SPINACH PIE/SPANAKOPITA

GREEK SPINACH PIE/SPANAKOPITA
Greek Recipe Ingredients:

* One pack of very thin 'fílo' pastry (obtained from a specialist deli)
* 1 Kg / 2 lb of spinach, either frozen or fresh
* 1 kg / 2 lb of féta cheese
* 250g / 1/2lb of butter or margarine
* 2 cloves of garlic or garlic power

GREEK RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS
If the spinach is raw, cook and slice thinly. If frozen, defrost. In either case, mix the féta cheese with the spinach to make a mixture, adding the chopped garlic. Spread some butter on an oven tray. Open the fílo package and place each thin pastry (it is as thin as paper) on the tray, buttering each one using a brush. After you have done 8 fílo slices, place the spinach/féta mixture and spread over the entire oven tray, covering the 8 pastry slices. On top of this, place the remaining pastry slices, buttering each one of them as well. Notch the last one creating 2 inch (5 cm) on a side, squares. Place in a medium heat oven and cook till brown.

GREEK MEATBALLS AVGOLEMONO (with egg and lemon sauce)

GREEK MEATBALLS AVGOLEMONO (with egg and lemon sauce)
Greek Recipe Ingredients:

* 500grams / 1 lb of ground beef
* 250grams / 1/2 lb butter or margarine
* 125grams / 1/4 lb rice
* 1 egg
* 1 onion, finely chopped, parsley, salt, pepper
For the sauce
* 2 eggs
* 2 lemons
GREEK RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS
Mix all the ingedients together, and mould into round 1 inch / 2.5cm balls. Put some water in a pot, place the butter and balls in it carefully. Let them cook for about 20 minutes and then let cool. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with a mixer and slowly, while beating, add the lemon juice ensuring that the sauce doesn't curdle. With a ladle, take some of the juice from the meatball pot, add to the sauce, all the time mixing. Keep doing this until all the juice has been mixed in the sauce. Empty all the sauce on top of the meatballs and serve with some sprinkled parsley.

KEFTEDES / MEATBALLS

GREEK KEFTEDES / MEATBALLS

Greek Recipe Ingredients:

* 1lb / 1/2kg of ground beef
* One choped onion
* 1 egg
* Some olive oil
* Some chopped mint leaves
* Some flour
* Salt, pepper and oregano seasoning

GREEK RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS
Mix the meat with the mint, the egg and the onion. Season with oregano, salt and pepper. Form into egg size balls. Heat the oil. Roll the meatballs in flour and place in the hot oil. When turning brown, turn, cook other side and serve hot...Enjoy it !

GREEK RECIPES : CHEESE PIES / TYROPITA

GREEK RECIPES : CHEESE PIES / TYROPITA

Greek Recipes Ingredients:

* 1/2 kilo / 1 pound of Féta cheese, either whole or in pieces
* Four tablespoons butter or margarine
* 6 eggs (or 3 eggs)
* 1/2 cup chopped parsley
* Pastry called Filo composed of very thin pastry sheets (can be found at specialist delis in North America or Frozen in Europe
* 3 cups of white bechamel sauce (optional)
* Salt, pepper, nutmeg

GREEK RECIPES INSTRUCTIONS
This dish can be done in triangle sized chunks. After you butter the fillo and you put the filling in it, fold it in single triangles and place them on the oven dish.
Crush the Feta to a paste, add the bechamel sauce, and the eggs, while stiring well. Add the salt, pepper and nutmeg. Line the baking pan with oil, and then place about 6-10 sheets of filo, buttering them on each side. Pour the batter and flatten with a spatula. Then continue with the rest of the filo sheets (should be about 20-25 in a package). Trim the edges and with a sharp knife, outline the serving squares on the top sheet (you dont have to actually cut them, just press the knife on the top surface to mark them - they should be about 2 inche squares (5 cm). Bake in a moderate oven for about 30 minutes, or until the top sheet is dark brown. Now cut the squares you marked earlier and serve, after letting it cool a little.

HORIATIKI / GREEK SALAD

HORIATIKI / GREEK SALAD

Greek Recipeas Ingredients:

* Four tomatoes, sliced in segments (must be hard, salad tomatoes
* One sliced onion
* 1/2 sliced cucumber
* Some olive oil
* Sliced féta cheese (a white, salty cheese made with goats milk)
* Salt, pepper and oregano seasoning

GREEK RECIPES INSTRUCTIONS
Mix the ingredients together and spread the oil over them. Sprinkle some salt, pepper and oregano.

MELITZANOSALATA / EGGPLANT SALAD

MELITZANOSALATA / EGGPLANT SALAD

Greek Recipe Ingredients:

* Four medium size eggplants/aubergines
* Three garlic cloves
* 1/2 cup of olive oil

GREEK RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS
Put the eggplants in the microwave or normal oven, and cook until it feels very soft(about 10 minutes in the microwave/40 minutes in a normal oven). Using a sharp knife, slice in half, and using a spoon, remove the inside 'meat' and place in a bowl. If the eggplants are well done, the inside should come out very easily. Put the garlic cloves in a garlic press and spread the garlic on top of the eggplant. Using a fork, start mixing the garlic and the eggplants together, and spread the oil a little at a time. When the oil is absorbed, the salad is done. Put in a fridge to cool down and serve with sprinkled parsley. Eggplant salad (also called poor man's caviar) is eaten with French bread...Nice ! Enjoy it !

GREEK CHICKEN SOUP

GREEK CHICKEN SOUP
A nice Greek recipe to try !
Greek Recipes Ingredients:

* One whole chicken, about 1 kilo (2 pounds), must be cleaned first or purchase at a supermarket
* Three onions, sliced
* 1 cup of olive oil
* One cup of rice
* Salt and pepper

Greek Recipe Instructions
Put the chicken to boil, and after starting to boil, add the olive oil and the onions. Leave to boil for about an hour, by which time the chicken should be coming apart. Remove the froth periodically with a spoon. Remove the chicken and add the rice. While the soup is boiling, remove all the chicken bones and re-add to the soup. Add salt and pepper. Serve when rice is ready, about 10 minutes...enjoy it !