Greek cakes come in many varieties. Some are soaked in light scented syrups, and some are more along the lines of what you might call a “coffee cake.” These include spice and nut cakes, cheesecakes, and cake that resembles pound cake. Apple Coffee Cake – Milopita This delicious coffee cake is easy to make and, […]

One of the many Greek myths around the creation of roses, is that Aphrodite or Venus, wept over the wounds her lover Adonis suffered and her tears mingled with his blood and created the red rose. This is where the connection between red roses and love stems, if you’ll excuse the pun. The best roses […]

Unfortunately, most recipes are geared towards families of four to six. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, leftovers can be good. And when you’re cooking for one or two a freezer can be your best friend. Nevertheless, there are times when you want to reduce a recipe and fortunately, that’s not particularly difficult. Difficulty: Easy Time […]

This recipe for pumpkin bread is unlike one you may have tried before. Most pumpkin breads are more like sweet cake than bread. This recipe makes a traditional loaf of bread that’s slightly sweet and absolutely wonderful toasted and served with jam or preserves. You will need a cup of pumpkin puree to make the […]

A twist on the traditional favorite, this recipe takes the delicious nut filling of Baklava and combines it with the irresistible flavors of chocolate and hazelnut in a delicious pastry tart. Prep Time: 45 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes Yield: One 9-inch tart Ingredients: For the tart crust: 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/3-cup sugar 1/4 tsp. salt […]

Karidopita (kah-ree-THOH-pee-tah) is a traditional Greek cake made from ground walnuts and spices that is usually finished with sweet syrup. You won’t miss the syrup in this moist and rich chocolate version. Finish it off with a bit of chocolate sauce or a dollop of whipped cream and enjoy. Prep Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour Total Time: 3 hours, […]

Greek name and pronunciation: πιπερόριζα, say pee-peh-ROH-ree-zah At the market: Fresh ginger root is usually available at the green grocer. Dried ginger is usually sold in powder form, and minced or pureed ginger can often be found in jars. Physical characteristics: Ginger root is said to resemble fat stubby hands. They are a light tan […]

Greek name and pronunciation: Colianthro, κολίανδρο, pronounced koh-LEE-ahn-throh (hard th, rhymes with “dough”) At the market: Coriander seeds are available in sealed packs. Pour-and-shake containers of ground coriander are sometimes available, but it is recommended to buy the seeds and grind them yourself. Physical characteristics: When these rounded seeds are crushed with a mortar and […]

Greek name and pronunciation: Garifalo, γαρίφαλο, pronounced ghah-REE-fah-lo At the market: Whole cloves are usually packaged is small resealable containers. Clove essential oil is usually available at health food stores. Physical characteristics: Cloves are the dried unopened flower buds of an evergreen tree native to Indonesia and Madagascar. A dried clove (bud) is 1/2 to […]

Greek name and pronunciation: Karthamo, κάρδαμο, pronounced KAR-thah-mo (hard th) At the market: Dried cardamom seeds, unshelled and shelled are usually available in small containers, as is powdered (ground) cardamom. Sometimes, pods (containing 15 to 20 seeds) are available. Powdered cardamom should be a last choice because once the container is opened, it quickly loses […]