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It's all about the Lamb~ Easter Dinner

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It's all about the lamb... Easter Dinner!

In Greek: αρνί με πατάτες στο φούρνο, pronounced ahr-NEE meh pah-TAH-tes sto FOOR-no

The lamb is the main event for our buffet dinner along with all the traditional side items like Dolmathes (grape leaves), Spanakopita, Greek Salad, red dyed eggs, Tsoureki (sweet Easter Bread) and all the traditional desserts. If I had to choose, my favorites...they would be Dolmathes, stuffed with rice and meat, along with Spanakopita. For Easter, the endless buffet of delicious food that creates the holiday table is truly a culinary culmination of efforts for all to enjoy.

Ingredients:

Easter Lamb

Serves: 6

• 4 pounds boned leg of lamb


• 4 pounds of roasting potatoes


• juice of 1 lemon


• 1/3 cup of olive oil


• 1-2 tablespoons of fresh oregano (1-2 teaspoons of dried Greek oregano)


• 4-6 cloves of garlic, sliced in half or thirds


• sea salt


• freshly ground black pepper


• 1/2 cup of water

Method:

Preheat the oven to 350F (175C).

1. Rinse the meat with cold water and pat dry. Mix a little salt and pepper in a small bowl. Make small cuts into the meat at various points. Coat the garlic in salt and pepper and insert into the cuts. Using your hands, coat the meat first with lemon juice, then olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and place in a roasting pan.

2. Peel and clean the potatoes and cut into sliced wedges, lengthwise. Salt and place potatoes around the lamb. Pour the remaining olive oil and lemon juice over the potatoes, and sprinkle with oregano. Pour 1/2 cup of water into the bottom of the pan (down the side so it doesn't coat the potatoes or meat).

3. Roast at 350F (175C) for 1.50 hour (about 25 minutes per pound for medium/medium-rare), checking every so often to make sure there's still a little water in the bottom of the pan. If the meat starts getting too brown, cover with foil.

* Lamb should reach an internal temperature of 160F (medium to well).

Holiday Weekend Brunch Ideas - Greek Style

Athenian Feta Frittatas and Lemon Tart Filo Cups

These bite-size frittatas have a unique blend of cheese baked to perfection in a delicate filo cup. They are packed with flavor and are simple to make for brunch or as an appetizer. This recipe was the winner of the 2008 National Grand Prize Recipe for Life Time Fitness and Daisy Brand Cottage Cheese. See Greek Chic It tips for two other recipe options.

Serves: 4

Ingredients
1 cup Feta cheese, crumbled
1 cup cottage cheese
2 eggs, beaten
4 filo sheets or 12 frozen filo cups (available in grocery stores)
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 teaspoons chives, dried
6 cherry tomatoes, sliced
1 red bell pepper, diced

Method
1. Take 4 sheets of filo and cut into 3 ½ x 4 inch squares. Take 2 squares at a time and lightly butter them with a pastry brush.
2. Using two squares for each hole, gently press each sheet into muffin tin holes in a crisscross pattern.
3. Cook at 350° F for 2 to 3 minutes until each one is lightly cooked and filo is set, but not fully baked.
4. In a bowl, mix Feta, cottage cheese, and egg well.
5. With a small spoon, take one tablespoon of the mixture and place it in the baked
filo cups or the store-bought filo cups. Leave plain, or garnish with sliced cherry
tomato on top of cheese mixture.
6. Bake at 350° F for 20 to 25 minutes until mixture is fully cooked.
7. Sprinkle with dried chives and/or diced bell peppers.
8. Optional garnish: before baking, place a Kalamata olive in the center with a basil
leaf as an extra garnish for a great brunch idea.

Greek Chic It:
Replace filo with Pillsbury Refrigerated Crescent Rolls (8 - ounce package).
Unroll dough and cut into 12 squares. Press squares gently into each hole in an ungreased 12-count muffin tin. Continue to follow directions starting at step 4 for cheese filling. These are great for brunch!

