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Showing posts from 2012

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies with Tahini

Great cookies with a twist, especially if you're trying to cut saturated fat from your diet.  Replacing some of the butter with tahini helps to lower the saturated fat by more than 50 percent. Tahini also gives a special nutty taste to the cookies. You can find All Natural Tahini at  Old World Market Naples Ingredients (for about 45 cookies): 2 cups rolled oats 1/2 cup whole-wheat pastry flour 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup tahini 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces 2/3 cup granulated sugar 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar 1 large egg 1 large egg white 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1 cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips   1/2 cup chopped walnuts Position racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk oats, whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl

Moroccan Lamb and Chickpeas Soup

Great tasting soup from the November issue of Shape magazine. Ingredients (4 servings): 1 tbsp. olive oil 1 lb. bone-in shoulder lamb chops, trimmed of excess fat 1 large onion, finely chopped 2 tsp. ground ginger 1/2 tsp. ground turmeric 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp. paprika 4 cups vegetable broth 1/3 cup lentils 1 rib celery, finely chopped 1 can (15oz) diced tomatoes, drained 1 potato, diced 1 can (15oz) chickpeas, rinsed and drained 2 tbsp. parsley, finely chopped salt and pepper to taste 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt (optional)  Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high. Cook lamb chops for 2-3 min. on each side or until browned. Set aside on a plate. Reduce heat to medium, add onion and cook stirring occasionally for 2-3 min. or until soft. Mix in ginger, turmetic, cinnamon and paprika. Cook for 10-15 seconds.  Add vegetable broth and bring to simmer. Scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pot and mix in. Stir in len

Grape Leaves Stuffed with Bulgur and Lentil

If you love stuffed grape leaves with rice or rice and meat, you're going love these too. Ingredients: 1/2 cup lentil, rinsed 2/3 cup bulgur 1 large onion, chopped fine 1/3 cup fresh mint, chopped 1 tbsp dried savory 1 tbsp + 1/4 cup lemon juice extra virgin olive oil 1 jar grape leaves, drained, stems cut off if needed salt and pepper to taste Cook the lentils until tender, drain well. In a small bowl pour boiling water over bulgur and soak for about 30-40 min. Drain well. In large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until soft, about 3-5 minutes. I a large bowl combine lentils, bulgur, mint, savory, cooked onion, 1 tbsp lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste. To fill grape leaves: Place one leaf flat on work surface with veins facing upward. Place 1 tbsp filling in the middle of leaf and fold stem end of leaf up over filling, then fold in sides of leaf over filling and roll up leaf tight

Bulgarian Moussaka

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Moussaka is a traditional Balkan casserole. There are lots of variations of the basic recipe.  In Bulgaria the most popular version is made of ground meat, potatoes and yogurt and eggs layer on top. It is simple and yet rich in taste. Ingredients: 1 lb ground meat (pork, beef or mixed) 1 tomato, chopped 2 lb potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes 1 onion, chopped 1 1/2 tbsp paprika 1-2 tbsp olive oil 2 eggs 1 1/2 cups plain yogurt 1 tbsp flour chubritsa (savory) to taste salt and pepper to taste In a saucepan heat the olive oil and add ground meat and chopped onion, paprika, chubritsa, salt and pepper and cook until meat gets brown. preheat the oven to 420F. Combine the meat mixture, chopped potatoes and tomato in a 9x11 baking pan. Add water, covering half of the dish. Bake for about 50-60 min. or until potatoes are ready, stirring occasionally.   Beat the eggs, yogurt and flour together. Pour it evenly over the dish and bake for an addition

Puff Pastry Twists with Cheese

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Ingredients: 1 sheet BELLA puff pastry dough 1/2 cup Kashkaval or Kefalograviera cheese, shredded 1/2 cup Feta cheese, crumbled 1 tbsp. savory (chubritsa)  salt and pepper to taste 1 egg Preheat the oven to 400F. Whisk the egg. Cut the pastry sheet in half and brush over one side of both dough pieces. Spread shredded cheese, savory, salt and pepper over one of the sheets. Place the other piece on top  and press to seal. Cut the dough into 1/2 inch strips. Twist and place on a baking sheet. Brush with egg. Bake for about 15-18 min. or until golden. You may also like  Puff Pastry Tarts with Pears https://www.facebook.com/OldWorldMarket  

