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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.

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

What to put in a mezze spread for Thanksgiving?

Thought I would put together some mezze for Thanksgiving! Of course, we will have turkey and all that. But, we tend to eat in phases and I thought Mezze would be fun to have laid out when people first arrive.

I thought I would serve something like:
  • An assortment of Greek cheeses if I can find them (feta, I will be able to find of course)
  • Stuffed grape leaves - honestly I will probably buy them, but I have a place that does them homemade
  • Tiropita, spanakopita,
  • Greek meatballs
  • Greek olives, of course
Can you think of anything else? I don't want to go nuts.

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Cooking Greek: A Classic Greek Cookbook for the At-Home Chef, is the perfect cookbook for foodies and makes a great gift for any occasion.

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The Baking Baklava cookbook pays tribute to baklava, a renowned delicacy treasured in many countries around the world, with simple and easy-to-follow baklava recipes for all skill levels. Also included are over dozen delicious dessert recipes inspired by the flavors and textures of baklava.

People are often intimidated by baking, particularly with a delicate dessert like baklava, but when presented by Chef Pemi it is anxiety free! With a culinary arts degree in pastry, experience teaching cooking classes, and thousands of hours in her kitchen, Chef Pemi brings a unique perspective with her flavor profile, instructions and beautiful full page photos of each dessert.

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Making the Greek baklava rolls?

I have my family's baklava recipe. They usually make it in a huge round pan.

Can I use this same recipe to make the version where it's all rolled, or do I need to do something different?

My plan was to figure out how to actually make the rolls, and then stuff it with the filling the way my family makes it, then make the syrup the way my family does (orange and cinnamon mostly).

My gut is that yes, this is possible.

I found a video on how to make the rolls. I needed to see it visually:

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