. Boiled barley wheat berries, usually sweetened, are highly symbolic and represent the soul of the deceased and symbolize everlasting life. Wheat represents the life cycle of death and regeneration. You may read more details about this, in my original post.
View from Nafplio
We left from Athens early on Saturday morning and passed from Nafplion and Assini as we had some things to deal regarding our house and then went to Sparti. Although it was a beautiful, sunny weekend, it was very cold and there was snow everywhere.
Taygettus Mountain (Sparti)
We arrived there, around 2 p.m. and after lunch at 4 p.m. there was a service at the graveside. After a short service by the priest, “kollyva” were offered to those attending. (The picture is of kollyva I made during Psychosavvato, a few weeks before. Unfortunately I do not have a picture of the ones offered at he mnemosyno which were bought from a confectionery shop at Sparta, decorated with silver dragees). The store bought ones do look much prettier but tastewise, the ones I make are by far better, at least that’s what those who have tasted mine, told me.
This time I made them slightly different than the recipe in my cookbook. I boiled the wheat berries with orange peel, a bay leaf and anise seeds. I also added fresh coriander and a mixture of spices and powdered cookies.
It is listed under desserts because it is sweet (but not overly sweet) and very delicious and it is such a pity we only make this during such unpleasant occasions. It is healthy and you can eat it any time of the day as a dessert, for breakfast or as a snack.
As is the custom, there is a gathering either at home but usually at a “kafeneio” (coffee shop) where Greek coffee, brandy and paximadia (sweet rusks) are offered to those attending the service.
On Sunday the memorial service takes place at church, after the divine liturgy, where kollyva are also offered when the service is over and close relatives and friends are invited for lunch.
On Saturday evening, after the visit to the coffee shop, we went back home and for several hours we (my three sister-in-laws and I) had to make the preparation for the food to be served the next day at my brother-in-law’s taverna, for about 60 people. 13 kilos of fresh octopus was washed, cleaned, cut and cooked. 1 kilo of taramas was made into Taramosalata and lots of cabbage was cut into very thin slices to make salads the following day. The only thing which was cooked on Sunday was 12 kilos of spaghetti which was served together with the braised octopus.
My husband was not feeling very well. He went and lied down but the pain increased and after a couple of hours it was intolerable. He had an acute pain in the abdomen which spread towards the chest and his back. My son and I took him to the hospital around 10 p.m.
After lots of blood tests, a cardiograph and X-rays, there was no sign that there was any problem with his heart so a surgeon was called to examine him as well. He was injected with a pain relief and after more tests, it was diagnozed that he gallbladder was irritated and had to stay in hospital for treatment.
My son was traveling Monday morning for England so my husband did not want to stay in Sparta. After signing that he was being released on his own will, we finally went back home at 04:30 a.m.
Unfortunately we missed the church service and mnemosyno. We woke up around 9 o’clock and had to find a drug store to buy pain relief pills which the doctor had prescribed before leaving the hospital.
We went to the taverna as all relatives were concerned, as by then they were informed that we passed the evening in the ER.
Unfortunately I was not in the mood of taking pictures and after lunch we returned to Athens. My son left on Monday and an appointment was fixed with the doctor on Monday afternoon. He wanted him at the hospital first thing on Tuesday morning where he was hospitalized for a week, until Monday morning, where he was treated with antibiotics and other medicine.
He is now on a strict low-fat diet and on the 24th April he has a new appointment for a new assessment and probably he will undergo surgery.
During the Christmas period, I indulge into using more butter than I use throughout the whole year. But then what would Christmas be without making cookies and other desserts? After six months of diet I have learned to restrain myself and until today I have only tried a small piece from each to see how they taste.
As Socrates said “Everything in moderation”. So let’s all keep this in mind and enjoy the holidays!
A cake I have been making since I was single is Christmas Fruit Cake. I cannot imagine Christmas without it. However, each year I find myself doing something different. This year I made it with citrus flavour. I used some of my spoon sweets in it. I added bergamot, orange, lemon, bitter orange and kumkuat fruit preserves. I also added my four citrus marmalade before the almond paste and orange liqueur.
