Maria's food stories

Christmas dinner!

2012-12-28T15:45:00.000+01:00

For the last 7 year we celebrate Christmas in a small city outside of Gothenburg were my mother in law was living. Last year we did the same and i have put up a post with pictures about the Swedish traditional Christmas dinner!

This year was different, we ate the same traditional food as we did every year but this time we cooked it and not my mother in law since she past away some weeks before Christmas. So this year we arranged it so me, my husband, his brother and his girlfriend would meet at my mother in law house and eat the traditional Christmas dinner.

First we started with salmon, different kind of herring and stuffed eggs with creme fraiche, mayonnaise, onion and caviar.

Then it was time for the meat. Pork ribs, meatballs, Ham, sausages (this year we had lamb sausages), boiled potatoes, some cheese, bread and of course beer, wine and snaps!

The food was great and we had a great time but it wasnt the same without Ulla-Britt, my mother in law. I am sure that if she was watching us she would have been very proud of us....

Alaska Pollock in the oven with lemon and garlic sauce

2012-06-02T12:58:00.000+02:00

Some days ago we bought some frozen fish fillets that my mother in law has suggested to us and told us how tasty the fish is and not expensive! Alaska Pollock is the fish and its a species of the cod family Gadidae (you live, you learn)

So today i tried it and i have to say, its a good fish and we will buy it more often. Thank you Ulla-Britt for the tip!

I used 4 fillets and for the sauce just put in a bowl some olive oil, salt, pepper, parsley, the juice of a lemon and some garlic (slice it in small pieces or crush it) and stir well.
Put the fish in a oven pan, add the sauce and put it in the oven, 200 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.

You can serve it with boiled potatoes and salad!

Bon Appetit!

Greek souvlaki with pita bread and tzatziki

2012-04-29T16:17:00.000+02:00

We just bought a new grill for our balcony, the weather is fine, 15° C and even though i am sick and i have fever, this is the only thing i am thinking, to try the new grill! Time for some homemade souvlaki with some homemade tzatziki and homemade pita bread!!! Just like home...

For the tzatziki you will need:

2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. vinegar
2 cloves garlic, grated finely
salt, pepper
250gr Greek yogurt.
1 small cucumber, peeled and grated.
1 tsp. chopped mint (fresh or dried)

Add the yogurt in a bowl, the oil, the vinegar, the garlic, squeeze out any excess water from the cucumber with your hands, then stir cucumber into the yogurt mixture and add some salt, pepper and the mint.

For the pitas you will need:

500gr all purpose flour.
1 glass lukewarm water.
1tsp salt.
1 tsp sugar.
Half of a bag dry yeast.

Add the yeast into the water and stir well, take a bowl and add the flower, the salt, the sugar and then the water with the yeast. Use both of your hands and knead until the dough is not sticky anymore, if necessary add more water. Cover the bowl with a towel and let the dough to "rest" until it becomes double in size. 45minutes to 1 hour will be enough. When the dough is ready knead it again and then make your pitas with your hands, give them their shape and fry them in a pan without oil or butter or grill them.

For the souvlaki you will need:

Any kind of meet you like, chicken, beef, mince meat, lamb, pork etc etc.
Olive oil
Salt, pepper, oregano.
Peppers in different colours (choose them according to your taste)
Onion, tomatoes and mushrooms if you like!
Mustard
Skewers

Clean and cut the meat in cubes. Take a bowl add the meat, some olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano, mustard, stir well and put it in the fridge for some hours, better yet a hole day! When you want to grill them cut some tomato, peppers, onions and mushrooms in pieces and put 2 pieces of meat, 1 piece of vegetables on the skewer and continue like this.

If you are using minced meat then prepare the meat as you would do for meatballs and make them long and put them on the skewers. (in Greece we call this kebab).

You can have some salad also and potatoes if you like.

Time to grill!!!!

Sunday breakfast with French toast

2012-02-19T10:31:00.002+01:00

This morning i thought i should try something new for breakfast...French toast! Yes, i have never eaten french toast in my life, never! My friend Xrisa from Greece suggested it to me some days ago, her lovely mother used to prepare it for her family and Xrisa is continuing this tradition and she is making it now for her family. It is easy to do it, it is fast and delicious! I love it! Thank you Xrisa for the recipe.

