Ivy on Απριλίου 18th, 2010

I’ve already spoken about pasto which is cured pork meat which is smoked.  However, after the meat is cured and smoked it has to be cooked and preserved in olive oil.  This is an old method which they used when there were no refrigerators but it is still used as it adds flavour to [...]

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Continue reading about Pasto Lakonias (Smoked Pork) and an Omelette

Ivy on Ιανουαρίου 23rd, 2010

During my recent trip to Cyprus we took a trip to my brother in law’s village. On our way, we passed from my mother’s village which is called Kyvides and is on the road which leads to the «krassohoria» which is the wine producing area of Limassol.
The settlement of Pano Kyvides, according to [...]

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Continue reading about Commandaria, the most ancient Cypriot wine, still in production

Ivy on Δεκεμβρίου 23rd, 2009

Most of us have a hard time deciding what to cook for the holidays.
Here are a few ideas and hope this will help a few of you.

Psaronefri with prune sauce

Stuffed Turkey Roulade

Stuffed Turkey (Cypriot recipe)

Cottage pie with your leftovers

Roasted lamb or goat

Beef in Dark Beer and Pumpkin Sweet and Sour Sauce

Pork Loin Stuffed and [...]

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Continue reading about A few ideas for the holiday table

Ivy on Σεπτεμβρίου 25th, 2009

Summer Vacation Parti V : Mystras’ Panigyri and Parori

Mystras or Myzithras (Greek: Μυστράς, Μυζηθράς) meaning cheese-maker probably because they made the Greek cheese myzithra there. Mystras, which is situated on a steep foothill on the northern slopes of Mount  Taygetus, 6 kilometres northwest of Sparta, was a fortified town in the medieval Peloponnese. In [...]

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Ivy on Ιουλίου 24th, 2009

Eating healthy or being on a diet does not necessarily mean that you should eat boring food.  I have been watching my diet and loosing weight just by eating a little bit healthier.    Maybe I have not lost many kilos but I am satisfied loosing 2 kilos a month, without being hungry.
I have a [...]

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Continue reading about Mpiftekia (Hamburgers) with Vlita and Garlicky Cucumber Salad

Ivy on Ιουλίου 21st, 2009

I have been watching my diet for some time now, so I try and cook lighter but without counting calories.  Mostly I cook some grilled meat with a salad, or legumes and ladera but keeping the oil to the minimum.
On Thursday I was cooking marinated pork chops and I wanted to make a side dish [...]

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Continue reading about Mushrooms and spring onions rice salad

Ivy on Φεβρουαρίου 13th, 2009

On Thursday I was cooking marinated pork chops and I wanted to make a side dish to accompany the dish. There were some spring onions, parsley and mushrooms in the refrigerator, which had to be used, so looking in my pantry I had some parboiled rice, vermicelli and cashews so I decided to combine all [...]

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Continue reading about Marinated Pork Chops with Rice Pilaf

Ivy on Ιανουαρίου 8th, 2009

Quince is known from ancient years and its cultivation is said to have preceded that of the apple culture. Many references to «apples», in the ancient years may have been to a quince. Among the ancient Greeks, the quince was a ritual offering at weddings, for it had come from the Levant with [...]

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Continue reading about Pork with Quince, Prunes and Chestnuts

Ivy on Δεκεμβρίου 28th, 2008

As I wrote in a previous post, zalatina, as it is called in Cyprus, which is probably derived from the word gelatin, was usually made with pork’s head, ears and feet. My mother would make zalatina often but as we did not eat meat from the head she would add some lean meat especially [...]

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Continue reading about Zalatina or Pichti

Ivy on Δεκεμβρίου 19th, 2008

Years ago, before refrigerators were invented or even before electricity, can you imagine how people lived?
We stuff our refrigerators with lots of products and whenever we feel like cooking we just thaw something and cook it.
Back then people had hens and turkeys, rabbits and other domestic animals in their yards, which they [...]

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Continue reading about Spartiatika Loukanika (Spartan Sausages)