Roasted chicken with potatoes

What to have (for 4 persons):

2-3 potatoes (I used ~10 small potatoes)

3-4 carrots (add more if you like them)

1/2 onion (of the big ones, or 1 medium onion)

4 chicken breasts (cut in large pieces)

3 tablespoons of olive oil

some salt, some pepper

1 cup of flour (as needed)

How to do it: 

1. Chop the onion in small pieced, the potatoes and the carrots in medium pieces.
2. Cut chicken breasts in medium size (2-3 pieces per breast), coat pieces with flour.
3. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan or dutch oven over medium heat.
4. Place the chicken breasts on the pan and sprinkle with salt/pepper, let them brown from both sides.
5. Remove the chickens from the pan.
6. Add more olive oil and place the vegetables, sprinkle them with salt/pepper, reduce heat to low/medium.
7. Cook the vegetables for 20-25 minutes (or until tender)
8. Add the chicken breasts, cover them with water or non-beef broth, cover with lead. Leave it in low/medium heat for ~1hour. The chicken was really tender! Enjoy! Unfortunately I have no pic with the food on the plate. Ate it immediately :)!

Extra tips:
! Place the potatoes in a bowl with cold water (to prevent them from browning).
! Add more olive oil to prevent chicken from sticking into the bottom of the pan.
! Adding broth will make the dish tastier, but water is just fine.
! If you have added more water than necessary, you can remove some and heat it over hot temperature in a separate pan. Let it thicken and present it as a "Secret sauce". It is super tasty!!!
! If you have a dutch oven, you can transfer the pot in the oven after you add the chicken breasts for the second time. Use ~300-350 F.

Chop the onion in small pieces

Chop the vegetables in medium pieces

Coat the chicken breasts in flour and sautee them

Season the chicken breasts with salt/pepper

Let the chicken brown and then remove

Cook the vegetables over olive oil in medium heat until tender

Add the chicken and continue cooking for 1hour more over low/medium heat

Credits to: http://www.utahdairycouncil.com/dutch-oven-chicken-potatoes.html

Moussaka -- the one and only!

What to have (for 8-10 people):

for the base:

2-3 small eggplants (I useed one super big)
2-3 potatoes
olive oil
salt
some bread crumbs
grated yellow soft cheese

for the meat:
olive oil
1.8-2 lbs ground meat
1 onion chopped in small pieces
tomato sauce
1-2 bay leaves
1 cinnamon stick
salt, pepper
some cognac (optional)
water

for the bechamel sauce:
1.5 lt milk
150gr butter
flour (150gr or 10 tablespoons)
2 eggs
1/2 onion with 2-3 carnations
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

How to do it:
(I mostly followed Argyro's recipe argiro's moussaka (in greek)

1. Peel and cut the potatoes and the eggplant(s) in small pieces (around 1cm). Sprinkle with some olive oil and salt and bake them in the oven (400K for 10'-15') (it will be equally tasteful but healthier). 
2. Start preparing the meat: in a hot pan saute first the meat in olive oil for 7'-8' until it become brown. 
3. Add the chopped onion and continue stirring over for 5'-6'. 
4. Add the cognac and let it evaporate for 1'.
5. Add the sauce, together with the cinnamon stick, salt pepper, bay leaves and some water. Bring the mixture to boil. 
6. Lower the heat to medium, remove the cinnamon stick and let the mixture cook for 20'-25' (check to see that it is not stuck every 5'-10').
7. Even before the meat is ready you can start preparing the bechamel sauce. You place in a small sauce pan the 1/2 onion with the carnations and the milk and get it just warm (not boiled). 
8. In another big pot, melt the butter, add the flour (slowly slowly) and stir. Then add (slowly slowly again) the milk and continue stirring! Add salt, pepper and the nutmeg. Keep stirring for 7'-8' until it get thick. 
9. When it is ready, remove from heat. Let it cool down and add the eggs (one by one) and stir. 
10. In a pan add some olive oil (to remove your moussaka to get stuck onto the pan) and sprinkle with some bread crumbles. Add a layer of eggplants and potatoes, then add the cheese, 1/2 of the meat. Repeat the same once more. Add the bechamel sauce on top and bake for 50' at 360K.
11. Remove from the oven, let it cool down for 5-10' and enjoy!!!

Tips:

! The potatoes might need more time than the eggplants.

Pan with some olive oil sprinkled with bread crumbles

First layer of eggplants

The baked potatoes are waiting to take their place...

the baked vegetables topped of with cheese...

first layer is ready!

the bechamel sauce is cooling off...

Baked moussaka!

moussaka ready on the table!