You will need:

2 eggs
4 pieces of bread (any kind of bread you want)
Olive oil
Sugar
Honey

Put some olive oil in a pan and turn the heat on, beat the eggs and pour them into a shallow bowl (You can add some milk in the egg mixture if you like). Dip each slice of bread into the egg mixture, allowing bread to soak up some of the mixture and put the bread in the pan. Fry until it's brown on both sides, flipping the bread when necessary, be careful that it doesn't get burned.

Serve hot with honey, sugar, fresh fruits or u can just eat them as they are.

(This recipe serves 2 people, 2 slices of bread per person, if you want this for more people add more eggs and of course bread).

Bon Appetit!

Soft chocolate brownies

2012-02-11T18:33:00.001+01:00

I don't make desserts that often but when ever i am in the mood for chocolate a make chocolate brownies from a recipe i found last year in a Greek site. I made some changes and i really like it! You can cut it in small pieces and eat it like brownies or you can use it for a birthday cake and cut it in bigger pieces and because this month a lot of my friends are celebrating their birthdays and soon i will celebrate mine too, i would like to dedicate this dessert to all the birthday boys and girls!

You will need:

Butter without salt, 225 gr
4 eggs
Sugar, 1½ tea mug
Cocoa powder, 1 tea mug
All purpose flour, 1 ¼ tea mug

Preheat the oven at 180 degrees. Melt the butter in a pot and then add the sugar and steer well. Beat the eggs in a bowl and add the cocoa, the butter with the sugar and the flour. Steer very well and you can add some raisins or nuts if you like. I usually don't add anything but this time i was in the mood for raisins and it was delicious!

Grease a round non stick cake pan with butter and add the mixture in it, put it in the oven and bake it for about 35 minutes. Be careful don't over bake it!

I added some icing sugar on the top but you can skip this part if you dont like it.

Bon Appetit!

Sweet and salty breadsticks

2012-02-06T14:38:00.001+01:00

Some days ago i was in Greece and i was looking in a morning show and the cook from the show showed a very simple, easy and fast recipe for breadsticks with cheese, she was suggesting them for children's parties but i thought it was a great recipe for all occasions! I also got the idea from my father to make them sweat, so i bought some brown sugar and i made my experiment and the result was great! My parents ate almost everything in less than 10 minutes so the next day i had to make some more!

You will need:

2 pieces ready dough (puff pastry, you can always make your own, this time i bought ready from the supermarket)
2 eggs
Sesame (if you like it)
Brown sugar
Grated Parmesan cheese or another salty cheese that you like. (i used kefalotyri, a Greek salty cheese)

Lets make the sweet breadsticks first.

Take the dough and open it, it must be cold otherwise you will have a problem when you cut it in pieces, if its too warm just put it in the fridge for 15 minutes and then continue.

Beat 1 egg in a bowl and then brush the dough with it. Add some brown sugar and then cut it as you see it in the picture. You can cut it in bigger pieces and you can also add some cinnamon if you like.

Now you take every piece and you twist it from its side like you are screwing a screw until they look like this...

Bake them in a preheated oven in 200 degrees for 5 minutes with wind on and check them all the time so they don't get burned.

For the salty breadsticks, beat 1 egg and brush your dough with it and then add the cheese and the sesame on the top and cut the dough and then twist. 5 minutes in the oven and they are ready!!!!

Bon Appetit!

Greek souvlaki by Savvas!

2012-01-27T21:41:00.000+01:00

Since i left Greece and moved to Sweden there is one food that i miss a lot...Yes i miss the Greek authentic souvlaki! My favorite is the pork on skewers actually but lately i also like the kebab (made from minced meat).

Last time when i was in Greece it was in July when we had our vacation and we got married with my husband so its been 6 months since i ate my last souvlaki! Now i am back in Greece for some days to see my family, my friends and to eat souvlaki of course! I think i could eat it every day.... Tonight we have decided to order and eat it here at home. Souvlaki and cold beer...I love this combination!

Of course the souvlaki came from Savvas, a brand that we love to eat from and we trust for many years now. They are in business since 1925 and they have a big variety and top quality!

