Our two new ” California Greek ” classes are underway here at Ethos Culinary during our beautiful summer months here in San Diego. We encourage you to join us for a hands-on experience for both classes. We have found that these events are the most requested. You can select your choice of classes through our Private Team-Building events. I can say these events have been the most fun, meeting local companies and their employees while cooking together!

Our classes are listed below, so please email me at ethosculinary@gmail.com to register for a class. I will send you a confirmation and payment method once I receive your email. See you soon, Chef Mary

If you would like a private class for a birthday or celebration, please contact me at ethosculinary@gmail.com. Ideas for a private event may include book signings, birthdays, guest chefs, wine tastings, olive oil classes, and social events.

A private book signing at Ethos with great friends.

Greek Wine Tasting with our Local Rep.

Hands- On Team Building

Dinner with Farmer’s Dinner Series

How to Sign Up for Classes

Please email me for any questions or sign-up for a class, at ethosculinary@gmail.com.

Don’t’ forget to sign up to receive our free newsletter for more upcoming classes and events above.

For more details about our business, please visit our website at ethosculinary.com.

Chef Mary,

© 2026, Mary Papoulias-Platis. All rights reserved.

The post “California Greek” Culinary Classes at Ethos appeared first on California Greek Girl.

This month I have launched a new series of classes for Ethos Culinary called “California Greek”. Over the 20+ years of blogging, I have always been inspired to cook healthy dishes with a coastal flair from the many years of living in sunny San Diego. And secondly and most importantly, adding several recipes new and old from my Greek cultural background. My general goal is keeping my family traditions alive. This blog space has been my personal collections of stories to share with you and my thoughts on how we try and live a simple lifestyle. And lastly, I take great pride in my family traditions including my Greek Orthodox religion, and Hellenic Culture.

My love for baking started with these Greek ladies cooking every year for the Greek festivals, in San Diego. All my aunts and both mothers baked and participated in these activities leading up to these endless Greek celebrations.

The Greek ladies from our parish at St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox church, baking away.

My mother Voula’s recipe for her Christmas cookies, Kourambiethes  are included in my blog for all of you to enjoy!

“California Greek” was my first inspiration for a future Greek Cookbook, from my blogging years and my professional culinary history. I will be spending this upcoming year writing my long-awaited cookbook.  My California Greek Girl Blog has been my focus for several years connecting myself to all my followers. I’ve shared my family stories, travels and events as well as my participation in local events from working the farmer’s markets, attending Greek festivals, and expanding professional career with my Olive Oil Cookbook, working as a brand ambassador with Bragg Live Foods and teaching cooking classes throughout the state!

My Favorite Years

My first cookbook with photographer Laura Bashar, and eBook winner for Best Cookbook.

Attending my first meeting with Patricia Bragg.

One of many events educating the public on Bragg’s Greek organic extra virgin olive oil with Dr. Westerdahl.

Along the way, came many food shows and product development for brands. And several of my fond many memories with producers at local shows. This is Expo-West.

Never missed the Bob’s Red Mill exhibit!

Meeting two of my favorite authors Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg.

Our presentation at Melissa’s Produce with our Olive Oil cookbook.

We couldn’t refuse this picture…

Welcome to Ethos!

And we can fast forward to my latest profession as the owner of Ethos Cooking School, where I currently teach and love every moment!

A trip to Greece started my entire career into food blogging and the rest is history…

“From Greece to California”

© 2026, Mary Papoulias-Platis. All rights reserved.

The post “California Greek” From Greece to California appeared first on California Greek Girl.

I live for one-pan dinners, especially after raising my family, and all the dinners I prepared on our busy school days. Having collected many recipes this is still one of my favorites. Simple ingredients, such as olives and rosemary, (bushes outside), which I keep on hand, and always having chicken thighs on my shopping list makes life so much easier. You can always substitute rosemary for parsley, basil, or oregano. In addition, you can always sprinkle feta on top before serving, if you wish.

Tuscan Blue is what I grow in my garden. Low water, no maintenance and they give you year around baby blue blossoms. They are also great for garden pots.

Try many of my one pan dinners below:

Braised Greek Lemon Chicken with Artichokes

Greek Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

Grilled Greek Lemon Chicken Ka-Bobs

Enjoy your dinner tonight,

© 2026, Mary Papoulias-Platis. All rights reserved.

