Deliciously Greek!

 

Before I visited Greece for the first time, in 1976, my then husband to be tried to explain to me what he felt was the essence of Greek cooking!  He said that it‘s the mood that goes along with the food, the spirit and the way of life that adds to the enjoyment of food in Greece! To a certain extent I have to agree with him, however, what has always fascinated me more than the mood and way of life are the cuisine’s distinctive flavors, its simplicity and humbleness!

 

There is no arrogance or pretense associated with the Greek cuisine.  The food is uncomplicated and comforting, yet full of surprises, history and tradition!   It is truly a cuisine that is defined by its geography, agricultural heritage and interaction with other cultures throughout so many centuries. 

 

Nowadays, when I am asked about Greek food I think of all the fabulous products that I use when I cook Greek food here in Athens.

I think of the clean scent of fresh Greek olive oil, dashes of lemon and  freshly grated citrus fruit, garlic, zesty herbs, tangy cheese, crusty bread as well as generous amounts of grains, aromatic fruit and vegetables, delicately prepared seafood and meats seasoned with care and charbroiled on open grills.

 

Lastly, I think of the fabulously rich and creamy Greek yoghurt served with thick thyme, pine or heather scented honey which also helps define the famous syrup drenched Greek sweets and then I think of many sweet and  happy memories that remind me that I am truly lucky to be living in a country where the sunshine is abundant and the sea is never  far away!

 

With this in mind, I hope you will want to share some of my tasty Greek  dishes . . . that are easy, fun and simple to make . . . which I hope will bring lots of joy to your table!