We all chose pita kebab with potatoes, onion, tomato and tzatziki in it! I ate 2 but i wouldn't mind for one more! Delicious! If you are ever in Greece, don't forget to visit a Savvas souvlaki place and enjoy the best souvlaki in town!

Cod fillet in white wine sauce with mustard and lemon.

2012-01-14T11:15:00.000+01:00

At least once a week i try for us to eat fish. i love cod so i have found a recipe with some of my favorite ingredients in...wine, mustard and lemon! We like this recipe so much so this has become our traditional way to cook the cod! Its easy, fast and healthy.

For 2 persons you will need:

2 Cod fillet
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoon Olive oil
1 dl white wine
1 teaspoon polenta (or cornflower)
The juice from 1 big lemon.
Salt, pepper
water

Warm the oil in a pan large enough to accommodate the fish fillets in a single layer. If you are more than 2 people just double the ingredients. Season the fillets with salt and pepper and place them in the pan. Add some water (it should cover half of the fish), low the heat and cover the pan with aluminum foil and let them cook for 15 minutes.

Transfer the fillets to a plate and add the mustard, the whine, the polenta and the lemon juice in the pan where there is still the oil with the water and stir well, boil for some minutes and your sauce is ready!
You can serve the fish with salad, boiled potatoes or with mush potatoes if you like.

Bon Appetit!

Scones

2012-01-07T11:07:00.000+01:00

Last night i couldn't sleep and i was in the mood to cook something so i thought to bake some scones! This is the second time i am making them and i really like them! I found the recipe on my baking powder box and i follow that. Scones are easy to make and it needs only 15-20 minutes to bake and they make a great breakfast.

For 23 pieces you will need:

4 dl milk
8 dl all- purpose flower
1 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoon baking powder
100 gr butter or margarine (i use margarine for baking)

Preheat the oven at 250.
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and start working the dough with your hands or if you have a food processor use it, this is what i did. The dough must be soft but not sticky.

When its ready take an oven pan with some non stick baking paper on it and divide the dough in small pieces work them with you hands don't make them too flat and make them like you see in the picture. Make a cross on them with a knife and bake them in the oven, in the middle for about 20 minutes. You will see they will get a nice gold color.

Eat them while the are still warm, i usually eat them with marmalade.

Bon Appetit!

Chicken baked in foil

2012-01-05T11:06:00.000+01:00

Long time ago i cooked this food but i used pork and it was delicious, today i have decided to cook it again but this time with chicken since i didn't had any pork. It doesn't need that much preparation and you just put it in the oven and wait....easy to cook but it takes some time until its ready, precisely 1 hour and 20 minutes!

You will need for 4 people:

4 chicken filled with no skin.
3 gloves of garlic.
2 small peppers, i used 1 yellow 1 orange.
2 teaspoon dijon mustard.
65 gr of hard yellow cheese.
salt, pepper, oregano.
2 soup spoon olive oil.
Aluminum foil and baking paper.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Cut some foil and put some baking paper on the top of it as you see it in the picture. Clean and cut the chicken in small pieces and place it in the center.

Add the peppers, the garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, the mustard, the olive oil and the cheese in small pieces and steer well.

Fold the paper first and then the foil and seal the packet.

Bake for 1 hour and then open the packet and let it cook for 20 more minutes. You can serve it with rice, potatoes and salad. I made baked potatoes in foil.

Bon Appetit!

Swedish Christmas Eve dinner

2011-12-26T13:32:00.001+01:00

Here in Sweden they celebrate Christmas on the 24th of December. This is the day when they give each other Christmas gifts and this is the day when all the family is gathering around the table and they eat and drink and celebrate! I am always very happy when we go to my mother in law in Gothenburg to celebrate Christmas. I am happy because i meet my husbands family and i am also getting nice gifts and the food is amazing!! This year i took some pictures so you can see for yourselves!

So, on the table we had ham, (a ham that its being cooked 2 days before Christmas and glazed 1 day before), Swedish meatballs and small sausages cooked in the pan with some butter, potato salad, some bread (white, a darker one that is more sweet with raisins in it and a hard thin one) beet salad, green salad, mustard and some pork ribs that this year i cooked them in the oven from a Greek recipe i know and of course we had also wine, beer and snaps (aquavit).

