Almond, Lemon and Anise Seed Olive Oil Cookies

 

Olive oil cookies are my first choice, when it comes to dairy free cookies, as relying on olive oil is a much better choice than using all kinds of butter substitutes. Another advantage is that, since there’s no need to cream the butter, the cookies can be made in very short time, in one bowl.
The slightly bitter oil flavor mellows while baking, while adding a wonderful aroma and unique flavor to the cookies.

Chicken Legs with Fennel Lemon and Potatoes

 

Roasted chicken with lemon and potatoes, is one of my favorite combinations, and I always try to find new ways to add different flavors to the basic recipe.

Warm Octopus, Beans and Fennel Salad

 

Octopus has a unique texture, much “meatier” than that of its’ relative the squid. It requires a longer blanching and cooking time, which is why I don’t often use it.
However, as I’ve read somewhere that when it is blanched, cut into smaller pieces, frozen and thawed, it requires much shorter cooking time – I’ve decided to give this option a try.

Caldo Godro – Sephardic Cheese and Tomato Paste Dip

 

Caldo godro is a Sephardic term in Ladino (Judeo-Spanish), used to describe a warm (=caldo), thick (=godro) broth, which is actually more of a warm dip than a broth.

Calamari Salad with Lime, Cilantro and Jalapeno

Calamari salad with parsley and lemon (click HERE for the recipe), is a favorite summer dish, that I like to serve on a hot summer day.

Tomato, Rosemary and Cheese Flat Bread

Most times, when I’m up to baking bread, I opt to my basic focaccia recipe. This time, however, I wanted something different, and started looking around, to see what I can add to the dough I was about to create.

As I had some tomato sauce ready, I was wondering, how it will work as part of the bread itself, rather than as a topping. This led to another idea – why not add some cheeses to the dough, along with it?

Eggplant Preserved in Olive Oil, with Oregano and Garlic

Eggplants are one of my most favorite vegetables. They can be prepared in so many ways, and in each they demonstrate a new flavor and texture, as in the following recipe.

Shrimps with Garlic, Lemon, and Parsley Butter Sauce

One of my favorite ways of cooking shrimps is one of the simplest there are: a bold and tasty combination of very few ingredients – butter, lemon, garlic and parsley – which always works and takes no time to prepare.

Filo Triangles with Zucchini-Tomato Filling

The following tasty and crispy filo triangles are a quicker version of the Sephardic savory “Boyos” pastries (click HERE for recipe), which require a fairly lengthy preparation of their delicate dough. Here, I’ve used store-bought filo pastry, and filled it with the traditional tasty zucchini-tomato filling, which is also used for making “Burekitas” (click HERE for recipe).

Roasted Chicken Legs with Sage, Lemon and Potatoes

As I was considering flavorings for another dish of chicken legs, I noticed a beautiful fresh bundle of sage, and the quest was over.

Pan Fried Gulf Shrimp with Tomatoes, Anchovies and Capers Sauce

Hot summer days mean quick to prepare light dishes, and the one I have here is a good example of that. The sauce can be cooked in less than 15 minutes, the shrimps cook quickly, and a tasty dish is served in no time.