This year I experimented by making a batch of some “unconventional” kourabiedes. It’s not the icing sugar and cocoa powder you see outside but it’s what is inside which makes them unconventional. My children who tried them said that although unusual, they were awesome.
Making a bigger dose of Kourabiedes from my Cookbook.
This year Melomakarona were made the classic way.
I also made some traditional Amygdalota, which is a no bake Almond Cookie, wrapped in icing sugar but also some wrapped in dark chocolate.
Kotopita is one of many types of meat pites. This particular pie is made with a horiatiko (village) phyllo pastry crust, which is very easy to handle and roll. I make kotopita with different kinds of fillings and two similar recipes are included in Volume 2 of my e-cookbook.
You can serve this Kotopita during the holidays as a starter. If you like you can make smaller ones. Grease your muffin tins with olive oil, line it with phyllo, add the filling and cheese on top and form into mini galettes.
The previous video, where I made Spanakopita, was in English but it wasn’t fair for the readers of my Greek blog, so this time I preferred not to speak but to add subtitles in both languages.
Kotopita (Chicken Galette,Recipe by Ivy
Horiatiko Phyllo
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
500 grams (1.10 lbs) all purpose flour
1 egg
½ cup olive oil
½ cup tepid water plus 2 tbsp
½ tsp salt
½ cup halloumi or graviera cheese
Kotopita filling:
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: about 45 minutes
Makes: 6 – 8 depending on size
250 grams (8.80 oz) grated graviera or halloumi (divided). Some in phyllo, some in bechamel sauce and the remaining on top
Sesame seeds
Ingredients:
500 grams (1.10 lbs) chicken breasts, boiled, skinned and cut into small pieces
1 cup frozen corn, boiled for 10 minutes
1 cup bell peppers (yellow, red, orange, green), julienned
This is optional. I had some leftover Potato and pumpkin puree but you can add only some grated cheese one top.
Egg wash:
1 egg
2 tbsp milk
Directions:
Prepare the dough.
Sift the flour and mix in the salt. Put the flour in a large bowl and pour in the oil. Using your fingertips rub the oil until the flour has absorbed the oil. Add the egg and mix. Finally add the water gradually (more or less water may be necessary). Mix until the dough is soft but not sticky on your hands. Place on a floured surface and knead for a few minutes.
You can also make the dough in your stand mixer. Attach the dough paddle. Put all the ingredients, except water, in the mixer bowl and mix on low speed. Gradually add water until the dough is ready and does not stick on the walls of the bowl. Test with your fingers to see if it is sticky. If it is, add more flour. Set aside to rest.
Boil chicken for 30 minutes and when it cools, cut into small pieces.
To make the Bechamel sauce, heat the milk and set aside.
Beat the egg, mixing with a fork and set aside.
In a saucepan heat the olive oil and add the flour and mix thoroughly to make a roux. Add salt and nutmeg.
Add the warm milk, stirring constantly, until the sauce is thick and creamy. Remove from the heat.
Gradually add the beaten egg, a little at a time slowly, but stirring constantly until it is incorporated. Mix in the cheese.
Add the chicken, the parsley, the corn and bell peppers. Add salt, pepper, paprika and seasoning and mix.
Knead the dough for a few minutes and divide it into 6 – 8 pieces. Form them into a ball, dusting each piec with flour.
Flatten the disc and using a dowel rod roll out the dough. Flour your working surface and the dough regularly, each time rotating it and sometimes turning it over.
Place a 20 cm / 8 inch diametre plate on top and cut a round circle. Add 2 heaped spoonfuls of chicken filling in the centre. Then add the puree and finally some grated cheese to cover the filling.
Fold the outer parts of the galette into the centre, forming a round galette.
Line a large baking tin with parchment paper and place the galettes.