Marinated Steak with Feta

This is one of my favorite steak recipes from Betty Crocker . Mediterranean style marinade and Feta combination give a nice twist to any grilled steak. Marinade: 1/2 cup Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon 1 tbsp. brown sugar 3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 1 1/2 tsp. fried oregano 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped Steak: 2 lb beef boneless sirloin steak, about 1 inch thick 2 medium red onions, cut into 1/2-inch slices 1 cup Feta cheese, crumbled chopped fresh parsley In shallow glass or plastic dish or resealable food-storage plastic bag, mix all marinade ingredients. Pierce beef with fork several times on both sides. Add beef and onions to marinade, turn to coat with marinade. Cover dish or seal bag and refrigerate, turning beef occasionally, at least 8 hours but no longer than 24 hours. Heat coals or gas grill for direct heat. Remove beef from marinade. Reserve marinade. Cover and grill beef and onions

Muffins with Feta and Danish Bacon

These muffins are wonderful for breakfast or snack. You can make them with cheese only or even add some greens. You can find Smoked Danish Bacon at  Old World Market Naples starting at $5.69/lb. and Feta cheese starting at $3.99/lb. Ingredients (12 muffins): 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1 tbsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt 2 eggs 1 cup milk 2 tbsp. melted butter 1/2 cup Feta cheese, crumbled 1/2 cup smoked Danish bacon, chopped Preheat the oven to 400F In a bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt. In another bowl combine the eggs, milk, butter, feta and Danish bacon. Stir into dry ingredients. Grease the muffin pan and fill it with butter. Bake for 20-25 min. or until toothpick comes out clean. Serve warm.

Linguine With Peppers And Italian Sausage

Ingredients (3-4 servings): 8oz linguini pasta 1/2 pound Old neighborhood Sweet Italian Sausage, casings removed 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1 green bell pepper, chopped 1 onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 cup Pinot Grigio 1/2 cup Kefalograviera cheese, grated Cook pasta in a boiling salted water until al dente.  While the pasta is cooking cut the sausage and saute in a heavy skillet over medium heat until light brown. Add peppers, onion, garlic and saute until tender. Add wine and simmer until liquid is slightly reduced, about 5-6 minutes.  Drain pasta and add to the skillet. Toss to combine. Add Kefalograviera cheese and toss to blend. Serve with additional cheese, if desired.  If you like it spicy, use Old Neighborhood Hot Italian Sausage instead. You can find Old Neighborhood Sausages at Old World Market Naples !

Fresh Figs Filled with Feta Cheese

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Indulging and full of flavors, stuffed figs are another delicious and easy to make summer appetizer. 10 ripe figs (I prefer Black Mission) extra virgin olive oil 20 small chunks Feta cheese salt and pepper to taste Halve the figs through the stem. Drizzle each fig with olive oil and little salt. Gently push a chunk of feta cheese into the center of each fig. Pepper to taste. Pair with Sauvignon Blanc.  https://www.facebook.com/OldWorldMarket  

Chicken breast with Kalamata olives and Feta

I love to prepare this recipe on a busy weekdays because it takes no more than 15-20 min. in total. Ingredients (for 2 servings): 2 chicken breast halves 1/2 cup grape tomatoes, halved 1/3 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved 1/3 cup Feta, crumbled 1 tbsp fresh mint extra virgin olive oil fresh lemon juice salt and black pepper to taste Rub the chicken with black pepper and salt. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Drizzle with olive oil and cook the chicken breasts for about 7-9 minutes on each side. In a bowl toss  the tomatoes, olives, feta, mint. Season to taste with salt, pepper, olive oil and lemon juice. Spoon over chicken breast and serve. You may also like  Savory Sumac Chicken Breast  https://www.facebook.com/OldWorldMarket  

Baby Bella Mushrooms Stuffed with Feta and Danish Bacon

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This is a great bite size appetizer. Pair with your favorite Cabernet Sauvignon. You can find Smoked Danish Bacon and Feta cheese at  Old World Market Naples Ingredients: 18-20 Baby Bella mushrooms crumbled Feta 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped extra virgin olive oil salt and pepper to taste 1 slice Smoked Danish bacon Heat the oven to 350F. Wash the mushrooms and pat them dry. Remove stems and arrange mushrooms on a baking sheet. Brush inside with olive oil. Combine feta, parsley, salt and pepper and with a spoon place cheese into each mushroom. Top with small piece of smoked Danish bacon. Bake for about 15-18 min.

