It's all GREEK to me

In an attempt to experiment with and challenge my limited culinary abilities, and to try to incorporate some culture into our lives, we had a Greek night with friends! It was fabulous.


The Menu

greek salad
baklava
tzatziki
hummus
domatokeftethes



What is domatokeftethes? The most delish tomato fritters! While my mom and I were in Greece last summer we made an effort to try new food, and domatokeftethes was one of our favorites. I was so excited to come home and find out that my Mediterranean cookbook had a recipe for them! They are basically a fried tomato pancake flavored with scallions, parsley and mint. Though they are yummy, they are fried, so aren't the healthiest food around.



It was such a fun night!



What I was most excited about what my hummus that turned out EXCELLENT! Here is the recipe:

1 (15.5 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 large clove garlic, minced
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons tahini
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/8 teaspoon ground red paper (add more if you want it spicy)
4-6 tablespoons water, divided
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley, optional

Combine chickpeas, garlic, lemon juice, tahini, salt, pepper, cumin, red pepper, and 3 tablespoons of the water in a food processor. Process until smooth. With processor running, pour in olive oil. Process until just combined. Add additional water by tablespoon until you reach the consistency you like.

Place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. For optimal flavor, refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. Right before serving, top with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and chopped fresh parsley.

Recipe from Our Best Bites

Birthday Bliss

Not only was my birthday last week, but it was my FIRST birthday that Rob and I have EVER spent together since we've known one another. Last year he was in Iraq and the year before he was in Afghanistan. If you know me, you know that birthdays are the BEST! No holiday is better than YOUR birthday because it is all yours and (hopefully) you don't have to share it with anyone! In my family it is a day you can do whatever you want, you can be as spoiled as necessary (because when else do you have an excuse to do all this).

To celebrate, we went shopping (successfully) and went out to eat and came home and had my favorite - ICECREAM CAKE! But not just any icecream cake, Dairy Queen icecream cake, which if you've ever had, you'll share in my enthusiasm.



In coordination with my goal for this year, all the things I seem to want have to do with cooking. So I got a food processor which I quickly put to use making homemade hummus (recipe coming soon).



I also got a griddle, which I think Rob was more excited about than I was, since he got it right out and used it the next morning ;)



It was a great birthday and I enjoyed every minute of it!