The post One Pan Greek Roasted Chicken Thighs appeared first on California Greek Girl.

Oh, the lonely zucchini! I plant them every year in my garden and end up passing them out to all my neighbors. Even though you get an abundance, I never get tired of cooking them up for dinner. My mother would fry them up and we just gobbled them down, one of my favorite memories of being in the kitchen at home. One part of the zucchini very few cooks use is the billowy yellow flower from this plant. I learned to stuff these with cheese or any mixture you prefer. (See my post below) If you want to try this recipe head out to your local farmer’s market, they often showcase the flowers in early summer.

How to Stuff Squash Blossoms

There are many other types of squash you will find at the markets. Here are a few you might recognize.

Here are a few of my recipes that I have enjoyed in past seasons! Remember, normally you get such a big batch from a few plants, you need to get creative and add them to baking goods, stews, soups, pasta dishes, quiches and pancakes, often called fritters. One of my favorites is my Chocolate Zucchini Olive Oil Cake!

Chocolate Zucchini Olive Oil Bread

Feta Zucchini Patties 

Or try my cold summer Zucchini Soup, that can be so refreshing as an alternative to turning on your hot oven.

Cold Tomato and Zucchini Soup with Ginger

And if need more ideas for your crops, or your farmer’s market finds, take a look below

Enjoy the season!

© 2026, Mary Papoulias-Platis. All rights reserved.

The post Zucchini Recipes for the Summer Table appeared first on California Greek Girl.

Greek Easter is the most celebrated holiday in the Greek Culture. Our family’s Easter recipes are the traditional foods passed down from my family and my husband’s family. Although they came from different regions of Greece, my mother from Corinth and my husband’s family from the island of Kythera, we have merged together to make these meals our family’s best. They are all very similar in tradition, but a few changes from the many years I have celebrated the holiday. Living in California, we have access to many vegetables, and this makes it easier to adapt the original recipes, making them ours. Many more recipes can be found throughout my blog by simply searching the category and also under Easter.

Lamb can be served in so many different ways that we alternate the cut of lamb over the years. From the traditional leg of lamb, lamb chops, or lamb shanks for all, we never forget our children’s favorite side dish that cannot be forgotten our Greek orzo. The many other sides change from year to year also, adding roasted beets, lemon bitter greens, , a large Greek salad, or spanakopita, they all are appreciated at the table. For more lamb information read my post here.

Greek Leg of Lamb with Orzo

Our Family’s Greek Lamb Shanks

Phyllo Leek and Feta Pie

Greek Roasted Eggplant Dip

Best of all, and most important are the dying of the Red Eggs, to be later celebrated at the table after dinner with a smashing of the eggs, and the one winner whose egg survives, without one blemish!

The Easter breads, “tsoureki” are baked with or with the addition of red eggs, symbolizing the blood of Christ. Bakers get very creative with the process and creative new shapes and toppings.

Easter Week is filled with traditional “Holy Week’ rituals leading up to Easter Sunday. Many participate in a 7-week fast, in order to cleanse the body for the final week, between Palm Sunday and Holy Saturday often called “Megali Evdomada”, translated to the Grand Week. During this plant-based” week, the community offers special foods including the local restaurants. Many of these foods can be found on my blog which includes, horta-greens, baked white beans, fava spread, spinach and rice, peas in tomato sauce, green beans in sauce, eggplant dip, black -eyed peas, chickpea stew, lentils, to name just a few.

A fava bean spread with beeta and roasted tomatoes.

Spinach and Rice makes the best weeknight dish!

Stuffed Greek Tomatoes a favorite for everyone. 

Greek Stuffed Grape Leaves a wonderful dinner side dish.

Best of all are the cookies we wait for all year for and they are the Koulouria!

Lastly, but the most beatiful are the pictures of our local churches celebrating Easter Week.

A family gathering with my mother and family and freinds on Easter Sunday roasting a lamb on a spit for a tradional dinner.

Kalo Paska and Happy Easter!

© 2026, Mary Papoulias-Platis. All rights reserved.

The post Traditional Greek Easter Recipes appeared first on California Greek Girl.