Grilled Provolone Cheese

If you love cheese, warm melted cheese, this is the right recipe for you. This is a common dish in Argentina. Enjoy it with a glass of Conquista de Argentina Malbec . Ingredients: 2 slices of provolone cheese, 1 inch thick 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 tbsp dried oregano black pepper to taste Preheat the grill to high. Oil the grill grate. Rub the cheese slices on both sides with olive oil and the rest of the ingredients. Place the slices on the grill and cook for about 2 min. The cheese will start to melt a little, so don't let it sit long. Turn it and cook for another 1-2 min. Sprinkle with fresh parsley. Serve with toasted or grilled bread, crackers, salami, salad. You can find provolone cheese at Old World Market Naples starting at $4.69/lb.

Mediterranean Eggplant Spread with Feta

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This is a wonderful and delicious spread. It is excellent with fresh veggies, crackers, pita or as a side dish. Ingredients: 2 medium eggplants 2 medium tomatoes, diced 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled fresh parsley salt and pepper to taste Preheat the oven to 400F Peel the eggplants and cut them into cubes. In a baking dish mix the eggplant, tomatoes, olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake the eggplant and tomatoes (stirring occasionally) for about 40 min. or until tender.  Remove from the oven. Add feta cheese and parsley. Serve chilled or at room temperature. You may also like  Party Dips  and  Feta and Avocado Dip

Kataifi with walnuts and pistachios

Kataifi (kadaif, kadaifi) is a pastry made from phyllo dough, shredded into very thin strips. Kataifi, filled with nuts and soaked in syrup is a very popular dessert in Greece, Turkey and Middle East. Ingredients: 1 pkg. Athens Kataifi, thawed according instructions 1 cup melted butter Filling: 1 cup walnuts, finely chopped 2/3 cup pistachios, finely chopped 1/2 cup sugar 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp ground cloves 1 egg white, lightly beaten Syrup: 1 1/2 cups of sugar 1 cup honey 2 cups water 2 tsp fresh lemon juice In a bowl mix all the ingredient for the filling. Spread the pastry on a clean surface, divide it into 18-20 parts. Cover it with baking paper and a clean damp towel to stop it drying out while working with it. Spread each individual part into a rectangle shape, drizzle with melted butter and place a tablespoon of the filling in the middle. Roll tightly. Place the rolls in the buttered baking pan, close together but

Refreshing Strawberry Spritzer with Rose wine

I love strawberries and Rose. The combination gives you a fruity, cool refreshing drink for a hot summer evenings. Ingredients: 2 cups sliced strawberries 1 750 ml bottle RosĆ© wine (I prefer the intense cherry and strawberry aromas of Lafkiotis Kleoni Dry RosĆ©   ) 2 cups club soda 1/3 cup Campari (optional) 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice In a pitcher, combine the strawberries and wine. Cover and chill for 3-4 hours to infuse the wine. Strain the wine into a large bowl, keeping some of the strawberries for garnish. Return the wine in the pitcher and stir in club soda, Campari and lemon juice. Serve over ice. Enjoy!  https://www.facebook.com/OldWorldMarket  

