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cubrinj

Active member
I had thought I never made melamakarona but then when I got the recipe from a friend, it looks exactly like my finikia recipe.

Are they basically the same thing with a different name?

Here is my Finikia recipe and aside from some minor differences, it looks the same as my friend's Melamakarona recipe.

- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup brandy or cognac
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups finely chopped walnuts
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1 cup honey

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves. Mix until the ingredients are evenly distributed.
2. Add the vegetable oil, orange juice, brandy, and vanilla extract to the bowl. Use a hand mixer or a whisk to combine the ingredients until a thick dough forms.
3. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
4. Form the dough into small balls (around 1-2 inches in diameter) and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
5. Bake the cookies for 15-20 minutes, or until they turn golden brown.
6. While the cookies are baking, prepare the honey syrup. In a saucepan, heat the honey over medium heat until it starts to boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the chopped walnuts.
8. Dip the baked cookies in the honey syrup while they're still warm, making sure to coat them evenly. Place the coated cookies on a wire rack to cool.
 

Do Greek really like their lamb well done?

Is it a myth that most Greeks like their lamb well done?

I ask because in my family - we tend to like it medium well or medium. We all feel that well one lamb is too tough!

With lamb shank it is a different story.

We make leg of lamb a lot, as well as lamb souvlaki and lamb chops. Especially with the souvlaki, well done doesn't taste as good to me.

It's hard to gauge how long to cook a leg o lamb, and I find I naturally gravitate towards pieces that are more on the medium side. Are we the exception not the rule?

braised lamb shank was rubbery

All the braised lamb shank I have ever eaten has fallen off the bone - and that is why it is so delicious!

So, I tried to make it thinking it would be foolproof.

Something went wrong - it was tough and rubbery. I am wondering if it is something I did, or if maybe the lamb was a bit tougher than I would have liked.

I asked around and one thing someone asked me is if I cooked it enough. I didn't know how to answer that since I followed the directions, and I got the recipe from a family member whose lamb shank I always enjoyed. What do you think?

Some things to know:

- I am not sure I initially seared the meat long enough
- I held back on the salt in the recipe
- I was forced into using a larger shank than the recipe called for because I couldn't find smaller ones

Favorite Greek desserts to feed a crowd

I have gatherings year round, but I have more of them this time of year! I like to serve other desserts besides melamakarona, so I thought I would compile a list of some of my favorite choices:.

1. Baklava – This famous dessert is made by layering phyllo dough, chopped nuts (usually walnuts), and honey syrup. The crunchy layers of pastry and sweet, sticky filling will make your taste buds dance with delight. Baklava is perfect for serving at a party because it can be cut into small squares, making it easy for guests to enjoy.

2. Galaktoboureko – This dessert is a classic Greek custard pie, made by baking a creamy custard filling between layers of filo pastry. Once cooked, it is soaked in a sweet syrup made from honey and lemon juice. This dessert is best served warm and is perfect for a winter party.

3. Kataifi – This dessert is a close relative of baklava, but instead of using sheets of phyllo dough, it uses shredded phyllo dough that is wrapped around a variety of fillings like nuts or cream. Kadaifi is a perfect dessert because it can be filled with anything you like, making it easy to customize to your tastes.

4. Ekmek Kataifi – This dessert is a modern twist on traditional Greek pastries. Ekmek Kataifi is made from shredded phyllo dough, creamy custard, topped with whipped cream, and garnished with ground pistachios. It is delicious, refreshing, and perfect for a summertime party.

Greek Fava Dip Recipe

I am trying to find easy recipes for mezze-style dishes for potlucks and to share during my holiday gatherings. I had this in a restaurant once but have never eaten it. Thought I'd share in case you guys wanted to try it, too:

I'll just explain it:

The recipe calls for 3 cups of dried fava beans, 1 chopped onion, 3 cloves of garlic minced, 1/4 cup of olive oil, 1 lemon, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, half a teaspoon of black pepper, and cherry tomatoes and fresh parsley to garnish.

In a pan, add olive oil, chopped onion, and minced garlic on medium heat. Stir occasionally until the onion becomes partially opaque, then add the cooked fava beans, salt, and pepper. Use a fork or a whisk to whisk the ingredients until they become a smooth.

That's the easiest way. Another option is to put all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until the texture you want is achieved. I don't always like to use my food processor because it is a pain.

Phyllo for savory Greek dishes?

I was looking in the food forum and I saw that someone made a remark that the phyllo in Greece used for sweet desserts like baklava is different than the phyllo used for savory dishes. I did notice while in Greece that the savory phyllo is thicker.

What is really the difference? Is savory phyllo homemade? Does it have different ingredients? Is it thicker on purpose? Finally, do you have a recipe?

I know on Crete some of the savory, handheld pies have a dough that is closer to a turnover dough than it is a phyllo. And yet the dish has the word "pita" in it. It was a greens-based handheld pie with no cheese and was spiced with cumin! The "phyllo" was really thick and I believe the pie was even fried.
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