If you ever have the chance to experience the Swedish Christmas food do not miss it!

Happy Holidays to all of you!

Chanterelle mushroom pie

2011-12-19T17:03:00.000+01:00

Last week we invited a friend for dinner. He was so kind that when he arrived he brought us a bottle of wine and some chanterelle mushrooms that he has picked up himself! I love these mushrooms so today i have decided to make a Swedish pie and use them. I added some onions and smoked ham and it was delicious! Thank you Mikael and next time when you bring us chanterelle again and i make a pie, i promise to save a slice for you!

For 4 people you will need:

For the pastry:

4 dl flower
2 dl milk
100gr butter

For the filling:

Chanterelle mushrooms
7 slices smoked ham
1 onion
Salt, pepper
2 dl creme fraiche
3 dl grated cheese (Gouda)
2 eggs

Preheat the oven in 200 degrees.
In a bowl mix the flower with the butter and add the milk. When the pastry is ready put it on a lightly floured surface and roll it with a floured rolling pin and make sure it will fit your pie oven pan. Pinch it with a fork and bake it for 10 minutes. Remember to smear the pan with butter before you put the pastry in it.

While the pastry is in the oven you can prepare the filling. Wash the mushrooms and slice them. Do the same with the onion and the ham (the ham you don't have to wash it). Put some olive oil in a pan and saute the mushrooms, onions and ham until they are tender.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs, the creme fraiche, the cheese and add salt and pepper. Transfer the mushrooms, onions and ham into to the egg mixture.

Stir well and pour it into the pastry.

Bake the pie in the middle of the oven for 30-35 minutes and serve it with salad. If you are a vegetarian you can skip the ham and enjoy this pie.

Bon Appetit!

Feta cheese stuffed meatloaf

2011-12-15T12:37:00.000+01:00

This one is one of my favorite dishes and i used to cook it very often when i was living in Greece but since i have moved to Sweden i realized that i haven't cook it at all, so i have decided to start now!

You will need for 4 persons:

900 gr of mincemeat, half pork half beef
1 pepper, yellow or orange
Olive oil
150-200 gr Feta Cheese
salt, pepper, oregano
1 egg
1table spoon Dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic
Breadcrumbs

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees

In a large bowl mix the mince meat, egg, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, oregano, the mustard, 2 table spoons olive oil and to all that add the garlic sliced in small pieces.

Put the mince meat in an oven pan and shape it like you see in the picture, then open it carefully and add the half of the feta and the pepper sliced in small pieces, then add the rest of the feta, some pepper and oregano and close it good!

Sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on the top, add some olive oil in the oven pan and 2dl of water. Bake it uncovered for 10 minutes and then cover it with aluminum foil for about 45 minutes, check that there is always water in the oven pan and it doesn't get dry, then cook it uncover for about 30-45 minutes, you will be the judge of it, it depends sometimes what kind of oven you have.

You can serve it with salad, potatoes or rice if you like, I served it with green salad and potatoes in the oven.

Bon Appetit!!!

Cod fillet in the pot with potatoes and vegetables.

2011-12-05T13:17:00.001+01:00

I try to cook fish at least once a week, i don't like it when we eat too much meat or pasta and i love fish and sea food. Here in Sweden i cook salmon and cod fillet very often, so while i was getting ready to cook some cod fillet with my traditional way (that's another recipe that will come later) i decided to search a little bit on the internet and find another way! So i found this recipe and i changed it a little bit and here is the result, its easy, fast and healthy!

For 2 people you will need:

4 code fillet fresh or frozen
10 medium size potatoes
2 lemons
Olive oil
Salt, pepper
Dill
Carrots, peas (fresh or frozen)
1 onion

Remove the skin from the potatoes, clean them and cut them in medium size pieces. Cut the onion in small pieces and then the carrots in thin round pieces (I used frozen vegetables so didnt had to cut them). Add some olive oil in the pot and when its hot throw in the onion and when it gets some color add the potatoes and the vegetables, salt, pepper and dill, steer well and put some water in the in pot and make sure that all the ingredients are covered. Put the lid on and when it starts boiling put the heat in low and let it boil for 15 minutes.

