1 - 5 of 5 Posts

voula_slat

Active member
Named because it looks like a log of salami, this is actually an easy and decadent dessert. It’s also called Kormos, I think. These are the ingredients I use:
  • 3 cups crumbled chocolate graham crackers
  • 2 T Cognac
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • Vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup Unsweetened Cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
In a bowl, add the crackers and sprinkle with cognac. Mix the rest of the ingredients to another bowl until combined. Fold in the crackers with a rubber spatula. Spread the mixture over wax paper and shape into a log. Put in freezer for 3 hours. Slice and serve.
 
Named because it looks like a log of salami, this is actually an easy and decadent dessert. It’s also called Kormos, I think. These are the ingredients I use:
  • 3 cups crumbled chocolate graham crackers
  • 2 T Cognac
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • Vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup Unsweetened Cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
In a bowl, add the crackers and sprinkle with cognac. Mix the rest of the ingredients to another bowl until combined. Fold in the crackers with a rubber spatula. Spread the mixture over wax paper and shape into a log. Put in freezer for 3 hours. Slice and serve.
Translation for kormos is tree trunk. I have made this with British tea crackers and it turned out good. The first time I had it was in a small town (Kymini) outside of Thessaloniki.
Here is my recipe: 1/2c sugar, 4TBS coca, 1/2 c coffee, butter, heat on low to melt butter. Add vanilla. Add chopped walnuts to biscuits, pour sauce over biscuits and nut mixture. roll in saran wrap and place in freezer wrapped in foil. Some people roll in coconut flakes or crushed nuts.
 
Translation for kormos is tree trunk. I have made this with British tea crackers and it turned out good. The first time I had it was in a small town (Kymini) outside of Thessaloniki.
Here is my recipe: 1/2c sugar, 4TBS coca, 1/2 c coffee, butter, heat on low to melt butter. Add vanilla. Add chopped walnuts to biscuits, pour sauce over biscuits and nut mixture. roll in saran wrap and place in freezer wrapped in foil. Some people roll in coconut flakes or crushed nuts.
I have never made it, but I plan to make it soon. Maybe I would use something like vanilla wafter cookies for this? I imagine they need to be crunchy. Thank you, both, for sharing you recipes! I never would have thought to add coffee, and I also had no idea Kokomos meant tree trunk.
 
Vanilla wafer cookies work wonderfully. It is more traditional to make it with these cookies. With that being said you can add anything to a good kormo recipe and give it your own twist.
 
Thank you for all the tips! I plan to use vanilla wafer cookies next time - seems like the easiest option and I wasn't quite happy with the chocolate grahams. Thank you!
 

What Is the Best Way to Serve Taramosalata?

I absolutely love taramosalata and have it pretty regularly at home, but I’m having some people over soon and was wondering about the best way to serve it when entertaining.

Normally I just eat it with some bread or pita, so I don’t really put much thought into presentation. For guests, though, I’d like to make it part of a nice Greek-style spread with a few other things on the table. I was thinking warm pita triangles, crusty bread, maybe some cucumber and other vegetables for dipping, but I’m curious what everyone else usually serves with it.

Do you drizzle a little olive oil over the top or add any kind of garnish? And are there particular meze that you think pair especially well with taramosalata?

I’d love some ideas for making it look a little more special while still keeping everything traditional and simple.

How Much Garlic in a Batch of Tzatziki?

How much garlic do you usually put in a batch of tzatziki? I think I may be using a little too much. I usually make mine with about 2 cups of Greek yogurt and 4 cloves of garlic, along with cucumber, olive oil, and the other usual ingredients.

It tastes great when I first make it, but we usually take about three days to finish the batch. By the second or third day, the garlic flavor and smell become really strong. Some people in my household love that and don’t mind it at all, but others think it becomes a bit overpowering. I’m starting to agree that four cloves might be too much, especially since the garlic seems to get stronger as it sits.

What do you all do? How many cloves would you use for about 2 cups of Greek yogurt?

Do you put potatoes in your briam?

I've noticed that there are quite a few variations of briam, especially when it comes to which vegetables people include. One ingredient I'm particularly curious about is potatoes. Do you always put potatoes in your briam, or do you prefer making it without them?

I usually think of briam as a combination of zucchini, eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and plenty of olive oil. I love how the potatoes absorb all those wonderful flavors as everything slowly roasts together in the oven.

However, I've seen recipes that leave the potatoes out entirely and focus more on the summer vegetables. I imagine that makes the dish a little lighter.

I'm also curious whether there are regional differences in how briam is prepared throughout Greece. Does your family have a particular way of making it? And what vegetables do you consider absolutely essential?

Do You Make Avgolemono Thick or Brothy?

I usually prefer avgolemono somewhere in the middle. I don’t like it so thick that it feels almost like a cream soup, but I also don’t want it completely thin and brothy. For me, the best version has enough egg and lemon to give the broth some body while still keeping it light.

A lot probably depends on what kind of avgolemono you’re making, too. In chicken soup, I like it a little more brothy because I want the rice or orzo and chicken to still stand out. With something like lahanodolmades, I don’t mind the avgolemono sauce being thicker because it is coating the food rather than serving as the soup itself.

The lemon level matters just as much as the thickness. I like enough lemon to make it bright and noticeable, but not so much that it overwhelms everything else. I think balance is really the key.

How does your family season dolmades?

I’ve been thinking about how much dolmades can vary from one family to another, especially when it comes to seasoning. Even when the basic ingredients are similar, the flavor can be completely different depending on which herbs and spices are used.

How does your family season dolmades? Do you use mostly dill and parsley, or do you add mint as well? I’ve also seen recipes that include green onions, oregano, or even a little cinnamon, especially when meat is part of the filling.

I’m curious whether you season the rice mixture pretty heavily before rolling the grape leaves or keep it simple and let the lemon and olive oil provide most of the flavor. Does your family add lemon juice directly to the filling, or only during cooking and serving?

I’d especially love to hear about any regional or family traditions. What gives your dolmades their distinctive flavor?
Sign up for a free account and share your thoughts, photos, questions about Greek food, travel and culture!

WorldwideGreeks.com is a free online forum community where people can discuss Greek food, travel, traditions, history and mythology.
Join Worldwide Greeks here!

JOIN COMMUNITY FOR FREE

LOGIN TO YOUR ACCOUNT
Back
Top