Easter eggs

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You gotta have eggs for Easter, right? Chocolate or hard boiled ones, in beautiful colours. I’m used to Easter eggs being painted red and smashed together, two at a time, with the winner being the one whose egg remained intact. We always spent the Easter holidays in the mountains and the eggs to be dyed were white, fresh from our neighbour’s chickens, left on our front porch first thing in the morning. The dye was store-bought and mixed with water and vinegar would produce this intense crimson colour, which was beautiful and smelly and all around artificial. The most beautiful eggs were always the ones made by our neighbour: they were perfectly red and shiny, with the most gorgeous imprints from flowers and leaves. [READ MORE]

Spinach, swiss chard & feta pie (spanakopita)

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I left home when I was 18; I’ve been gone many years and food, as much as it is important to me, is not at the top of the list of things I miss. I miss my sister most of all and my parents too; I miss the frequent arguments we used to have and the almost instant truces that followed -although, in keeping with the family tradition, we still have plenty of those every time I go back. I miss the gorgeous house I grew up in and its beautiful balconies, filled with flowers, herbs and small trees and the views to the Acropolis and Lycabettus hill. [READ MORE]

More chickpea love: veggie burgers with quinoa, kale & red pepper

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Even though I eat meat quite rarely, I’m always up for a good burger (as I’ve previously and inappropriately mentioned). I’m not as devoted as M, who’s tried almost every good burger joint in town and has described and rated his experiences in excruciating detail, but whenever I’m given the opportunity to dig in a juicy, medium-rare burger, I’ll take it- nay, I’ll grab it! [READ MORE]

Chickpea, fennel & chorizo chunky soup

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I’ve been on a major fennel kick lately (evidently). I buy a fennel bulb almost every time I do my groceries shopping- and last time I was at the supermarket and could not find any, I was almost devastated (seriously; I must have asked at least three members of the staff- I looked so desperate and annoying, one of them even employed two of his co-workers to go look if there was any left at the back, while consolidating me and suggesting other vegetables instead. I swear, no person has ever waved at me so enthusiastically when I was leaving the store.) [READ MORE]

Squid ink pasta

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When I was a teenager, I would decide whether I liked someone or not depending on how they answered a simple answer: what’s your favourite band? I think my answer was always ‘The Velvet Underground’ because I really, truly loved them- and still do; also, because I thought they were so cool, so me liking them would automatically also make me cool (I doubt that it actually worked- I’m pretty sure I was not considered cool in high school). [READ MORE]

Couscous with roasted beets, kale & feta

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So the other day, my friend George requested some food inspiration to beat the January blues. I hear you, buddy. The weeks after the holidays suck. The tree is down, the presents have been opened and it’s time to put your party shoes away and get back to your normal routine. For me, it’s also time to stop having cake, cheese and wine with almost with every meal and get back to my less indulgent habits. [READ MORE]

Soutzoukakia

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As I’ve previously mentioned, I don’t often cook meat- I’m not a vegetarian and don’t dislike meat, but I usually find myself mostly inspired by vegetables and their different colours, shapes and textures, plus I can’t resist the simplicity that cooking fish requires. Mostly, I’m pretty clueless when it comes to meat and don’t really know what to do with it. There are however certain meat dishes I thoroughly enjoy, so I timidly make the effort of making them from time to time. [READ MORE]