Clean the cod fillet add some salt and pepper (if they are very salty then add only pepper) and after the 15 minutes have passed open the lid and put the fillet inside the pot. Let them cook for another 15 minutes. 5 minutes before the food is ready put in a bowl some corn flower, the juice of 2 lemons and add some spoons of the juices from the food, steer well and put it back in the pot and let it cook for about 5 minutes more and the food is ready!

Bon Appetit!!!!

Chicken nuggets in the oven with yogurt dip

2011-12-03T14:07:00.000+01:00

Yesterday i was in the mood for chicken! I have found a recipe that i really liked, from a Greek site 2 years ago and i realized that i have not cooked it the last year so i thought it was about time! I have forgotten how good this chicken is so i am happy i did it....Chicken nuggets, potatoes, yogurt dip and beer...great combination, you should try it!

You will need for 2 people:

3 chicken breast fillet
crumbled bread
Dijon mustard
Parmesan cheese
olive oil
salt, pepper
1 lemon

For the yogurt dip:

2dl yogurt (and more if you like)
olive oil
salt, pepper
dill
garlic

Clean the chicken, remove the skin and cut it in small square pieces and add it in a bowl with some olive oil, salt, pepper, Dijon mustard, the juice of the lemon and steer it good. You can let it rest for some hours in the fridge or even for a hole night and cook it the next day. The more you leave it in the fridge the more tender the meat will be...

So when its time to cook it, put some some crumbled bread mixed with grated Parmesan cheese on a plate and roll the chicken pieces in it. Preheat oven at 200 degrees for 15 min and lay the chicken pieces on a non stick baking parer and put it in the oven. Use the hot air and let it cook for about 15-20 minutes. Always keep an eye on it and maybe you need to turn the pieces 1 time.

While the chicken is in the oven you can make the dip. Add the yogurt in a deep small bowl, some olive oil, salt, pepper, dill and some crushed garlic. Steer good and your dip is ready!

At the same time i made also some potatoes in the oven like fried potatoes but in the hot air. Its very easy and healthy!

Cut the potatoes in the shape you usually cut them when you want to fry them, put them in a kitchen towel so all the water, all the moist will be absorbed from the towel. Then put them on a non stick baking paper, you add a spoon of olive oil, you steer well and you cook them in the oven with hot air for 15-20 minutes. Add salt at the end when you put them on your plate. They taste and they look like fried potatoes but they are healthier!

Bon Appetit!

The original Carbonara!

2011-11-12T16:13:00.000+01:00

Until recently i thought Carbonara is a pasta with white sauce with cream and i was never a big fan of it because of the cream, i thought it was too heavy. Well the last year i found out from my husband who is half italian that the original Carbonara does not have cream inside and i was very surpsised. So we cooked it and i loved it!

So this is how we do it!

You will need:

Long pasta number 5
Salt, pepper,
Parmesan cheese
Pancetta
1 egg yolk per person

Boil the pasta in salted water. 100g pasta per person should be enough.

While the pasta is boiling, cut the pancetta in small pieces, take a frying pan add some olive oil and fry the pancetta. Add some water from the pot, some parmesan, salt, pepper and stir until the parmesan has melted.

When the pasta is cooked drain it and put it in the pan, stir well and serve it.

In each plate you will put the egg yolk as you see it in the picture and then each person will add it to the pasta and stir it.

Bon appetit!

Clay pot chicken with peppers and garlic

2011-10-07T19:59:00.001+02:00

After almost 10 months away from my blog, (sad but true...time flies fast) i am back with new recipes!
These 10 months were very busy...i went to a private school to get education as a nail technician, i had to plan a wedding in Greece this summer (yes i was the bride) and we moved to a new apartment! Now the school is over, the new apartment is almost finish, so more free time to cook!

Todays recipe is one of my favorites dishes, chicken cooked in a clay pot with peppers and garlic. I love to cook in the clay pot, the food cooks slowly and it keeps all the juices...so good!

You will need:

1 whole chicken
4 cloves of garlic
1 yellow pepper
1 orange pepper
salt, black pepper, oregano
dijon mustard
Olive oil

First wash the chicken and remove the skin if you like (i always remove it). Cut the peppers in small pieces and the garlic as you see in the picture down below.