Beat the egg with a fork and mix in the milk. Brush with the egg wash and sprinkle some sesame seeds on top.
Bake in a preheated oven to 180o C / 350o F, for about 45 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove from the oven and set aside for 10-15 minutes to cool before serving.
The special offer with 25% discount is still valid for all the readers of my blog until the 31st December, 2011 . You can use Code JB99K for Volume 1 and Code EP93W for Volume 2.
Last but not least, if you would like to buy the Cookbook in print and are worried that it will not reach you in time, well if you buy it directly from me paying via Paypal, I will also send you the two e-cookbooks, free of charge, within a few hours. Please contact me by e-mail at ivyliac AT gmail DOT com or through the contact page.
If you buy the book or e-cookbook, a review is always welcome.
I am very excited that yesterday I made my first video. It was nothing planned but it was one of those rare days that I was alone at home. I had already done the preparation of the dough and filling for Spanakopita, when the idea of making a video popped up.
I know that there are a lot of mistakes in this video and my friends on facebook gave me some good advice for next time, if ever I decide to do this again, and if I do, I hope next time to do a better job.
What I did was set the tripod on the only free space available in the kitchen and focus on the working area. As you see from the picture, the stand mixer is where the fruit are and right behind me is the kitchen table.
In order to speak to the camera I had to lower down my body and also later on, while rolling the dough I had to put my back to the camera as otherwise I could not reach the pasta attachment.
As I said, it was not planned and the dough I had made was more than it takes for one spanakopita as I wanted to use the rest to make some Spicy Sausage Rolls (that will have to wait for a future recipe).
Nevertheless, with all the technical mistakes in it, I think that you will understand how to make a good Greek Spanakopita.
Spanakopitta (or spanakopita) is the most popular Greek pie, made with spinach, aromatic herbs and feta cheese. Other types of cheeses, like anari or myzithra, which are soft whey cheeses, similar to ricotta can be combined.
How to make Phyllo
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Resting time: 30 minutes
Rolling phyllo: 30 minutes, depending on your skills
Ingredients:
500 grams (1.10 lbs) all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tbsp wine vinegar
200 ml water (about 1 cup)
Spanakopita Strifti
Preparation time: 60 minutes
Baking time: 45 – 60 minutes
Serves: 6 – 9 (as a main dish) or 18 as a snack
Ingredients:
Dough (as above)
Olive oil for brushing (about 1 cup)
Ingredients for the filling:
1 kilo (2.20 lbs) fresh or frozen spinach
3 spring onions
1 small red onion, finely chopped
½ cup parsley, finely chopped
½ cup dill, finely chopped
¼ cup olive oil
300 grams (0.65 lbs) feta, crumbled
3 large eggs
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
Sift the flour and mix in the salt. Put the flour in a large bowl and pour in the oil. Using your fingertips rub the oil until the flour has absorbed the oil. Add vinegar and then water gradually (more or less water may be necessary). Mix until the dough is soft but not sticky on your hands. Place on a floured surface and knead for a few minutes.
You can also make the dough in your stand mixer. Attach the dough paddle. Put all the ingredients, except water, in the mixer bowl and mix on low speed. Gradually add water until the dough is ready and does not stick on the walls of the bowl. Test with your fingers to see if it is sticky. If it is, add more flour.
After your dough is ready, you should leave it to rest for half an hour. This resting time is necessary for the gluten to develop and make the dough elastic. If gluten does not develop properly, you will roll out the dough and then it will shrink again.
Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces. Shape them into balls and then press to flatten. While working with the dough, flour your working surface regularly with flour, unless you are working on a non-stick mat. Also dust the dough regularly so that it will not stick.
Always keep the remaining dough covered, so that it does not dry.
Depending on your pasta machine, it is usually numbered from 1 – 6 and on some other attachments on stand mixers like mine, the machines are numbered from 1 – 9.
