Easter

Ivy on Απριλίου 13th, 2012

I’ve been making tsourekia for years and when a recipe is tried and tested and good, I do not see any reason why changing it.   However, things do happen in the kitchen. Holy Thursday is the day we dye our Easter eggs and do most of the baking, so as usual, yesterday I dyed [...]

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Continue reading about Braided Savory Cheese Tsoureki

Ivy on Απριλίου 11th, 2012

  Lambriatika or Paschalina Koulourakia are Greek Easter butter cookies, which are traditionally made only during Easter and have a distinct flavour as baking ammonia is used as the leavening agent.    Baking ammonia, or ammonium bicarbonate, was used before the advent of baking soda and baking powder.  It is a chemical leavening agent originally made from [...]

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Continue reading about Lambriatika Koulourakia (Greek Easter Cookies)

Ivy on Δεκεμβρίου 28th, 2011

Vassilopita Tsoureki is a brioche kind of Greek Sweet Bread made for New Year’s Day.  After midnight and the change of the Year, the head of the family cuts this bread (or cake).  Whoever finds the coin is considered to be lucky during the next year.   If you would like to learn more about [...]

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Continue reading about Vassilopita Tsoureki

I hope you all had wonderful holidays. We spent some days in Sparta where we had our traditional lamb on the spit and kokoretsi. On Monday we visited the nearby village of Agios Georgios Voutianoi, where St. George’s day is celebrated with horse races. The weather was mostly sunny and enjoyed our visit there. On [...]

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Continue reading about Back to civilization and Creative Concoctions #3 extended until 7th May

Ivy on Απριλίου 19th, 2011

  Tsourekia is a brioche type of sweet bread which is braided and is part of our Easter and Christmas traditions. These are the tsourekia I made last year.  I made them with chestnut filling and glazed them with chocolate. The chestnut filling is optional but it’s an addition that surely adds to the wonderful [...]

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Continue reading about Tsourekia with Chestnut filling

Ivy on Απριλίου 4th, 2010

«Christos Anesti!» This is the wish exchanged by all orthodox to spread the word that Christ has risen. «Alithos Anesti!» The reply comes from the others to confirm that it is true that Christ has risen. It’s still very early in the morning and the family is still asleep.  I Just wanted to make a [...]

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Continue reading about Happy Easter with a Strawberry Jelly and Yoghurt Mousse Cake

Ivy on Φεβρουαρίου 20th, 2009

Memorial. (Gr. Μνημόσυνο Mnemosyno – mnee moh see no). A special service held in the Orthodox Church for the repose of the souls of the dead. Memorial services are held on the third, ninth and fortieth day; after six months, and after one or three years after death, then annually. Boiled wheat is used as [...]

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Continue reading about Kollyva – Honouring our deceased

Ivy on Απριλίου 28th, 2008

Christos Anesti! Hi everybody, we returned back from our short break last night. We didn’t have much time to relax and it rained a bit but still we roasted our lamb on the spit in the garage. Since early in the morning I’ve been in the kitchen preparing for today as it’s my son’s name [...]

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Continue reading about Spring Lettuce and Egg Salad

Ivy on Απριλίου 25th, 2008

Kokoretsi is a traditional Greek Easter dish consisting mainly of seasoned lamb or goat offal.  To make kokoretsi the most difficult part of the process is to wash the bowels (intestines) of the lamb. The bowels should be washed thoroughly inside out. They are then washed and put in a bowl of water with either [...]

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Continue reading about Kokoretsi and Magiritsa

Ivy on Απριλίου 24th, 2008

During the Easter holidays half the population of Athens celebrate Easter at their villages or at their relatives’ villages. Like the majority of theAthenians we drive away from this crazy city to relax and rejoin again with our relatives.  Sparta is about 2 – 3 hours drive away from Athens but some times, during the Easter [...]

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Continue reading about Ovelias – Easter Whole Lamb Roasted on the spit or Souvla

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