You can make cured olives at home. How many times do you pass by the olive counter at stores and say I can make those. Well, here’s your chance to make your own cured olives to serve as appetizers, with your cheese plates, or thrown on a salad. This recipe is using fresh olives straight from the tree. All you need to find is an olive oil farm or visit your local farmers at the markets and ask for fresh olives. Or find a neighbor who will be kind enough to give you 4 cups of olives from their tree.  A variety of olives will make your dish more interesting but take whatever you can find. Change up the herbs as you wish but do use a high-quality extra virgin olive oil for this recipe.

Olives have many health benefits: All in one olive!

• heart healthy
• weight loss
• cancer prevention
• decrease pain
• improve skin /hair health
• reduce allergies
• good source of iron
• improve eye health

Meyer lemons happen to be in season during the olive harvest, so you may want to use these smooth -skinned lemons for a sweeter flavor.

Print

Cured Olives Lemon and Herbs

Add this quick olive appetizer with a side of freshly baked bread.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Meditteranean

Keyword olives, Meditteranean, Greek

Author Mary Papoulias-Platis

Ingredients

• 4 cups assorted fresh olives, not pitted
• 1 large lemon
• 8 large garlic cloves, halved
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 6-8 anchovy fillets
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary, cut into 1 -inch pieces
• 1 teaspoon each of oregano, fennel seed, lavender
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Instructions

• Make a slit with a sharp knife one side of each olive.
• Use a sharp knife or peeler and peel the lemon in spirals
• Using a crock or glass bowl, layer the olives with 1/2 cup measurements with lemon peel, garlic clove, onion slice, anchovy fillet, rosemary and herbs.
• Cover with olive oil.
• Store in a cool dark place for at least 3 days or up to one week. Taste! If still bitter continue aging, until flavor is right.

Notes

Fresh olives can be found at your local olive oil farm. Or check with farmer's at your local farmer's market. Do not use already seasoned or canned olives.

These pictures were taken during the harvest season at our local Temecula Olive Oil Ranch.

Cured olives are one of the essential ingredients in the Greek Diet. Here a few more recipes for your cured olives.

Greek Salad Horiatiki

Greek Roasted Feta with Kalamata Olives

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Potatoes and Olives

Enjoy the harvest,

© 2026, Mary Papoulias-Platis. All rights reserved.

The post Cured Olives with Lemon and Herbs appeared first on California Greek Girl.

Welcome to Ethos Culinary!
We are located in the beautiful city of San Diego.
Subscribe to my newsletter (link at the right) to get the latest cooking class schedule.

As I begin the planning of my upcoming new classes, I happened to look back on my most productive events. It was a busy year taking on more private classes and team-building parties as requested. During this time, we tackled hands-on cooking classes which became our most popular events. There was more productive interaction among my customers during these classes as well. New inquires and questions regarding the process of developing recipes, and proper cooking skills which I enjoyed answering. My recipes also changed, as I was trying to be more aware of what is available locally in our stores. My position is always to support my local farmers and producers in my area. From my culinary perception as a teacher, my goal is to incorporate as many “cooking techniques” as possible during your time with me.

What am I talking about?

Once, you begin using proper Cooking Techniques in your daily recipes, it will make your cooking experience more pleasant. Which will then allow you to experiment all you want in the kitchen. And of course, I’m taking this from the healthy approach of cooking with purchasing organic and local produce as much as possible and supporting our local farmers. You can also take up gardening and try a small pot or two of your favorite veggies for your home-cooking.  When you visit Ethos, one extra bonus you will encounter is the freedom to wander into my vegetable and herb garden for a quick tasting. We are all hands-on here!

Here’s a peak into my kitchen. I set it up as a classroom with bright light coming in and ample space for a large group. My appliances are all commercial with three
10-foot islands for hands on cooking and plenty of sitting for observation classes. We often spill into the front patio for relaxation and conversations. It is my private chef’s kitchen where we cook together and gather around for developing new friendships in our community.

Here are the basic cooking techniques I teach in my classes.

