Spices

Pomegranate Glazed Chicken With Mastiha-scented Couscous

Mar 6th, 2010 | By Peter Minakis
Pomegranate Glazed Chicken With Mastiha-scented Couscous

This recipe comes courtesy of the very popular cooking show, “Everyday Food” which is produced by Martha Stewart and company. I’m going to pull a Martha by improving their “perfect recipe”. I’ve provided the link so that you can compare the differences in the approach to cooking the dish.
First off, I’m using pure pomegranate juice. [...]



Zesty Cabbage Soup

Feb 26th, 2010 | By Peter Minakis
Zesty Cabbage Soup

This soup has come a long way since I was inspired years ago by a delicious spiced cabbage soup I enjoyed at a soup and sandwich stand.
I’ve been tinkering with ingredients, amounts and I’m finally content with the flavour, aroma and colour of this soup. I was never satisfied with the outcome of this soup [...]



Tandoori Chicken

Feb 25th, 2010 | By Peter Minakis
Tandoori Chicken

It’s time to break the monotony of the series if Lenten dishes I’ve been posting. For the record: I fast for the first week of Lent, revert back to my regular diet of meat, seafood, vegetables (all in moderation) and I’ll revert back to the Greek-Orthodox fast for Holy Week (preceding Easter on April 4th). [...]



Pear Croustade

Jan 26th, 2010 | By Peter Minakis
Pear Croustade

Back when my blog was in its infancy and I was still using the Blogger platform, I had participated in many blogging events and one of the more interesting events was where food bloggers would participate in a kind of “Secret Santa“. Participants would draw names from a hat and then send a small amount [...]



Pork With Leeks & Celery

Jan 11th, 2010 | By Peter Minakis
Pork With Leeks & Celery

The traditional Greek diet wasn’t so meat-centered as it is today but meat always was part of the diet.
My parents (both from the the northern Prefecture of Florina) recall when the family pig was slaughtered. Nothing went to waste. The whole pig was used from snout to tail to hoof…everything but the pig’s squeal.
Up until [...]



Loin of Pork Stuffed With Prunes

Dec 28th, 2009 | By Peter Minakis
Loin of Pork Stuffed With Prunes

How was your Christmas? Are you enjoying yourselves? Spending time with family and friends? Having some richer, more indulgent foods? An extra drink? Good, ’cause I am!
The family’s Christmas dinner went splendidly. All the dishes turned out very well, we had some good chuckles and reminisced of Christmases past.  The centerpiece of our Christmas dinner [...]



Baklava Cigars (Πουράκια)

Dec 23rd, 2009 | By Peter Minakis
Baklava Cigars (Πουράκια)

Continuing with my series in the realm of Baklava, I present Pourakia or Baklava cigars. Again, all the flavour of Baklava can be had with these easy to make roll-ups. You can make them as big or as small a you wish.



Celebrating Christmas With the Greeks

Dec 21st, 2009 | By Peter Minakis
Celebrating Christmas With the Greeks

Regardless of whether you are Greek or not, live in Greece or among the Diaspora or if you are real lucky and you get to spend the holidays in Greece – I think a primer on the Greek Christmas is the call of the day.
When Greeks speak of the holidays, we mean Christmas, New Year’s [...]



Chicken Breast Stuffed With Roasted Red Peppers, Feta and Pistachios

Dec 14th, 2009 | By Peter Minakis
Chicken Breast Stuffed With Roasted Red Peppers, Feta and Pistachios

This dish can be as quick or as difficult as you want it to be. For me, the toughest part about this dish was tying up the chicken breasts. I’ve always been a visual learner and this YouTube video clip shows one how to properly tie up a roast or in this case, a stuffed [...]



Pumpkin Pie

Nov 25th, 2009 | By Peter Minakis
Pumpkin Pie

Today is the eve of the American Thanksgiving and many of you are either traveling or busy prepping for tomorrow’s huge dinner with family and friends.
Canadian Thanksgiving occurs in October (fell on Oct12th this year) and one of the dishes I wish to share with you is this homemade pumpkin pie. You have already planned [...]