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 Δεκεμβρίου 24th, 2009

In Cyprus it is traditional to offer these treats after the wedding, instead of bombonieres (favours), which are offered in Greece. After the church ceremony the couple and the parents of the bride and groom line up for congratulations and one of these wedding cakes are offered to the guests, neatly folded in cellophane [...]

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Continue reading about Loukoumia tou Gamou (Cypriot Wedding Cakes)

Ivy on Δεκεμβρίου 13th, 2009

I don’t cook soup often, maybe three of four times during the whole winter and on such occasions we prefer soups like avgolemono, giouvarlakia,  kreatosoupa (meat soup with beef and vegetables) or psarosoupa same as kreatosoupa but made with fish and my favourite which is trahanas.
The weather was very mild this year and until [...]

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Ivy on Σεπτεμβρίου 28th, 2009

Gyristarkes, from the Greek verb γυρίζω = turn, now commonly known as glystarkes or glistarkes, is a kind of grid-like crusty, sesame rusks.   The bread sticks are dipped into sesame seeds and then they are shaped beginning with a cross (as it had a religious meaning as well) and then other bread sticks are added [...]

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Continue reading about Glystarkes (Cypriot crusty, sesame rusks)

Ivy on Σεπτεμβρίου 8th, 2009

Summer Escapes Part II
Taygetus Mountain: Sparti – Megalopolis

This is a local recipe from Lakonia and is a very rustic, traditional village recipe with rooster but it can also be made with chicken. Kokoras Bardouniotikos means Rooster from Vordonia area. Before giving the recipe I would like to tell you a few things [...]

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Continue reading about Kokoras Bardouniotikos (Stewed Rooster with feta)

Ivy on Απριλίου 3rd, 2009

Kifylla is another Cypriot street food which is not widely known.   It’s a sweet bread, filled with raisins and glazed with sugar on top and it used to be sold in the central streets,  in wheeled carts.  It’s a very healthy snack and perfect for breakfast.
You can either use butter or margarine but as [...]

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Continue reading about Kifylla: Cypriot Cinnamon and Raisin Bread Rolls

Ivy on Φεβρουαρίου 20th, 2009

Memorial. (Gr. Μνημόσυνο Mnymosyno – 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 Φεβρουαρίου 14th, 2009

I love making spoon sweets and every time I write about one I end up saying that it is my favourite.  Each one has a different taste and when raw even if it is bitter like the walnuts or citrus or tasteless like water melon rind, when it is done it is transformed into something [...]

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Continue reading about Glyko Milo (apple spoon sweet)

Ivy on Ιανουαρίου 11th, 2009

Kokkino in Greece means red and kokkinisto is the way the food is cooked in a tomato sauce and becomes reddened.   This is a traditional dish and can be made with lamb, chicken, rooster or game.  Red or white wine may be added and spices vary depending on what you prefer but mostly cinnamon, cloves [...]

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Ivy on Ιανουαρίου 2nd, 2009

My best wishes to all of you for a
Happy New Year!!
Vassilopita is our traditional New Year’s cake or Sweet Tsoureki Bread. This cake can easily be called an orange cake and it is similar to a pound cake. In fact this year I have adapted a pound cake from [...]

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