From Naples, Florida: Savor the Authentic with Old World Market

Farro is a type of ancient Italian hearty grain that is becoming popular again. Some people say that it is the mother of all wheat. Farro is a good source of fiber, protein and iron with a nutty taste. It is great for salads and soups. You can find Italian Farro at Old World Market Naples Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups uncooked farro 2 tomatoes, finely chopped 2 small cucumbers, finely chopped 1/2 red pepper, finely chopped 2 green onions, chopped 1/3 cup olives, finey chopped 1/3 cup chopped parsley feta cheese extra virgin olive oil balsamic vinegar or lemon juice salt, pepper to taste Cook farro according to the package directions. Drain well and set aside. Combine extra virgin olive oil vinegar, salt and pepper until you have desired flavor. Combine farro with chopped vegetables and olives. Toss with the dressing. Add feta cheese and toss again. Serve chilled or at room temperature. Pairs great with Chardonnay. Enjoy!

Ingredients (for 24 mini muffins): 1 cup all purpose flour 3 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 2 eggs 1 cup milk 1/3 cup sunflower oil 3/4 cup chopped fresh spinach 1/2 cup feta, crumbled.  Preheat the oven to 390F. Mix the eggs, milk and oil and add to the dry ingredients. Add chopped spinach and feta cheese. Oil the mini muffin tin and spoon mixture to the top of the cups. Bake  for about 20 min. or until golden. At Old World Market Naples  you can find over 30 different kinds of feta cheese.

Ingredients (makes 24 bites): 2 grated zucchini 1 cup grated carrots 2 eggs 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled 1/4 cup smoked Danish bacon, chopped  1/2 cup bread crumbs salt to taste Preheat the oven to 400F. Oil the mini muffin tin. Dry the zucchini and carrots in a paper towel.  Mix all of the ingredients. Fill each muffin cup to the top. Bake for about 20 min. or until golden brown. You may also like  Muffins with Feta and Danish Bacon You can find Smoked Danish Bacon and Feta cheese at  Old World Market Naples

Ingredients: 1 Bella puff pastry sheet 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese 1/2 cup fresh spinach, chopped 1 egg, beaten Thaw pastry sheet according the pack instructions.  Preheat the oven to 400F. Brush the pastry sheet with egg. Top with feta and spinach and roll the sheet. Cut into 1/2 inch slices.  You can press the slices slightly between your hands to keep the filling into the dough.  Place them on lightly greased baking sheet or parchment paper. Brush with egg and bake for about 15-20 min. or until golden brown. You may also like  Feta and Kashkaval Puff Pastry

Ingredients: Pie Crust: 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour 1/2 cup butter, melted 1/2 tsp. salt 2 tbsp. milk Filling: 1 1/2 cups milk 4 eggs, beaten 1 cup crumbled feta cheese 15-20 broccoli florets salt and pepper to taste Preheat the oven to 375F. Mix the ingredients for the crust. Gently press the dough and line the bottom and sides of the pie plate. Arrange broccoli florets on top. Mix the rest of the filling ingredients and pour into the crust. Bake for about 40 min. or until filling is set. Serve with green salad and Sauvignon Blanc. Shop for feta cheese and wine from around the world at Old World Market Naples  

Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups crumbled feta cheese 2 avocados, cut in small pieces 1 roasted red pepper, finely chopped 1 green onion, finely chopped 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste Mix everything in a bowl. Season to taste with lemon juice, salt and pepper. Serve with bruschetta, crackers or tortilla chips. You may also like  Party Dips and  Green Olive Spread  

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  

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 ...

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.

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  

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.

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

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  

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, abo...

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.

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.

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

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 fro...

Ingredients (4 servings): 1 cup orzo 1 garlic clove, minced 3/4 cup fresh tomatoes, diced 1/4 cup white wine 12-15 large shrimp, peeled 10-15 pitted Kalamata olives, halved 1 cup crumbled Feta cheese Fresh dill and parsley, chopped Salt and pepper to taste Lemon juice to taste Cook orzo in boiling water 6-7 minutes or until tender.  Meanwhile after 4-5 minutes, cook the shrimp. Heat the oil on medium-high and shrimp and cook for 1-2 min. Then add the garlic and wine and simmer for 1 min. Add the tomatoes and the olives and cook down as the shrimp are finishing up. Drain the orzo well and mix it with the shrimp. Season with lemon juice to taste. Top with crumbled feta cheese, dill and parsley.

I love baked eggplants and this is one of my favorite meatless appetizers. It is also great as a side dish or main dish. Ingredients: 2 eggplants olive oil 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped 1 cup diced tomatoes 1 cup crumbled Feta cheese salt and pepper, to taste Wash eggplants and remove the stems. Cut lengthwise into 1/2 inch slices. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan to medium and fry the slices until soft and gently browned. Preheat oven to 375F. Mix the tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper to taste, in a bowl. Put the eggplant slices in the bottom of a baking dish and spread tomatoes mixture over them. Top with Feta cheese. Bake for 35 min. Serve hot. Pair with Rose or Pinot Gris.