Category Archives: Food Blog

Greek Meatballs in Tomato Sauce, Keftedes me Saltsa Domata

After having our first beach day of the season today I felt it more than appropriate to share this super delicious and easy dish with you that just screams SUMMER .

It’s the kind of dish you make in a breeze and it tastes heavenly, it reminds me of long hot summers in Greece.
You can serve it with pita bread and a Greek salad or oven fries, it’s all good and the point is to keep it simple.

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⏰ Prep time: 10 min
♨ Cooking time : 15
🍴 Serves : 4-6
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Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ground beef, pork, or lamb
• 1/4 – 1/3 cup fresh breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1⁄4 tsp. ground all spice * SEE NOTE
• 1 small red onion, grated
• 1 clove garlic grated
• 2 large egg yolks
• salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
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• 1 tablespoon olive oil (Greek preferably)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1⁄2 tbsp. tomato paste
• a pinch of sugar
• 1 (28-oz.) can whole peeled tomatoes, or cherry tomatoes
• 2 tsp oregano
• 1/4 tsp all spice
• 1 cup dry white wine
• salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 2 tbsp. chopped dill, for garnish

Instructions:

In a medium bowl combine the meat with the breadcrumbs, oregano, all spice, grated onion, garlic, salt, pepper and egg yolks.
Divide mixture into small balls or roll into ovals.
Heat a non stick skillet over high heat and working in batches, cook meatballs until browned on all sides for about 6-8 minutes. Transfer meatballs to a plate and wipe out the skillet with a paper towel.
Heat olive oil in the skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and a pinch of sugar. Tip in the can of tomatoes and the white wine. Add the oregano and all spice. Season with salt and pepper. Add the meatballs back to the skillet and cook for another 10 minutes. Garnish with Dill.

καλή όρεξη.

• NOTE: If you don’t have All Spice you can make a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg and ground cloves in equal parts.

Enjoy!
Myra XO

Everyday Spelt Bread

64 Replies

This is the easiest bread recipe I have in my repertoire, I make it all the time. Mostly because it is a no-brainer recipe and some times because it’s even quicker than going to the store to buy a loaf, or because it’s raining and I don’t want to leave the house. Whatever the reason may be, this fool proof recipe is one I use time and time again .

Pro’s :

delicious
Soft
Warm
Healthier
No additives
Cheap
Home made

Con’s:

Nope…can’t think of any.

Prep time : 10 minutes

Cooking time : 30 minutes

oven temp : 200 C / 400 F

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons active dry yeast
3/4 cup warm water
1/2 cup milk at room temperature
2 tablespoons honey
3 1/2- 4 cups whole grain spelt flour
2 tablespoons extra-light olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
extra olive oil or melted butter for brushing loaf

Instructions:

Combine the warm water, yeast and honey in a large jug, and let it sit and “proof” for 10 minutes. Add the milk and stir.

Place the flour in the bowl of your mixer, fitted with the kneading hook, pour the water yeast mixture into the bowl of flour with the motor running on the lowest setting. Add the salt and olive oil. Once incorporated you can turn the mixer setting on higher. Knead for about 7 minutes.

Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and let the dough rise for 45-60 minutes in a warm place. It should double in size.

Grease a loaf tin with melted butter.

Turn the dough out on a floured surface and knead a few minutes. Shape into a loaf and place in loaf tin.

Let rise again for 30 minutes covered with an oiled piece of plastic wrap.

Preheat your oven to 200 C/400 F , remove plastic wrap and place loaf on a rack in the middle of the oven. Bake the loaf for about 30 minutes turning half way, tap the loaf to see if it’s fully baked, it should sound hollow. Once baked , brush the crust with some butter. This is an optional step but I love the way the crust gets a bit softer and glossier. Let it cool in the pan for a few minutes before removing it to cool completely on a wire rack.

Enjoy!

Myra xo

If you make this recipe please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love hearing from you. And please don’t forget to tag me on Instagram so I can see your creations!

Korean Beef Bowls

6 Replies

When I’m looking for a super easy dinner that I know will satisfy everyone, I often make this recipe.