Lemon Tart Filo Cups: Have a sweet treat for breakfast—it’s one of my favorites! Make
baked filo cups by following the above recipe for steps 1 through 3. Then fill baked cups with store-bought lemon curd. Garnish with whipped cream, lemon twist, and mint leaf.
These are great for brunch or any time of the day.

The Bookworm Omaha | Events, New Books, Berkshire Hathaway Annual Book Selections- Greek Chic Book Signing

Greek Chic CusineThis Saturday, March 26th /1PM @ The BOOKWORM - Author Event and book signing- Countryside Village ~87th & Pacific

The Bookworm Omaha Events, New Books, Berkshire Hathaway Annual Book Selections www.bookwormomaha.com


Saturday, March 26 / 1 p.m. Stephanie Patsalis will sign Greek Chic Cuisine ($22.95). This cookbook has elements of the traditional and the contemporary. Although there is a creative element to some recipes, each dish is rooted in authentic flavor of the Mediterranean diet. These authentic flavors of Greece include dishes like Spanakopita, Tiropitas, Souvlakia, Pastichio, Baklava or contemporary dishes like Baklava Pancakes, Kalamata Bruschetta, Gyro Lettuce Wraps, Santorini Sunrise Omelets, and Ouzo Chocolate Cupcakes. The Mediterranean diet is known as the healthiest in the world. This food uses the freshest ingredients making it healthy, not heavy, highlighting the best of Greek culture. Make these recipes with your family without fear of making a mistake. Enjoy these simple-to-make dishes by gathering around the table to cook and eat together, and start making your own traditions.

Easter Baskets Ideas...along with menu planning

With Easter right around the corner on April 24th, we all need to get cooking our feast with family and friends gathered around the table. This is my favorite holiday to share after the long Lenten journey and to celebrate! As I am doing menu planning around the main entree..."the lamb", I like to get creative with my appetizers and side dishes along with Greek pastries galore. The "glyka" (Greek pastries) are my daughters favorite part of Easter. Picture of the Greek desserts -Diples. Delicate light dough rolled and drenched in honey.

Recently now available at GreekInternetMarket.com are gift baskets and the Greek Chic Cookbook. If friends and family are far away, send them an Easter Basket of food with a cookbook. http://www.greekinternetmarket.com/giftbaskets.php Shop their site and remember Greek Chic Cuisine cookbook for some great Easter recipe ideas. Kalo Pascha and Happy Easter!

Lenten Fish Recipe~ Greek Island Fish

Greek Islands Fish

This recipe is great for lent or anytime of the year. Greek Islands fish can be made in 20 minutes with a few ingredients. This light white fish is made with an encrusted Parmesan herb mixture and baked to perfection.

This meal is light and tasty just like the foods found in the Greek Islands. It’s so
easy and delicious that you will make it once a week with fish or chicken.

* Greek Chic TiP ~ Healthier version: Replace butter in the recipe with Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Serves: 4

Ingredients
4 pieces tilapia
1 cup bread crumbs, unseasoned
1 cup Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons tarragon
1 teaspoon oregano
1 stick butter, melted, or ½ cup olive oil

Method

1. In a large bowl, add bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, tarragon, and oregano. Mix
well.
2. In another bowl, melt butter.
3. Take each piece of cleaned fish. Dip in melted butter and then coat well in the
Parmesan-herb mixture. Repeat with each piece and place on cooking sheet.
4. Bake at 360° Fahrenheit for 25 to 30 minutes or until fully cooked. Serve with, Greek Potatoes and a salad.

Greek Chic It:

Herb-Crusted Parmesan Chicken
1. Replace fish with chicken and continue with recipe to encrust with Parmesan-herb
mixture. Follow above directions for cooking. The internal temperature for chicken
should be 160° F. This is great over a salad.

Mediterranean diet reduces risk of metabolic syndrome

http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/food/diet-nutrition/2011-03-13-med-diet_N.htm