Spot the Greek Cat

Evil or what?...

I got him thinking he is a cat, but he is more of a catdog...

I thought it is about time to introduce Loomis. Loomis is my cat, although sometimes he could be a dog...

He is 4 years old and weighs roughly 6,3 kg. I do take him to the vet regularly for his vaccines and everything and vet tells us he has “heavy bones” and there is nothing wrong with his weight, so we let him be. My baby (human!) weighs 5,9kg at the moment, so yes, relatively there is no escaping from the fact that he is a big cat! 

What a discovery...

Just 30 seconds walk (literally....) from our front door is one of the entrances to a huge national woods here and shame on us I know, but today was the first time we paid a visit!

Pure Greeks in heart, we usually take our car and go everywhere.... 

Click at the photo for a closer look of what kind of beauty we are talking about...

Rammalley Pathway

To smoke or not to smoke... Part 2

There is an absolute freedom you feel when you do something “forbidden”... My whole body and all the muscles available were tensed since thinking of smoking and then suddenly you find yourself with a cigarette in hand... and you absolutely relax...

Calamari (Καλαμαράκια Τιγανητά)

I will not pretend to have done any serious cooking today.... a lazy Saturday was really needed... spend most of the morning in bed, a trip down the supermarket and then back home for some more lounging...

To smoke or not to smoke.....

Ειδού η απορία....

Αυτή την στιγμή που σας γράφω, ο σύζυγος είναι στον κήπο και έχει ανάψει τσιγάρο μετά από 7 μήνες ατσιγάρωτος.... και εγώ είμαι εδώ και το σκέφτομαι...

Πέρασα 9 μήνες εγκυμοσύνης και άλλους 2 μετά, χωρίς καθόλου τσιγάρο.

Little CheesePies (Τυροπιτάκια)

As I made the courgette pie last night, I had some filo left, so made some cheese pies as well. Now, there are many variations of how you could make these. So, this is only one of the many and it is ever ever so easy to make. This is for a small portion, so you would end up with roughly 10 of them.

Courgette Pie, Kolokythopita (Κολοκυθόπιτα)

I got the urge for another pie last night and as I had some spare courgettes, it seemed very fitting. It is another very popular pie in Greece. Recipe below for a tray 12”x14” (32cm x 36cm)

Το AGreekAbroad Παρουσιάζει στα Coming Soon...

Καλημέεεεεεραααα

Και με κέφια σήμερα, όχι σαν χθες.... Καλοί μου και πάνω απόλα υπομονετικοί μου αναγνώστες (yes yes εσείς) έχω την χαρά να σας ανακοινώσω ότι η ομάδα του AGreekAbroad ντοτ κομ μεγαλώνει και αυξάνεται. Δεν τα προλαβαίνω και όλα μόνη μου... κάτι τα μαγειρέματα, κάτι οι αμπελοφιλοσοφίες, κάτι το μωρό που κοντεύει 2 μηνών μωρό να μάθει να πληκτρολογεί... 

Σας ετοιμάζουμε σπέσιαλ καινούργιο κεφάλαιο, το οποίο ελπίζω να έχει καταφτάσει στις οθόνες σας και κοντά μου αρχάς Σεπτέμβρη με το καλό, πρώτα θα πάει περιοδεία τας Ευρώπας, να μαζέψει και υλικό. Σας μπέρδεψα; Από την χαρά μου είναι. Διαβάστε το παρακάτω σαν προεπισκόπηση του τί μας περιμένει σύντομα.. Ελπίζω να σας αρέσει και να σας ανοίξει την όρεξη! Feedback welcome!

Fried Tomato and Eggs (Καγιανά, Ντοματαυγά)

This is a very summery recipe, especially as tomatoes are in season and it needs quite a few. Very simple recipe and very tasty. It can be served as a main dish as well as a meze dish. The recipe is for 3 good portions.

Click on the photo to see it in large!

Τροφή προς σκέψην...

Αυτό το ποστ θα γίνει στα ελληνικά και αυτό γιατί αφορά βασικά τους Ελληνες. Εδώ και κανά δυό εβδομάδες που μπήκα στον χώρο των μπλογκ, κάθομαι και διαβάζω ότι μπλογκ βρεθεί μπροστά μου, με ιδιαίτερη προτίμηση στα Ελληνικά βέβαια.

Marinated Lamb with potatoes (Αρνί με πατάτες στον φούρνο)

We are in serious business territory with this food. It really makes all the taste buds work overtime. I recommend it for gatherings and days you have plenty of time to seat down and properly enjoy it. Here is the recipe for roughly 4-5 servings

Spot the Greek Baby!

My bundle of joy

A few days ago, I spoke to you about the sunglasses, the emblem of every Greek, even when it rains. It’s the turn of babies now and that’s mainly of what happened to me last week...

I go to this babies group once a week, it’s mainly a chance to meet other mummies and for your baby to get some friends. That’s all lovely up to here...

Chicken with Ocra in tomato Sauce (Κοτόπουλο με μπάμιες)

Ocra is one of those vegetables that are quite underestimated I believe and frankly quite misunderstood. For all of you out there that have not tried it before, give it a chance, it is actually very tasty! Recipe below how to make it with chicken, which is the most popular combination I know.

Vanilla and Chocolate Cake with Orange flavour

A bit later than usual today, but I had a bit of a lazy day today, being it’s a Saturday. I just made a cake, which some of you have tasted already. My mum was making it like crazy when I gave birth, so all the guests must have tried it, including midwifes and health visitors!

