Thanksgiving Ideas

Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year? I am and I’ve been planning what to make for weeks. Along with the usual suspects of turkey and the traditional Greek rice stuffing, I’m hoping to bring a couple of new flavors to our holiday table with a side dish of Creamed Onions and another of  Sauteed Kale and Mushrooms. Have you decided exactly what you’ll be serving? Are you sticking with tradition or cooking up something new?

Pumpkin and Coconut Milk Soup

Another pumpkin recipe … I know, I know … you’re probably all pumpkin-ed out. Honestly, I can’t blame you. There is A LOT of pumpkin being served up across the Web these days. But then again, I really did want to get this Pumpkin and Coconut Milk Soup recipe in because I thought it turned out so well.

Greek Pumpkin Pie / Pita (Kολοκυθόπιτα)

During our visit to Maskers Orchards in upstate New York a couple of weeks ago, along with the apples we got to pick ourselves we picked up some small pumpkins from the farm’s market … and paid just $3 for 4 pumpkins weighing about 3 to 4 pounds each. After decorating the dining room with these orange beauties for Halloween, I decided to start using them in the kitchen.

Rustic Lamb with Greens Beans, New Potatoes, Carrots and Tomato

Early this past summer, I received a package in the mail that came all the way from Hania, Crete. It was sent to me by Maria, of Organically Cooked, who had posted a short quiz on her site and then “raffled” a Cretan cookbook as a reward for participating. The book is Myrsini Lambraki’s Cretan Cuisine for Everyone and I’ve enjoyed leafing through its pages and reading about the hearty, rustic, often simple dishes it has to offer in addition to its insights on the ever healthy Cretan diet. I’ve prepared a few things to date one of which is

Mediterranean Cod and Hash Browns

I was going to wait until I made this dish again and actually got some decent photos in daylight before posting the recipe. But I was so impressed by its simplicity and great flavor, that I was too eager to wait. So here it goes …  Got a skillet? Got 30 to 45 minutes? I’m pretty darn sure you do and as such you’ve got no excuse not to try this healthy, flavorful meal on any given weeknight.

Apple Crisp, My Way

I made this apple crisp the other day: But before I indulge you and share this sweet and simple recipe, I’d like to take you on a short hike …