Take a small bowl and and some olive oil, 2 teaspoon mustard, salt, pepper and oregano, take a brush, stir it and smear the chicken with it inside and outside. Add more salt, pepper and oregano on the chicken, put it in the pot and add the peppers and the garlic. Put some inside the chicken also (you can add some feta or yellow cheese if you like).

Add some water, close the pot and put it in the oven, NEVER preheat the oven when you are using a clay pot. Cook the chicken at 250 degrees for at least 3 hours (depends on how big is the chicken) and check it every hour.

You can serve it with potatoes, rice or salad. I served it with potatoes.

bon appetit!

Girls dinner with Greek meatballs and tzatziki!

2010-12-17T14:15:00.000+01:00

When your boyfriend is out of out town and you just bought a new TV and a new sound system what is the best thing to do? Invite some good friends at home to eat, drink and watch a movie!

This is what i did last friday and 3 good friends came to see me. I had prepared Greek meatballs (and i call them Greek because here in Sweden they cook also meatballs but they are different), tzatziki, tyropitakia, (small cheese pies), some meatballs made of soya since 2 of my guests are vegetarian, potato salad and some green salad also. Kerstin, Johana and Sanny seemed to love the food which that made me very happy!

We ate, we drunk some white wine, we talked, we laughed and then we had some glögg. Glögg is a wine with some spices inside that we serve it warm, with raisins and almonds (we cut the almonds in small pieces) and this is a traditional Scandinavian drink for the holidays.

When we finished with the glögg we realized it was time for the movie! Chips, sweets and chocolate came out and we all sat comfortably and watch the Sex and the City 2. Can you think of a better movie for a girls night? Well i cant! It was a success!

The girls left late in the night happy and full, i hope and i have promised them that we will meet again soon with different food and a different movie!

Oven baked Salmon fillet with lime aioli

2010-12-10T12:32:00.001+01:00

Something that i really like here in Sweden is that i can find fresh salmon in a good price. I love salmon and i am eating it at least once a week so i try to find different ways to cook it so we don't eat the same every week and it doesn't get boring! Yesterday i made salmon in the oven, very simple and fast and i made my own aioli sauce.

You will need:
(for 2 persons)

2 salmon fillet
Salt, pepper
Olive oil
Dill

For the aioli you will need:

150 gr mayonnaise
1 crushed garlic clove
Juice of half lime
Zest of 1 lime
Chives
Pepper

Preheat the oven at 180 degrees for about 10 minutes. Clean the fillets and brush them with olive oil, add salt, pepper and dill. Lay them in an oven tray with non stick baking paper. Put it in the middle of the oven and let the fish be cooked at 200 degrees for about 15 minutes, not more it will get dry.

While the fish is in the oven you can prepare the aioli. Put the mayonnaise in a bowl and add the lime juice, the zest, the garlic, the pepper and some chives chopped in small pieces. Stir well and put it in the fridge.

You can serve the salmon with boiled potatoes and salad. I baked my potatoes in an aluminum foil in the oven.

Bon Appetit

Chickpea soup with sausage

2010-12-08T16:24:00.000+01:00

The only time i eat soups is when i am sick or when its very cold. Right now i am not sick but its very cold today! As i look outside the window everything is covered with snow and the temperature is -10...yes its definitely time for a nice warm soup!

About a month ago i was in Greece visiting my parents and there i found a recipe about a chickpea soup, i changed it a little bit and here it is.

You will need :
(for 4 people)

250 gr chickpeas
4 spicy sausages
1 onion
2 carrots
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 cubes of chicken bouillon
7dl water
Olive oil
Salt, pepper

From the night before you put the chickpeas in a big pot with water, (just to cover them) and you let them there the hole night (at least 12 hours).

The next day you boil them for about 7 minutes and you remove the white foam you will see by drain them and rinse them with clear water. Put them again in the pot add some clean water and cook them for about 1 hour on low heat. When they are ready drain them and keep them in a bowl. Add some olive oil in the pot, cut the garlic, the onion and the carrots and throw them in when the olive is hot. Add the sausages that you have cut them before in small pieces and then the chickpeas. Stir well and then add the water (7dl), the chicken bouillon and the mustard. Stir again, add some salt and pepper and let it cook for about 1, 5 hour.