Set your pasta machine to the smallest number which is number 1. Each time you roll it out, dust it again with flour and continue the same procedure increasing the numbers, until you get the desired thickness
Meantime, wash the spinach, removing the stems or any damaged leaves and dry. Frozen spinach reduces the time of preparation considerably but defrost before using. Squeeze it with your hands to remove all fluids. Alternatively, if fresh spinach is used, when still wet you can put them in a big saucepan, without any additional water, and bring to a soft boil for about 5 minutes, until it wilts. It will become soft and its volume will be reduced. Place it in a colander to cool down and when it can be handled, drain any water by squeezing it. In both cases,cut it into smaller pieces.
Preheat oven to 180o C / 350ο F.
Place the spinach in a large bowl and add ¼ cup of the olive oil, the onions and herbs, as well as the eggs, feta and spices and mix well.
Grease a 30 x 40 cm (12 x 15.75”) or 30 cm – 12” baking tin with olive oil. The remaining olive oil will be used to brush the phyllo.
Divide the dough into six parts and roll out a thin phyllo.
Place on your working surface and cut it in the middle. Join the two pieces to make a bigger square or rectangle piece and brush it generously with olive oil.
Put some filling on one edge. Roll, once to cover filling and press the two sides so that the filling will not come out. While rolling brush it with olive oil and when done, twist the two ends towards opposite direction. This will stretch the dough and make it even bigger. Place in an oiled baking tin one roll next to the other.
Brush on top generously with olive oil.
Bake for about 1 hour or until golden on top.
Hope you enjoyed the video and please let me know what you think:)
Special Offer for my Readers:
Volume 1 includes a selection of the best Greek-Cypriot savory dishes, mezedes, side dishes and salads. This goes to Jamie, of Life’s a Feast.
The special offer with 25% discount is still valid for all the readers of my blog until the 31st December, 2011 . You can use Code JB99K for Volume 1 and Code EP93W for Volume 2.
Last but not least, if you would like to buy the Cookbook in print and are worried that it will not reach you in time, well if you buy it directly from me paying via Paypal, I will also send you the two e-cookbooks within a few hours. Please contact me by e-mail at ivyliac AT gmail DOT com or through the contact page.
If you win or buy the book or e-cookbooks, a review is always welcome.
First of all Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who celebrate today.
I know it’s been a very long time since my last post and I haven’t been around for several reasons.
It’s been almost a year since I published my cookbook “Mint, Cinnamon & Blossom Water, Flavours of Cyprus, Kopiaste!” and I wish to thank all of you for buying it. If you liked it, you may consider sending it as a gift to your friends and family who like Greek food.
I’ve received a lot of positive feedback from people who have bought it but also a lot of e-mails from younger people, asking me if I could make it into an e-book.
I written in the past about my efforts which were unsuccessful and after several efforts I gave up. During the summer, it was so hot I did not even consider spending hours and hours on the computer but last mont I decided to give it a last try. After google searching I found out about Smashwords.
Evidently they have a very good tutorial and after several attemps of uploading it there, it was rejected several times but I persisted and following their instructions I had to start it all over again. The recipes are still the same but all the formatting had to be done from scratch.
I finally made it and it was accepted!!!
The maximum capacity allowed for an e-book on Smashwords is 5 MB and my cookbook was way above that size. I didn’t want to remove any of the recipes included in cookbook and since I had more to add, I decided to divided into two volumes.
The first volume was enriched by more traditional recipes, which due to the high cost on Createspace, I could not add.
The second volume was also enriched by recipes not posted in the printed book but I’ve also added lots of my cakes, spoon sweets, marmalades etc.
The best part is that you can download a free sample from each book, , in many formats: online reading (html or Java script), kindle, epub (Apple iPad/iBooks, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, and most e-reading apps including Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions, others), pdf, rtf, lrf, palm doc, etc.). All you have to do is follow the respective links given above.
You can see all the recipes included in the Table of Content and the best part is you get a free sample of some recipes.
Hope to hear your views of what you think about it.
Choco Orange cookies
Mint, Cinnamon & Blossom Water 