Tarator - Bulgarian Cold Cucumber Soup

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It is getting hot outside and it's time to cool off with Bulgarians favorite summer meal. This simple and refreshing cold soup can be ready in less than 15 min. Ingredients (for about 4-6 servings): 3 cucumbers (or 2 European cucumbers), peeled, seeded and finely chopped 4 cups plain yogurt 1 garlic clove, minced 1 cup cold water 1 tbsp vinegar (or lemon juice) 3 tbsp sunflower oil (or extra virgin olive oil) 3 tbsp dill, finely chopped 2/3 cup chopped walnuts, optional salt and pepper to taste  In a large bowl mix the cucumbers, yogurt, mashed garlic, oil, vinegar, dill and walnuts. Add the water and stir well. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate for 15-30 min. https://www.facebook.com/OldWorldMarket  

Green Beans Salad with Kalamata Olives and Feta

This is a light summer salad full of flavors.It takes less than 10 min. to prepare. The combination of greens beans, Feta and Kalamata olives is wonderful. Ingredients: 1 lb. green beans, trimmed 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil juice of 1 lemon 1 tsp. Dijon mustard 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, chopped 1/2 cup Feta, crumbled salt and pepper, to taste Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Drop in the beans and cook for 3-4 min. or until they are tender but still crisp. Drain the beans and rinse with cold water until the beans are no longer warm. Pat them dry with paper towel and place them in a serving dish. In a small bowl prepare the dressing mixing lemon juice, mustard, salt, and pepper. Whisk in the olive oil. Season to taste. Pour the dressing over the beans. Garnish with Kalamata olives and crumbled Feta. Enjoy with a glass of Zinfandel or Chardonnay. https://www.facebook.com/OldWorldMarket  

Feta and Kashkaval Puff Pastry

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I found this recipe a couple of months ago at www.npr.org and since then I've been baking these pastries almost every week. Flaky and crispy they are great for breakfast or as a snack. Ingredients: 1/2 cup crumbled Feta cheese 1/2 cup Kashkaval, grated 1 sheet 9x13 puff pastry dough 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped Preheat the oven to 400F. In a bowl, mix together the feta, kashkaval and parsley. Dust the counter top with flour, and lay the puff pastry sheet. Spread the cheese mixture evenly to the ends, leaving a 1-inch exposed lip along one long edge. Roll from the opposite edge and press to secure the roll when finished. Cut 1/2-inch rounds. You can press the rounds slightly between your hands to keep the filling into the dough. Place them on a baking sheet and bake for about 20 min. or until light brown. Serve with cherry tomatoes and olives. https://www.facebook.com/OldWorldMarket

Greek Style Mini Pizza Muffins

These mini muffins are great as a snack or party appetizers. You can taste everything that goes onto the Greek pizza in one savory bite. Ingredients (for 2 dozen mini muffins): 2   tbsp  extra virgin olive oil   2/3   cup  finely chopped onion   2/3   cup  finely chopped red bell pepper   1/3   cup  whole wheat pastry flour   1/3   cup  all purpose flour   2   tsp  baking powder   1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1   tsp  sugar   1/4   tsp  garlic powder   1/4   tsp  salt   1/3   cup  low fat milk   1/3   cup  crumbled feta cheese   1     large egg , well beaten 2   tbsp  tomato paste   2   tbsp  chopped Kalamata olives Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper and cook, stirring often, until the onion is tender, about 3-5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool for 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat mini muffin pan with oil. Whisk flour, baking powder, oregano, sugar, garlic powder and salt in a medium

Baked Pears with Feta and Honey

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I've tried baked pears with blue or mascarpone cheese before and last week I decided to use Feta instead. Pears, cheese and honey is a wonderful combination and I hope you'll love this simple and delicious dessert. Ingredients: 2 pears, cored, thickly sliced (or halved) olive oil crumbled Feta cheese honey Preheat the oven to 350 F. Place the pears on a baking sheet. Sprinkle feta over each pear and drizzle with olive oil. Bake for about 20 min. or until tender and golden brown. Remove from the oven and drizzle with honey. Sprinkle with cinnamon and garnish with chopped walnuts if desired.