These Korean beef bowls are made with thinly sliced beef cooked in a sweet and savory sauce, served with steamed rice or rice noodles and plenty of veggies, whichever ones you happen to have.

The sauce is one of my favourites; soy sauce, sugar, garlic, ginger are a few of the key ingredients that makes this so delicious.

Prep Time : 10 minutes

Cook Time : 10 minutes

Total Time : 20 minutes

Servings : 4

INGREDIENTS:

2 lbs. steak, thinly sliced
1 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
3 garlic, grated or minced
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
4 tbsp.light soy sauce
2 tbsp. coconut sugar or regular
3 tbsp. oyster sauce
1 tsp. Gochujang or sambal oelek
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 tsp. fish sauce
2 teaspoon cornstarch
1/4 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup sliced green onions and/or Coriander
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a small bowl, whisk together the ginger, garlic, ground black pepper,soy sauce, sugar, oyster sauce, Gochujang or sambal oelek, sesame oil and fish sauce.

Slice the beef as thinly as you can and coat with a teaspoon of sesame oil.

Have all your other ingredients ready, like the vegetables and noodles or rice, because this really takes just a few minutes to make.

Mix the corn starch with the white wine in an other little bowl or mug.

Heat a large frying pan, when really hot, add the beef and saute for a few minutes until it starts to get nice and brown. Lower the heat and add the sauce, bring to a simmer and add the corn starch-white wine slurry you’ve made. Add a little more water if necessary.

Cook for 1 more minute or until sauce has thickened. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

Dived your vegetables and rice or noodles between the bowls and spoon over the beef and sauce, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and coriander and/or sliced green onions.

Enjoy!

Myra XO

Salmon and Zucchini Phyllo Quiche

9 Replies

I have always wanted to make a Quiche with Phyllo dough, it’s been in the back of my mind for ages, but I always wondered if it could stand up to the filling or even become crispy enough on the bottom.
Well, please to report, …a big fat, yes!

The phyllo is really wonderful. It gets so crispy along the edges and so pretty too. I may have gone a little overboard with the top but I was having so much fun playing with the dough. You can leave the top completely plain if you prefer to show more filling. That’s up to you.

I must add that it’surprisingly easy, very forgiving dough. I had a bit of a hard time separating the sheets, but half torn pieces worked perfectly, it really makes no difference in the end result.

Obviously for me the game changer was the fact that Phyllo is virtually fat free. So there is no going back to any other kind of dough for me.

Serves: 8

INGREDIENTS:

1 medium zucchini, cut into 1 cm/0.5 inch slices and then quartered

1 leek, washed and sliced

1/4 cup drained corn

1 tbsp. olive oil for cooking

200 gr. / 7 oz. smoked salmon, cut into pieces

4 large eggs

1 cup light cream or whole milk

1/4 tsp. sumach

1/4 tsp. dried dill

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

10 sheets 9×14 phyllo dough (225 gr)

3 tbsp. olive oil or melted butter for brushing phyllo

4 ounces shredded Gruyere cheese, or your favorite semi strong cheese

3 tablespoons sliced green onion

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat your oven to 175 C / 350 degrees.

Heat a frying pan with half a tablespoon of olive oil and cook the leek and onion on medium heat until soft. Set aside.

Add the remaining half tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and cook the zucchini on medium high heat just until golden on all sides and fork tender.

Remove from heat and add to the a large bowl to cool. A lot of liquid will release from the zucchini, you need to discard this before using.

In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the cream or milk, salt, pepper, sumach and dill and whisk to combine. Set aside.

Brush a 20 cm/8 inch round baking dish (I used a cake tin) with a bit of olive oil. Layer the sheets of phyllo in the dish, see pictures. Brushing the layers with olive oil or butter as you go. Torn sheets are fine.

Place the drained veggies, corn and salmon over the phyllo layer, then add the shredded cheese and green onion. Pour the egg mixture over the top.

Bake the quiche for 60 minutes or until set when you wiggle the pan.

Serve warm or chilled with a salad.

Enjoy!

Myra XO