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cubrinj

Active member
This is the first year I will be making vasilopita. I am so excited! I thought I'd share the recipe I plan to use. Does this look right?

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups of sugar
• 1 ½ cups of unsalted butter
• ½ cup of orange juice
• 2 tbsp. of orange zest
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp. of baking powder
• 1 tsp. of baking soda
• 1 tsp. of vanilla essence
• A pinch of salt
• 1 small cake-shaped coin or an almond

Steps:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until it turns light and fluffy.
3. Add the eggs one by one, whisking them adequately into the butter-sugar mixture after each addition.
4. Add the orange zest, orange juice, and vanilla essence while continuously whisking the mixture.
5. In a separate bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, then mix thoroughly.
6. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, whisking until it forms a smooth batter.
7. Grease a baking dish or pan then pour the batter into it, ensuring it spreads evenly.
8. Insert the coin or almond into the batter randomly.
9. Bake the mixture in the oven for about 45 to 50 minutes until a fork inserted at the center comes out clean.
10. Remove from the oven, allow the cake to cool before cutting the cake.
 
This is the first year I will be making vasilopita. I am so excited! I thought I'd share the recipe I plan to use. Does this look right?

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups of sugar
• 1 ½ cups of unsalted butter
• ½ cup of orange juice
• 2 tbsp. of orange zest
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp. of baking powder
• 1 tsp. of baking soda
• 1 tsp. of vanilla essence
• A pinch of salt
• 1 small cake-shaped coin or an almond

Steps:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until it turns light and fluffy.
3. Add the eggs one by one, whisking them adequately into the butter-sugar mixture after each addition.
4. Add the orange zest, orange juice, and vanilla essence while continuously whisking the mixture.
5. In a separate bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, then mix thoroughly.
6. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, whisking until it forms a smooth batter.
7. Grease a baking dish or pan then pour the batter into it, ensuring it spreads evenly.
8. Insert the coin or almond into the batter randomly.
9. Bake the mixture in the oven for about 45 to 50 minutes until a fork inserted at the center comes out clean.
10. Remove from the oven, allow the cake to cool before cutting the cake.
I would definitely add a little bit of greek cognac in a bit of cinnamon
 
I would definitely add a little bit of greek cognac in a bit of cinnamon
Same! Or some kind of alcohol (not ouzo, something mellower). I've done rakomelo in the past.
 

Do You Put Cinnamon in Your Keftedes?

I’m curious how everyone here makes keftedes, especially when it comes to cinnamon. I know some Greek families add a little cinnamon to the meat mixture, while others would never think of putting it in.

In my experience, even a small amount can change the flavor quite a bit. It gives the keftedes a warmer, slightly sweeter spice in the background, but I can also see how it might not be for everyone. I’ve had versions that lean more heavily on oregano, mint, parsley, garlic, and onion instead.

Do you put cinnamon in your keftedes? If you do, how much do you usually use, and was that something your family always did? I’d also be curious to know if it varies depending on what part of Greece your family comes from.

Would love to hear how everyone seasons theirs and what you consider essential for really good keftedes.

Favorite Greek Cheeses Beyond Feta

Feta gets most of the attention when people talk about Greek cheese, but there are so many other varieties worth trying. I’m curious which Greek cheeses everyone enjoys most beyond feta.

Graviera is one of my favorites because it works so well on a cheese plate, grated over dishes, or just eaten with bread. Kasseri is another one I really like, especially melted. I’ve also been interested in trying more regional cheeses like metsovone, manouri, kefalotyri, and formaela.

Some Greek cheeses seem to be much easier to find outside Greece than others, so I’d also love to know which ones people regularly buy and where they usually find them.

What Greek cheeses do you keep coming back to? Are there certain ones you associate with a particular region, dish, or family tradition? And if someone has mostly eaten feta, which Greek cheese would you recommend they try next?

Do you make Greek lentil soup with vinegar

I’ve always made fakes with a splash of vinegar, either stirred into the pot near the end or added individually at the table. To me, that little bit of acidity is part of what makes the soup taste right, especially with the earthy lentils, olive oil, onion, garlic, and bay leaf.

But I have a Greek friend who makes hers very differently. She doesn’t use vinegar at all and instead adds quite a lot of tomato product, so her version is much redder and more tomato-forward than mine.

Now I’m curious about what is considered more traditional in Greek cooking. Is vinegar usually a standard part of fakes, or is it more of a regional or family preference? Are tomato-heavy versions just as traditional?

How do you make yours, and what did your family serve growing up?

What is the secret to making really good Greek lemon potatoes?

I've been making Greek lemon potatoes for years, and it's one of those dishes I make completely by feel. I don't measure anything, and I never really thought about how I make them because it's all second nature to me.

Recently, I tried teaching someone how to make them. Everything seemed straightforward while we were cooking together, but when they went home and tried making them on their own, all kinds of things went wrong! The potatoes weren't cooking evenly, the texture wasn't quite right, and the lemon flavor didn't come through the way it should.

It made me realize how much I rely on instinct when cooking traditional Greek food. I rarely write down recipes, so explaining every little detail is harder than I expected!

For those who make Greek lemon potatoes regularly, what tips would you give someone who's just learning?

My Family’s Keftedes Recipe

Keftedes are one of those foods that always remind me of family gatherings. Everyone seems to make them a little differently, but this is the basic version my family has always used.

For about a pound of ground beef, we add one small grated onion, a handful of chopped fresh parsley, a little fresh mint, one egg, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, oregano, and a small splash of red wine vinegar. Sometimes we add a little grated garlic as well.

The important part is mixing everything well and then letting the mixture sit in the refrigerator for a little while before shaping the keftedes. We make them fairly small, roll them lightly in flour, and fry them in olive oil until browned on the outside and cooked through.

We usually serve them with lemon, potatoes, salad, or tzatziki.

How does your family make keftedes? I’m especially curious about which herbs and seasonings everyone uses. Thought I'd share!
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