Remember that the bouillon is usually very salty so don't put a lot of salt in the food and also you can boil the sausages before you put them in the pot so a lot of fat will go away during the boiling.

You can serve the soup with some salad if you like and it goes very well with white wine.

Bon Appetit

Pork steaks in the oven

2010-11-29T10:45:00.000+01:00

Today i wanted to make a classic meat dish, pork steaks in the oven, its easy and fast, you just put the meat in the oven and that's it...but there is a secret to make the meat juicy and soft and this is what i am going to reveal to you today!

You will need:
(For 4 people)

4 pork steaks
Mustard
Salt, pepper, oregano
2-3 cloves of garlic
Olive oil
Some water

Preheat the oven at 180 degrees and while you wait wash the steaks and put them in an oven pan, i used a Pyrex as you can see in the photos. Add some salt, pepper, oregano and some olive oil. With a brush add some mustard in both sides and the garlic (cut it in half) and add some water (half of a tea cup).

Put the steaks in the middle of the oven and when you see that the meat is getting white (in about 10 to 15 min) turn them so the other side will get white too. After that cover the pan with an aluminum foil and cook the meat for about 1,5 hours, check it from time to time and add some water if necessary. The cooking with the aluminum foil for so many hours will keep the meat juicy and soft.

Try your meat and when its soft and cooked, turn the heat to 200 degrees, remove the aluminum foil and let the meat stand for about 5 minutes on each side until you see it gets a nice colour. Your meat is ready and its time to serve it.

I served it with boiled vegetables, saganaki cheese and foiled baked potatoes. (wash the potatoes, don't remove the skin, foil them in aluminum foil, pinch them with a fork in different places and put them in the middle of the oven. It takes about an hour to be cooked but of course it depends of the potato. Pinch them with a fork and you will understand when its cooked. Serve them with the aluminum foil and just open it and add some spices if you want, butter or some cream cheese).

Bon appetit!!

Chicken in beer sauce with mustard

2010-11-12T11:00:00.000+01:00

As i mentioned some days ago i was getting ready to travel to Greece and visit my family so now i am here, ready to cook in my Greek kitchen. 2 days ago i have decided to prepare a nice dinner for my parents so we can sit all together and eat, drink and talk since i haven't seen them for some months.

I have said that before, in Greece we eat a lot of red meat and i am trying not to eat it that often so i decided to cook chicken and make a sauce from beer!

You will need:
(for 4 portions)

2 big chicken breast fillet
1 orange pepper
6-7 fresh onions
1big clove of garlic
Salt, pepper, oregano, 3 daphne leaves
2 teaspoons mustard
330 ml beer
Olive oil

Cut the onions, the garlic, the pepper and the meat in small pieces as you see in the picture below, add some olive oil in a big pot and when its very hot throw in the pepper, and the meat, stir well for a couple of minutes and then add the garlic and the onion. Add salt, pepper, oregano, the mustard and stir again. When the meat has taken some color and its not pink anymore you can add the beer and some water, make sure that the sauce is covering the meat, add the daphne, stir again, put the lid on the pot, low the fire in half and let it cook for at least 3 hours. You can check it every 1 hour and try the meat to see if its cooked.

You can serve this with rice and some boiled vegetables or potatoes or pasta. I have decided to serve this also with red peppers stuffed with feta cheese.

For this you put some feta in a plate, add pepper, oregano and olive olive and make it as a paste with a fork and with a spoon or with your hands you put the feta in the peppers (first wash the peppers and cut the top). Put the peppers in a preheated oven and cook them for 10-12 minutes at 200 degrees with hot air.

Κάλη σας όρεξη!

Chicken tortillas

2010-11-01T13:22:00.001+01:00

Today is a very busy day, i am going to Greece tomorrow so i have plenty of things to do...so between the packing and fixing the house and making some phone calls and arrange some things i realised that we need to eat also!!!!

What shall i cook that is fast, delicious and good for the health??? Tortillas! I didn't had the time to make my own so i bought them ready from the supermarket but it works just fine! And from tomorrow since i will be in Greece i will share with you more Greek recipes made in my Greek kitchen!

