Cook Spanakopita Spinach Pie – Greek Cooking Challenge Recipe 9

Greek Cooking Challenge

September 2014

SPANAKOPITA – GREEK SPINACH PIE

This weekend is Father’s Day (here in Australia). I’m planning to cook my dad a traditional Greek dish to show off all these new skills I’ve been learning on the Greek Cooking Challenge. So, I asked him for a recommendation.

Dad said that his favourite Greek dish is Pastichio but we already cooked that dish back in February. But, I do know that he loves Spanakopita so I’m going to cook this spinach pie.

What are you doing for your dad this Father’s Day?

 

Share your cooking photos on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Use the hashtag #GreekCookingChallenge

Spanakopita is a Greek Spinach Pie. It is the perfect vegetarian dish and it tastes amazing straight out of the oven. It is also one of those meals that you can portion and freeze or eat later. 

Some people make small triangle filled pastries, other people like to make rolls or fill pastry cups. Most of the ladies in my family make spanakopita in a large rectangular dish and then they cut it in to small diamond shape pieces. However I like to be a little bit modern and different so, I’m going to try a round pie cooked in a skillet.

Feel free to use any variety of spinach, feta and filo pastry to make your spanikopita!

20 Important Calendar Dates To Remember: Celebrating Greek Traditions with Food and Feasts

Yesterday was the first day of the year. Well, not the normal calendar first day of the year (since it is only September) but the day which marks the beginning of the Church year. It was a little confusing at first, so I did some research, compiled my notes and then published a post about Orthodox New Years Day – you can read it here.

Writing the New Years Day post inspired me to think about other special events that happen throughout the year. So, to make it easy for everyone, I compiled a list of 20 Important Calendar Dates To Remember.

Happy New Year: Learn Why the Greek Orthodox Church Celebrates the New Year on the 1st of September

It seems really strange to say HAPPY NEW YEAR today, but i’m not joking! It is actually the beginning of a New Year in the Orthodox Church.

According to this Antiochian website, the 1st of September marks the day when Jesus of Nazareth began preaching the good news of His mission. You can learn more about Orthodox religion and calendar dates on these websites:

Gemista Stuffed Tomatoes – Greek Cooking Challenge Recipe 8

How to Be A Good Greek Cook – Join the #GreekCookingChallenge in 2014

Greek Cooking Challenge

August 2014

GEMISTA STUFFED TOMATOES

This month we are making Gemista which is also known as stuffed tomatoes. You can use this recipe to make stuffed eggplant, stuffed zucchini or stuffed any kind of vegetable you like.

What I love about this dish is that it is that Gemista can be stuffed with your favourite meats or adapted to be a tasty vegetarian or vegan meal. It can also be cooked completely gluten free and is sometimes considered paleo.

The Gemista recipe I have chosen for this month is written by Panos from the blog Cook Me Greek. Panos cooks with his mother in their family taverna in Greece and writes about his family recipes and cooking tips.

Join the Greek Cooking Challenge and share your cooking photos with me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #GreekCookingChallenge

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Avgolemono Soup and Greek Potatoes – Greek Cooking Challenge Recipe 6 and 7

How to Be A Good Greek Cook – Join the #GreekCookingChallenge in 2014

Greek Cooking Challenge

June / July 2014

Avgolemono Soup and Patates

Today I am sharing not one, but two cooking challenges to catch us up for June and July – This month we will be cooking Avgolemeno Soup and Patates.

These meals are often made together at the same time, so technically there isn’t a lot of extra cooking to do.
In most Greek family homes, the soup is eaten as an entrée and then soon after you have eaten your second bowl of avgolemono, the roasted chicken will come out of the oven with some baked potatoes.

Delicious.