• Sauteing – Foods cooked with this method are quick and higher in nutrients.
• Stir Fry – Similar with sauteing, mostly Asian inspired based on vegetables and intensely flavored liquids.
• Grilling – tender meats, poultry and seafood are generally grilled along vegetables that can be marinated or flavored with rubs.
• Roasting- Foods cooked in the oven tend to have much flavor, moist and flavorful.
• Steaming – Moist cooking is prepared in a steamer or wrapped in paper that retains their nutrients. Sauces are often added for flavor.
• Stewing – Main ingredients such as meats, are paired with aromatics and cooked gently for developing flavor.

Knowing these simple cooking techniques can advance your culinary skills and knowledge on how to develop more creative dishes. These techniques are often taught and explained at the beginning of my cooking classes. It’s important to have several of these skills incorporated in the recipes as well, which are taught during my lunches, ands throughout my classes.

What equipment is needed to enhance your cooking skills?

• Less is more! We don’t need to crowd up our kitchen counters with a zillion pieces of equipment.
• A good large soup pot, stainless steel or cast iron as Le Creuset.
• Several saucepans, small and large for sauces, small vegetables, and baking.
• A food processor for making sauces, doughs and cutting up your foods.
• A blender for creaming soups, fresh juicing, drinks, and blending foods.
• If you’re a baker, a hand mixer or standing mixer will be necessary, along with baking pans.

Now, that you have that understanding in knowing the basics of cooking skills, you can better understand my position as a culinary teacher and the responsibility I have in teaching you these basic techniques. My lunches will cover these skills one by one and in more depth.  All my classes will cover one or two of these culinary techniques as we cook along in more details. We also include a sit-down table time so we can enjoy the foods we have prepared.

Subscribe above to my newsletter and this will enable you to receive my class listings and attend my classes. (I do not sell any information or advertise; it’s strictly for class dates and blog posts.)

Also, follow me on Instagram at California Greek Girl and Ethos Culinary.

Happy Cooking,

© 2026, Mary Papoulias-Platis. All rights reserved.

The post Cooking Techniques You Should Know appeared first on California Greek Girl.

What a year it has been! I want to thank everyone who participated in our events and classes. We hopefully fulfilled our promise to improve your cooking techniques and enhance your diet with dishes you can make from our Greek cuisine. Our goal is always improve your lifestyle with eating more nutrient-rich foods. As I’m writing this today, we now have a new food pyramid that has been in the news all day. We have been waiting to hear what the standard will be and apparently the message is “Eat Real Food”. Isn’t that we have been doing?

Here are a few take-aways from this new pyramid.

• Emphasizing more protein and saturated fats.
• Include more vegetables and fruit on your plate.
• Incorporate dairy, cheeses and yogurt daily.
• Less sugar and highly processed foods.

What foods to eat?
The right foods are those that supply us with right amount of nutrients we need to order to be properly nourished. We do know that getting the right foods generally means eating a variety of foods, because no single food contains enough of all the important nutrients our bodies need.

I’m a big follower of Joel Fuhrman MD, and his health and fitness guides to longevity. He has many books out, Fit To Live, Eat For Life, and several more. When I plan my week of shopping, this simple guideline helps me remember what to shop for. He calls it the G-BOMBS. Easy and helpful.

• Greens
• Beans
• Onions
• Mushrooms
• Berries and Seeds

Nutrient IQ scores was also developed keeping in mind, all you have to do is understand how to eat a healthful and nutritional balanced menu. The list is long so, I’ll just list a few of the top- 10 most nutrient-dense foods, with the IQ score. For more information take a look at this website for more information at  Joe Fuhrman, MD

1. kale, cooked 1 cup – 112 (nutrient IQ score)
2. collards, cooked 1 cup – 112
3. mustard greens, cooked 1 cup – 112
4. turnip greens, cooked 1 cup -112
5. watercress, cooked, 1 cup 112
6. arugula, cooked, 1 cup -112
7. swiss chard, cooked 1 cup -112
8. bok choy, 1 cup – 90
9. broccoli, 1 cup – 90
10. broccoli rabe, 1 cup – 90

If you’re looking for a diet that can help with your choice of meals and lifestyle take a look at the Blue Zone regions where people live  much longer, stay active, and live healthier lives. The average age of people in these regions live past 100 years old. They are not overweight, not obese, and have a BMI (body mass index) less than 21!

Here is where they live!

• Ikaria, Greece
• Sardinia, Italy
• Okinawa, Japan
• Seventh Day Adventists, California
• Nicoya-Peninsula, Costa Rica

Here are a few meals to start the New Year with!