Baked Red Peppers Stuffed with Feta

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This is a traditional Balkan appetizer but it works well as a light main dish too. The recipe is easy to make and the result is savory summer meal. Ingredients (for 4 servings): 2 red bell peppers 1 cup Feta cheese, crumbled 2 eggs 1/4 tsp. dried oregano 2 tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped 2 tbsp olive oil 1/2 cup grated Kefalograviera or Kashkaval salt and pepper, to taste Preheat the oven to 375 F. Cut the peppers in half lengthwise, remove the stems and seeds. Set the peppers in a casserole or glass dish In a bowl mix the cheese, eggs, oregano, parsley, 1 tbsp. olive oil, salt and pepper. Fill each pepper with the mixture. Drizzle the peppers with the rest of the olive oil. Bake for 25-30 min. or until the filling gets brown on top. For the last 5 min. add layer of the grated cheese and allow the cheese to melt.

Grilled Zaatar Salmon with Yogurt Marinade

Zaatar (Za'atar) is Middle Eastern mix of wild herbs, spices and sesame seeds. Zaatar is good as seasoning to sprinkle on vegetables, salads, meatballs or kebabs and flatbread, mixed into olive oil or yogurt. You can use it to marinate fish or chicken. Ingredients: 4 salmon steaks 1/2 cup Greek yogurt 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 garlic clove, minced 1 tbsp Zaatar   1/2 tsp cumin salt and pepper to taste Whisk together yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper. Set marinade aside. Mix Zaatar, cumin and salt. Dry the salmon and rub it with the spice mixture.  Place the salmon into marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 40-60 min. Preheat and lightly oil the grill. Grill the steaks, turning once, until the fish is opaque, about 10 minutes. Serve with lemon and fresh salad.  More Zaatar recipes: Za'atar Puff Pastry Appetizers

Savory Sumac Chicken Breast

Sumac (Sumak) is considered essential for cooking in much of the Middle East.  Like lemon juice, Sumac is used to add fresh acidity to the grilled meat and other meals but it is much more complex than lemon . It has a tart flavor that is very nice sprinkled on fish, chicken, rice, hummus or boiled eggs.  Sumac complements lentils and other beans as well as vegetables. Try it with Feta cheese or grilled Halloumi cheese. Ingredients (for 2 servings): 2 chicken breasts 2 tbsp ground Sumac 4 tbsp balsamic vinegar cayenne pepper salt and pepper to taste Rub sumac, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper into the chicken breasts. Pour balsamic vinegar over and marinate in the fridge for about 1 hour. You can bake the chicken breast for 20-30 min. in 350F oven, grill it in a grill pan or BBQ. Serve it with Maftoul salad with vegetables and feta cheese  Enjoy! https://www.facebook.com/OldWorldMarket  

Crustless Spinach and Feta Cheese Pie

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Perfect combination of spinach and Feta cheese and much easier when you don't have to make a crust.  Serve with green or tomato salad and you'll have a delicious light meal. Ingredients: 6-8 oz fresh baby spinach (well cooked, drained and chopped) 3 eggs 1/2 cup all purpose flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 2/3 cup reduced fat milk 1/2 cup crumbled Feta cheese Preheat the oven to 390 F.  Mix chopped spinach and Feta cheese in the lightly oiled pie plate. In a mixing bowl first add flour, baking powder and salt and then the eggs and milk. Whisk together. Pour the mixture into the pie plate. Bake for 25-30 min. or until knife comes out clean from the center. https://www.facebook.com/OldWorldMarket

Salty and Sweet Stuffed Dates - great appetizer for any occasion

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Dates are perfect for stuffing.   Among the sweetest fruits in the world, dates pack the rich flavors of caramel and toffee. They are one of the most popular fruits with an impressive list of essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Stuffed Dates with Feta Cheese and Walnuts The sweet and salty combination of dates and feta cheese is a wonderful appetizer.   Ingredients (for 24 servings): 24 Medjool dates 1/2 cup crumbled Feta cheese 1/2 cup walnuts 2 tbsp. fresh mint Pepper to taste Remove the pits from the dates. Place the mint, feta and walnuts in the food processor and chop until finely chopped and well mixed. With a small spoon stuff a teaspoon of the mixture into the date and close. Season with pepper to taste or sprinkle with more walnuts. Stuffed dates with Almonds  This combination is great for coffee or tea time. Ingredients: 10 Medjool dates 10 almonds Remove the pits from the dates, replac