Feta Brined Turkey Breast, Chestnut Stuffing and Make Ahead Gravy
American Thanksgiving is coming up this Thursday and Christmas is just over a month away. Both dinners center around a roast turkey plus whatever fixins’ and sides you may prepare plus some ethnic dishes that your family likes to serve on special occasions. Our holidays will be different this year – smaller gathering and that […]
Turkey Stuffing…er Dressing
I love making stuffing as a side dish with my roast turkey. Stuffing is made of stale bread, giblets, herbs and placed in the cavity of the turkey. I like baking it separate from the turkey, as it cooks quicker and it is safer: the stuffing may absorb meat juices that may not be cooked […]
Recap – Greek Christmas Supper
Last Sunday’s dinner was fun, delicious and as always, an intimate evening with friends at St. Lawrence Market Kitchen. Thank you to United Stars representing Cavino Wines and Apostolos Gerakinis for pouring the Greek wines. Cretan Olive oil and other specialty ingredients from Greece provided with thank by Nisos Importing. Appetizers: Spanakorizo Arancini (Rice Balls) Brie […]
Roast Pork Loin With Apple Stuffing
Happy New Year, Xponia Polla, Kali Xponia! I hope 2015 is full of wonderful memories, personal and professional successes and above, good health! Our family had a quiet New Year’s Day but we still have a wonderful late lunch/early dinner. It was decided to have pork, a traditional meat during the Christmas holidays for Greeks. […]
Gemista – Stuffed Tomatoes With Rice & Herbs
One of the observations I often hear about Greek cuisine is that the food tastes so much better than over here in North America, and often many wonder “why?” Greek cuisine shines when ingredients are used that are in season, and when it’s the middle of summer, that means tomatoes! Greeks love stuffing vegetables and […]
Pork Gioulbasi Stuffed Kefalotyri & Sour Cherry Sauce
There’s a Constantinople dish from around 1900 called Gioulbasi. Traditionally, a leg of lamb is studded with garlic and stuffed with pieces of sharp, aged Greek cheese. The meat is wrapped in parchment paper and slowly roasted until the meat is fork-tender, aromatic and about to fall off the bone. In mainland Greece there are […]
Chicken Ballotine With Kasseri
According to Larousse Gastronomique, a Ballotine is made of a piece of meat, fowl or game (or fish) which is boned, stuffed and rolled into a bundle. Don’t let the fancy French term nor the appearance of the dish intimidate you – this is easy to prepare and you’ll impress yourself as well as your […]
Almond Stuffed Shrimp With Crunchy Green Beans
It’s meze time! Appetizers! Backyard entertaining, offering an array of dishes through the evening with family, friends or both! With some prep, a little organization – one can serve an array of mezedes (appetizers) through the evening.I made this dish a couple of weeks ago, inspired by another shrimp dish I made with shrimp and […]
Vine-Leaf Chicken Stuffed with Feta
Most of you are familiar with dolmades, where small packets of rice and aromatics are bundled using grape-vine leaves or “ampelofyla” in Greek. These small morsels may also contain meat or be wrapped with Swiss chard cabbage. The cabbage rolls are also often called “lahano-dolmades”. The use of grape-vine leaves is not limited to just […]
Stuffed Greek-Style Turkey
Here’s the Main Event folks, the stuffed turkey. I’ve been a big fan of brining a turkey for over a decade now. Oh, I’m sure you all have your favourite way of doing it but out there is an equal amount of people who fear, dread or avoid turkey. Usually because it ends up dry. […]