Make sure you stick to the measurements when it comes to sweets! They don’t take to too much improvisation! 

Yummy Yum with some ice cream

Proper Greek Salad!

Nothing can bit the taste of a proper Greek Salad. This was my dinner for tonight. And it is probably the best dish for the summer. Simple, easy to make and very tasty.

Giouvarlakia (Meatbals Soup in lemon sauce)

This is very gentle in the stomach and a yummy dish at the same time as well. I posted it a while ago in Greek, so here you go, in English as well. This is for 4 servings

Frappe Coffee, Not just a coffee... an Institution!

Let’s start with the basics, how you can make one. Get the instructions, go make one and then come back and read the rest. Seriously, it will make all the difference!

My piece of Greece: Feneos, Korinthias

 There are some places in Greece that I think their underestimated beauty still keeps them pure and untouched from the masses of tourism. I wish they always stay like that, but I do think their beauty should become a bit more popular, mainly as it will help with their survival as well

Mpiftekia (Meatballs Greek style)

I decided to get these ready tonight so I can have tomorrow off from cooking, so you can have the recipe tonight as well. I love my meat balls and for the summer, they are perfect served with a fresh salad. In the winter, it also goes well with mashed potatoes. They smell delicious and I don’t know if I will hold myself till tomorrow! Here is the recipe...

Lentil Soup

Soups are not just for a starter in Greece, but serve as a main dish. This is a very “meaty” soup, full of iron and it is perfect with lots of bread and feta cheese! I prefer them with green lentils but you can make it with brown ones as well.

Gotta love the dog!

A month later and now that the dust has settled and Greece is still even more in trouble, I saw this video. Love it! Take a look..

The Riot Dog

Shame, isn't it?...

Spot the Greek!

One of my favourite pass-time games when I am out and about is spotting the Greeks. I love sitting on a bench and just watch the people that pass by. The Greeks are easy to spot! And no, it's not because they are hairy with dark hair and skin! :) Lots of ethnicities are like that.

Sleeep baby... sleeeppppp

It is at times like this that I can hear my mum's voice in my head... " You will have kids one day and you will remember me" Damn... I guess she has won.

Lemonato Kotopoulo (Chicken with mushrooms in lemon sauce)

 This is one more of my favourite foods. It reminds me of Sundays back in Greece usually and it can be served either with rice or chips. It’s brilliant either way. I did mine with rice today, as per photo! Recipe below for 4 servings:

Gigantes (Butter beans in red sauce)

I made this yesterday to remind me of summer, although it is raining here at the moment... It goes really well with a bit of ouzo on the side as well as lots of bread! It can be served as a meze dish or as a main course and it is a good vegetarian option. In Greece it is extremely popular and eaten regularly so here you go, recipe below, this is more than enough for 4 servings:

Spinach Pie made easy!

I have quite a few English friends asking me for recipes every now and then, so from now on I might be writing the recipes in English so that everyone can understand!

I made a spinach pie last night, with lots and lots of feta cheese, so for whomever is interested, here is the recipe. This is with ready-made filo pastry so it is quite easy to follow on a 32cm/12” to 36cm/14” tray. Scale down the ingredients if you will do it on a smaller tray. 

Τελικά τί είμαι;....

Όταν ξενητεύεσαι, και κυρίως σε μικρή ηλικία, ο καινούργιος τρόπος ζωής πλάθει κάπως και τον χαρακτήρα και την συμπεριφορά σου. Και αυτό είναι δεδομένο. Δεν μπορεί κανείς και με κανένα τρόπο να μείνει ανεπηρέαστος από το περιβάλλον του.
Παρ'όλα αυτά, για κάποιο λόγο, οι Έλληνες το έχουν για κακό, όταν κάποιος ξενητεύεται και γυρνάει πίσω με λίγο διαφορετικές συνήθειες ή ιδέες. Ακούς την κλασσική ατάκα "Έφυγε για λίγο και μας έγινε Αγγλίδα"....

Γιουβαρλάκια!!!

Ανά καιρούς πολλοί μου ζητάνε συνταγές μου, όχι ότι είμαι καμιά προκωμένη τρελά μαγειρίσσα, αλλά καλά πάντως τα καταφέρνω.

Είπα λοιπόν να ξεκινήσω να βάζω τις συνταγές εδώ και όποιος τις θέλει, τις έχει έτοιμες! Σήμερα έφτιαξα γιουβαρλάκια, παρόλο που μάλλον δεν πολυταίριαζε, μιάς και έχουμε 20 βαθμούς έξω, δηλαδή ζέστες για αγγλικά δεδομένα, αλλά εμένα αυτό μου ήρθε.

Παρακάτω λοιπόν  τα υλικά και η προετοιμασία! 

Μίλα μου πιό δυνατά, να σε καταλάβω!

Σκέφτομαι λοιπόν από χθες πιο είναι το ένα πράγμα που με έχει ενοχλήσει περισσότερο από την μέρα που κατέφτασα στην Αγγλία, 12 χρόνια πριν.

Γενικώς την λατρεύω αυτή την χώρα και έχω εγκληματιστεί μετά από τόσο καιρό, αλλά όντας Ελληνάρα στην ψυχή μου αρέσει να κριτικάρω τα πάντα.

Ha Ha!! Exciting!!

Kai mou hr8e na kanw kai egw ena blog! Ma ti to h8ela? Ti exw egw na pw? Kai se poion? Loipon, me noiazei? To blog 8a nai gia mena, kai ama 8elei kaneis allos na to diavasei, kalws tous.