                                     



                                   

Greek lentil soup (fakes)

What to have (3 portions):

1/2 package lentils
1/2 onion
1-2 bay leaves
1-2 garlic cloves minced
1/2 can of tomato sauce
some olive oil
some balsamic vinegar
salt
pepper
water





How to do it:

1. Clean and wash the lentils. 
2. Boil them for 10'.
3. Remove the water, add new (hot) water and bring to boil again over MEDIUM-SLOW heat.
4. Add the tomato sauce, the onions, garlic, bay leaves and water (to cover the lentils).
5. Boil for 30-40'. (Check that the water is adequate and stir in between.)
6. Add salt, pepper, the balsamic vinegar and the olive oil and stir. 
7. Continue for 5-10' until the lentils become tender.
8. Serve with feta cheese, bread and vinegar. 

cleaning the lentils (if they are not already :))

Lentils' close up!

chopped garlic, onions and daphne leaves

my mickey soup!

view from top

vinegar, bread and feta cheese: necessary companion

Pizza

 What to have:

 Dough

 400gr all-purpose flour

 dry yeast (1 packet)

 1 glass of water

 1 teaspoon salt

 1 teaspoon sugar

 1 tablespoon olive oil

 some pepper

Toppings:

tomato sauce

oregano

gouda cheese

feta cheese

ham / turkey

onions

olives

peppers

How to do it:

1. You mix the yeast with the flour. 
2. Add the dry ingredients and mix well.
3. Start adding the water and mix with your hands, until you have a dough. If the dough sticks in your hands, add more flour.
4. Start massaging the dough. The more you massage it, the more fluffy the pizza dough will become.
5. Leave in the bowl and place it in the warmest spot in your house (cover first with a towel).
6. After 30-50 minutes, the dough will be almost double. 
7. Add some olive oil on a pan. Spread the dough with your hands or using a rolling pin. 
8. Add the tomato sauce and some oregano. 
9. Then add the ham / turkey or whatever meat you want. 
10. Cover with cheese. 
11. Add the vegetables and sprinkle with some oregano.
12. Bake it in 400K for 20-25 minutes.

Dough after massage

The dough is resting...

Dough after it has risen.

You can use a rolling pin to open the dough (optional)

Use your fingers to open the dough.

spread the tomato sauce + oregano

I had some extra dough and made a small pizzette :).

Pizzette with the toppings.

Baked pizzette

Baked pizza

                                      

Extra tips:

! After the dough has risen, you can use some part of the dough to bake a pizza and use the rest some other day! But be careful, place it in a plastic membrane straight to the freezer! Then just unfreeze, open it, add your toppings and straight to the oven!

Aromatic baked potatoes

What to have:

potatoes
olive oil
honey (1 tablespoon)
mustard (1-2 tablespoons)
salt
pepper
oregano
thyme (optional)
water






How to do it:

1. You wash the potatoes and cut them in half (you could peel them as well).
2. Place them in a pan and add some olive oil (1/4 cup). 
3. Add all the other ingredients mix well with your hands. 
4. Add some water in the corners of the pan (so that the spices stay on the potatoes).
5. Bake in 350K for 1h30.

Pasta (or greek "hilopites") with tomato sauce

What to have (3-4 servings)

pasta (I used hilopites -- handmade from my grandmother :))
grated cheese (I used mytzithra -- handmade from my other grandmother :))
Sauce:
tomato sauce (1/2 can)
some water (1/4 cup)
1/2 onion
olive oil
salt, pepper, peppercorrns
oregano, daphne


How to do it:

1. Chop the onions and saute them in some olive oil.
2. In the meanwhile, boil water for the past.
3. Pour the tomato sauce and add all the other ingredients. Mix well.
4. Let the sauce in medium to slow strength until the sauce thickens.
5. In the meanwhile, prepare the pasta. (Follow the instructions on the package or taste every 4-5 minutes to see when they are done.)
6. Serve with grated cheese. Enjoy!

chopped onions

Add some olive oil in a saucepan.

The water is boiling...

All the spices into the sauce!

Serve with cheese and some spearmint or basil!

Extra tips:

! Lid in the saucepan is not necessarily needed. But it will keep your kitchen clean :). 

If you see that it becomes too thick, then use the lid. 

Greek salad

What to have:

2 tomatoes
1 cucumber
1/2 onion
1/2 green pepper
some olives
feta cheese
olive oil
salt
oregano



How to do it:

1. You chop all the vegetables in small pieces 
2. Add the feta cheese and olives
3. Add some olive oil and then season with salt and oregano
4. Mix it with your hands, and it is ready!

Simple to make, but very healthy! 

Extra tips:

! It can accompany any dish you like, or it can be the main dish as well. 

! If you don't like any vegetables, you can skip adding them of course :).