You will need:
For 4 portions

4 big tortillas
4 small chicken breast fillet
250 gr cottage cheese
1 green pepper
1 orange or yellow pepper
1 red pepper
2 big tomatoes
1 big clove garlic
Mustard, salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, paprika, cummin, curry, cayenne pepper
Olive oil
100 gr grated yellow cheese (any kind you like)

Cut the peppers and the garlic in small pieces, add some olive oil in a pan (i use a wok) and when the oil is hot throw them in, stir well and after a couple of minutes add the chicken after you have cut in in small thin pieces.

Add the mustard and all the spices. Stir from time to time and be careful so it doesn't get burned. The temperature must be high.

When the chicken is ready remove it from the pan and share it in the tortillas. Add the cottage cheese, some tomato and if you like add some boiled corn and peas for more flavour and color! Roll the tortillas as you see at the picture down below and add some grated cheese on the top. If you have a problem to keep the tortillas closed use a wooden toothpick to close it and don't forget to remove it before you start eating!

Preheat the oven at 200 degrees for about 10 minutes and put the oven pan with the tortillas in it for about 5 minutes. When the cheese has melted, that means they are ready. You can serve them with salad or boiled vegetables.

Bon appetit!

Potatoes gratin with garlic and peppers

2010-10-26T13:00:00.001+02:00

I am trying not to eat so much red meat even though i come from a country that i think that we eat too much red meat there, almost everyday, so today i made my own recipe for potatoes gratin, which is potatoes in the oven with creme fraiche, Greek goat cheese, garlic, peppers and some herbs. You can serve this with salad or boiled vegetables and if you are a meat lover then you can serve this also with meat!

You will need:
(for 4 portions)

10 small potatoes
3 dl creme fraiche
2,5 dl water
150 gr goat cheese
1 small yellow pepper
1 small red pepper
1 clove garlic
Salt, pepper, oregano
Olive oil

Remove the skin from the potatoes, wash them and cut them in round thin pieces like you see in the picture, put them in an oven pan and add some salt and pepper.

Cut the peppers and the garlic in small pieces, put some olive oil in a sauce pan and when its hot throw them in.

When they take some color add the creme fraiche, the water and the goat cheese and stir well until the cheese has melted. Add some salt, pepper and oregano, turn the heat down in half and let it boil for 5 minutes without a lid.

Add the sauce in the potatoes and make sure that they are covered with it. (if necessary add some more water in the sauce)

Put them in a preheated oven at 200 degrees in the middle of the oven and let them cook for at least 1, 5 hour but you can check them from time to time.

bon appetit

Greek Souvlaki with chicken gyros

2010-10-21T12:15:00.000+02:00

I am a big fan of the Greek souvlaki and when i am in Greece i eat it very often. Now that i am living in Sweden i make my own, so when ever i feel homesick i make souvlaki with Greek pita sended to me from my mother by post!!! My dear mother knows how much i like it so she sends the pitas to me from time to time so i have the real Greek pita in my freezer all year around.

You will need:
(for 4 souvlaki)

2 chicken breast fillets
4 pitas
2 tomatoes
1 green pepper
1 yellow pepper
1 big onion
2 tablespoon olive oil
Oregano, thyme, paprika, pepper, salt, cummin, curry, mustard, cayenne pepper

For the yogurt sauce:
2 garlic cloves
2 dl yogurt
1 tablespoon olive oil
Dill, salt, pepper

Put the olive oil into a frying pan or a wok, i prefer the wok when i have many ingredients. Chop the onion and the peppers in small pieces and when the oil is hot throw them in and stir.

Cut the meat in thin long pieces as you see in the picture and add them into the pan.

Add all the spices and stir well until all the ingredients are cooked. While the meat is cooking you can make the yogurt sauce. Take a small bowl and put the yogurt inside, the salt, the pepper, the olive oil, some dill and the garlic in very small pieces and stir well. Your sauce is ready!

10 min before the meat is done, preheat the oven at 200 degrees and put the pitas inside and cook them at 180 degrees with the hot air. It takes only 5 minutes for them to be ready. When the pitas are cooked its time to serve your souvlaki. I will present 2 ways to you and you choose the one you like best!!!!

Καλή όρεξη!