Breakfast Ideas:  Mushroom and Kale Frittata, Blueberry Chia Soaked Oats, Teff porridge with Walnuts, and Berries, Mini Corn Muffins, Banana Pancakes, Huevos Rancheros.

Lunch Meals : Greens and Berries Salad, Roasted Vegetable Salad, Napa Cabbage Slaw, Edamame, Corn and Tomato Salad, Black Bean and Butternut Squash Chili, Corn and Red Lentil Chowder, Mushroom and Wheat Berry Soup.

Main Dishes: Artichoke Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms, Asian Lime-Ginger, Zoodles, Broccoli Quiche, Buffalo Cauliflower, Eggplant Meatballs, California Creamed Kale, Mac and Peas, Green Pizza, Lentil Walnut Burritos, Korean Vegetable Mushroom Wraps, Sweet Potato Toast with Roasted Broccoli, Vegie-Bean Burger

Here are as few recipes on my blog for you to begin with,

Mom’s Lentil Vegetable Soup

Couscous with Fresh Mustard Greens, Avocado and Feta

Warm Broccoli Soup

Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad

Greek Chopped Cauliflower Salad

Greek Stuffed Tomatoes with Rice

Mountain Meadow Mushroom Tour and Risotto Recipe

I hope the New Year brings you Health and Happiness and a Healthy Body!

Best in Health,

© 2026, Mary Papoulias-Platis. All rights reserved.

The post Happy 2026 – Let’s Stay Healthy! appeared first on California Greek Girl.

Every Christmas I try and bake at least one of these cookies for my neighbors and friends. This tradition started many years ago when my children were little. Our neighbors the Roger’s would send over a beautiful array of cookies my kids would flip over and share until every crumb was gone. They were perfectly iced sugar cookies – the kind you press into a design, delectable fudge, and always a surprise cookie. My kids never had homemade cookies, and they savored them before we could get them in the door!

So, I had to respond with a Greek gift as a thank you. So, the cookie exchange began and continues today. I make these cookies above and always add my family baklava to the platter. I look forward every year to these cookies, even though the kids are gone. Now, I guess we both have more time to make the gift a special one.

For the Kourambiethe ( butter cookie) the recipe can be found Here.

Quick Tips for Cookies

Both cookies are traditional recipes, in that they can be made with a hand mixer, then blended with your hands. Back in those days when they developed the recipes, they didn’t have the equipment we have today. Stand-up mixers were not used. But, I love that fact you can mix these simply and feel the dough and know when it’s ready. A few hints: I add the flour slowly by hand, and once the dough pulls away from the bowl, the dough is ready. It might be a bit sticky but form it into a flat round and wrap tightly parchment paper or plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator to harden for easy forming. You can bake the cookies once cooled, or freeze the dough and make then later.

And here is my Mother’s recipe for Melomakarina recipe, the brown spiced-honey cookie with honey can be found Here.

Whether you have a cookie exchange or not, pick your favorite two cookies and begin a gift giving experience with your friends and neighbors! It’s a wonderful expression of love, for having lived next to such great neighbors.

As the Greeks say, Kalo Xpristouyena! Merry Christmas!

Website: ethosculinary.com

Blog: www.californiagreekgirl.com

© 2025, Mary Papoulias-Platis. All rights reserved.

The post Bake Two of My Favorite Greek Holiday Cookies appeared first on California Greek Girl.

Hello Everyone!

It’s that time of year and you are invited to attend our Holiday Market House at Ethos Culinary. The market will be brimming with our Women in Business event, where you can come and meet several women who represent their businesses in our local community. This is our third year, and we are so proud having over 30 fabulous entrepreneurs with their multiple talents! Stop by and have a delicious lunch and visit with our ladies attending.

Over the years, we have supported local food vendors, women authors, demonstrated several cooking demos, and tasted local wines, cheeses, and honey! We love to eat!

So,  you have one more thing to do this Christmas, and that is to add Sunday, December 14th on your calendar for our spectacular culinary experience.

See you there,

© 2025, Mary Papoulias-Platis. All rights reserved.

The post Ethos Culinary Holiday Market House in December 2025 appeared first on California Greek Girl.