Announcing the launch of my Greek Chic Cookbook

It is finally here! So excited to share with you all my hard work with the new cookbook, "Greek Chic Cuisine". All my favorite recipes are included in the book with my traditional recipes like Spanakopita from my Yiayia (grandmother) to fun contemporary recipes like Gyro Lettuce wraps. I hope you enjoy the book as much as I enjoyed creating it with my photographer, Mike Howard and his wife Heidi Joy Howard. Book goes on sale this week, so order your copy today. Opa! Kali Orexi (Good Appetite)

Baklava Cheesecake Tarts

Baklava Cheesecake Tarts were the center of celebration this weekend. In our family there is always cause to celebrate. We love dessert anytime of the day. This idea came by putting together two fabulous desserts in one with a Greek Chic touch. So easy and fun to make.
Final touches make a difference with this, Baklava Cheesecake that is perfectly presented in a filo cups. Delicate hints of walnuts and cinnamon make this taste like real baklava. Drizzle with chocolate for that extra pizzazz! Enjoy.


Baklava Cheesecake Tarts
• Prep time: 20 minutes
• |
• Cook time: 20 minutes
• |
• Total time: 40 minutes
• |
• Servings: 6
• 12 ounce(s) of Philadelphia Cream Cheese
• 1 cup(s) of walnuts, chopped
• 1 1/2 cup(s) of sugar
• 1 tsp. of vanilla
• 1 egg
• 8 tbsp. of butter, melted
• 1/4 tsp. of ground clove
• 1 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon
• 6 sheets filo dough, thawed
• 12 decorative pastry cups
Steps
1. In a bowl, mix softened cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, vanilla, and beaten egg. Set aside.
2. Mix in a smaller bowl, walnuts, ½ cup sugar, cinnamon, and cloves.
3. Fold walnut mixture into cream cheese blend and mix well.
4. Lay one filo sheet flat. Using a pastry brush butter three sheets one at a time by laying one on top of another. Continue with remaining three sheets filo.
5. Cut the buttered filo stacks into six squares.
6. Spray a muffin tin with Pam. Taking each filo square, gently press into tin hole and fan out sides. Using cheesecake mixture, fill each filo cup with mixture.
7. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes. Cheesecake should be light golden brown. When cooled take out of tins and place in decorative cups. Sprinkle with more chopped walnut mixture and drizzle with chocolate. Optional toppings – whipped cream and a cherry on top.

Filo Cheese Triangles

Tiropitas (Filo Cheese Triangles)



Here is one of our all time favorite recipes with one variation, cream cheese to Greek Chic It a bit. While testing more recipes for the book, I had the idea to add a little more creaminess to our families' favorite. I personally think these can be eaten anytime of the day and are great as a snack. The layers of flaky filo stuffed with a creamy three cheese blend make these a popular and perfect appetizer. These Filo Cheese Triangles are sure to impress your guests. A family favorite served at every gathering.

We love these in my family and now my little girls even make these. So fun to make, but look like you spent hours making them. Great family conversation while we brush the filo and roll the Tiropitas. Once you get the hang of folding them into a triangle you can experiment with other fillings. Some people put cherry pie filling in the triangles and serve them for brunch.



Serves: 4–6

Ingredients
1/2 cup Feta cheese, crumbled
4 ounces Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 cup small curd cottage cheese
1 egg, beaten
1 -2 sticks butter, melted
1 package filo, thawed

Method
1. In a large bowl, mix in the Feta, Philadelphia Cream Cheese and cottage cheese. Then add one beaten egg. Mix ingredients together well.
2. Keeping filo in a roll, cut into three equal parts. (* optional - cut into two equal parts for larger triangles.) Unroll the first filo roll portion and cover
with a dry cloth to prevent from drying filo out.
3. Using two sheets of filo on your work surface. Using pastry brush and melted butter, butter the first filo sheet and place the second on top of the butter one. Then butter the second filo sheet.
4. Take one teaspoon of the cheese mixture and place it in the bottom
corner of the filo sheet.
5. Starting from the corner with filling, fold the dough in triangles using a flag folding
technique. Keep the filo sheets tight and tucked under while folding. You do not need to go corner to corner. Lightly brush the top edge with butter to seal it.
6. Place each completed triangle on a cookie sheet. Repeat the process with the
remaining filling and filo sheets.
7. Bake at 360° F for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve hot or room
temperature.

Chicken Spanakopita

Everyone loves spanakopita appetizers, but surprise your guests with this entree. Beautifully stuffed chicken filled with a blended cheese and spinach mixture. Finally dressed on top with a tasty Greek marinade. The marinade makes the entree for me by sealing in the taste. Recently I entered this in Paula Deen's Philadelphia recipe contest and attached my video to help the recipe come alive. Hope you enjoy this simple to make Greek Chic entree.

Servings: 6

• 6 ounce(s) of Chicken Breasts
• 10 ounce(s) of spinach, chopped
• 8 ounce(s) of Philadelphia cream cheese
• 1/2 cup(s) of feta cheese, crumbled
• 1 tbsp. of dry dill
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup(s) of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp. of lemon juice
• 1 tbsp. of oregano
• 1/2 cup(s) of parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp. of salt
• 1 tsp. of pepper Steps

1. In a large bowl, mix well spinach, cream cheese, dill and egg. Then add to spinach mixture, feta cheese, salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
2. Taking cleaned chicken breast in between two pieces of wax paper, pound chicken until flattened.
3. Take chicken and place one large tablespoon of spinach mixture on one side of breast and fold over. Place in a baking dish. Repeat stuffing process until all are complete.
4. In a small bowl make marinade by whisking olive oil, lemon juice and oregano. Brush each finished chicken breast with marinade. Dust with additional oregano, salt, pepper and top off with sprinkled parmesan cheese.
5. Bake at 360 degrees F. for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Welcome to Greek Chic Cuisine Blog

Welcome. On this blog we will show some wonderful Greek and Mediterranean recipes and how easy they are to make. Most of the recipes are from the new cookbook Greek Chic Cuisine, which I am so happy to launch in a month. From time to time, there will be instructional videos that help at times when working with recipes that are easy to watch than to read.

Also as a bonus when traveling, I love restaurant "finds" with great food usually locally owned Mediterranean or Greek restaurants with a fun atmosphere. Featuring what the owner's favorite dish is at their restaurant.
We all love food, so I'm happy to share with you my passion for cooking and creating new Greek Chic recipes. Greek Chic Cuisine - Mediterranean made easy.