One of my favourite treats during the holiday season was the little cheese pies (tyropitakia) my maternal grandma used to make; shaped like teeny tiny croissants, filled with feta and brushed with lots of butter, they were delicious and irresistible- like, really irresistible: I usually ate three in a row, took a break, then had another three, and repeat all over again, as practice makes perfect.
Christmas morning is one of my favourite times of the year. It’s always spent in our house in the mountains, just the four of us, opening presents, while consuming copious amounts of coffee and dragging the monstrous breakfast we have prepared to almost lunch time. [READ MORE]
Last Friday night I arrived back home in Athens for the holidays. Ever since, I’ve been in the midsts of a tornado of love, affection, confrontation and laziness. Along with my sister, I’ve also been caught up in a semi-frantic, absolutely childish, totally satisfying holiday mode, which includes blow up candycanes, so many fairy lights, very moderate wine drinking, beautiful festive flowers, gift buying and wrapping and lots and lots of menu and party planning. [READ MORE]
As of late, my favourite mid-day snack is a red, juicy apple, cut in thick wedges, with some tahini drizzled on top, finished off with some sea salt flakes. I always love combining sweet and salty flavours and this one is just perfect for a quick bite: the fruit, along with the nutty sesame paste and just a touch of salt is not only fulfilling, but also just right to keep me full for a few hours and stop me from attacking dinner like a mad person.
I grew up in a house literally filled with books and vinyl records. I also grew up without a TV (to this day, my parents refuse to buy one and only have a big ass screen to watch movies in), with the radio or turntable constantly on. I became an enthusiastic consumer of written words of almost any kind, and my sister (who helped considerably with this guide) an avid vinyl collector, perpetually in love with jazz and old school punk and always aware of the coolest new music. While I had a blast compiling all the previous guides featured on the blog, I have saved the best for last. So, while you shop for moms, guys, minimalist friends or siblings, foodies and cooks, get yourself a book and/ or record. Hands down, they are always the gifts that keep on giving. [READ MORE]
Initially, this gift guide was chock full of cheese and cheese related items- then I realised I wasn’t suppose to write my wish list, so I also included few other items for all you cooks, aspiring cooks, foodies and food lovers out there. (But really you guys, cheese is the word.) [READ MORE]
This gift guide is inspired by my favourite cool minimalist, my sister. I always marvel at her dedication to the ‘less is more’ rule: from the way she dresses (she has an endless collection of plain, white, cotton tees, along with an impressive number of blazers, which she simply accessorize with beautiful scarves and few jewellery pieces), to her gorgeous apartment, filled with carefully selected items (and God forbid you dare move anything in there- she watches everyone like a hawk) and her cooking. Apart from a minimalist, Alkyoni is also the best gift-giver, so here’s hoping I won’t embarrass myself this year and get her something she will actually like. [READ MORE]
Even though the two main men in my life (my father and my boyfriend) are terrible to shop for, the men’s department in most stores is usually my favourite section. So compiling this list (which, granted includes items that are not strictly for men) was so fun and easy-hopefully, shopping for my two picky men will be equally as easy and fun. [READ MORE]
In the wintertime, when the living is sometimes not so easy, mac & cheese is hands down one of my favorite comfort foods. I don’t cook it often though, since I’ve noticed that I can easily scoff down half a baking dish on my own. Easily. Over the years, I ‘ve tried many variations- some successful, others not at all.
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One of the reasons I love the holiday season so much is the gifts that come with it. A couple years ago, a few days before Christmas and while I was giving my dad an elaborate speech about the benefits of recycling, he told me, in his usual deadpan in-your-face manner, that another great way to recycle would be to buy less. As much as I hate to admit it, he has a point; there could be a lot less shopping, spending and consuming going around, especially during the holidays. In that frame of mind, and because I really really love presents, I have compiled 5 gift guides of few selected items, all under £ 50: for your mom (she deserves her own list, don’t you think?), for guys, for your minimalist friends, one for foodies/ cooks and one for books and music. Even though they are not holiday specific (unless edible, I actually find seasonal gifts kinda useless, even annoying), I hope that they will inspire your Christmas shopping and get you in the holiday spirit: less spending, more love. That’s the spirit.
