Ikaria Corn-Stuffed Collard Dolmades
The first time I heard about this version of stuffed cabbage I was literally sitting next to the fireplace in the home where my father grew up and where my 95-year-old Aunt Mary still lived. Until she passed away a few years ago, she was a great source of knowledge about old Ikarian dishes. She […]
Ikaria Longevity Cornmeal & Greens Soup
I had been hearing about the use of corn kernels and cornmeal in the Ikarian diet ever since my aunt Mary, who passed away several years ago at the age of 97, mentioned the corn-stuffed cabbage leaves she remembered as a child. This soup is an old recipe and a perfect example of the kind […]
FIVE HEALTHY REASONS TO TRY GREEK PANCAKES
Greek pancakes? It seems like a stretch, but truth be told, pancakes exist in many regional variations in the Greek kitchen and are very old, traditional Greek recipes. As a working mom I’ve used these traditional Greek recipes to offer up quick, nutritious meals to my own kids. Greek-style pancakes offer up a relatively healthy […]
Ikarian Longevity Greens Pancakes
Ikarian cooking in the middle of the 20th century is what most of the island’s nonagenarians remember vividly. They were the stone-hard years of the Occupation, a time of great hunger all over Greece. This pie, really a kind of pancake, stands out to me because it’s cooked on a griddle, the better for using […]
Ikaria Longevity Potato Salad with Marigold Leaves & Chives
Did you know that marigold leaves are delicious? Try this easy summer potato salad seasoned with spicy fresh marigold leaves, chives, and parsley. To find some of the artisinal Greek products you’ll need to make this, visit my online shop here, where you’ll discover a host of lovingly curated Greek ingredients.
Ikarian Longevity Garden Tales: Potato Love
The tomatoes are high and climbing, their stiff, tannic leaves silvery under a light but necessary dusting of sulphur, which helps keep the tomato fly at bay. The fruit is a jumble of green and red, smooth or creased, round or oval, depending on the variety. We’ve planted several kinds, including a few thick-skinned, older […]
Ikaria Longevity Zucchini-Herb Pie
A favorite summer phyllo pie from Ikaria that’s easy to make, nutritious, and delicious and a perfect example of one of the island’s most important “longevity secret” — simple, fresh food in season. To find some of the artisinal Greek products you’ll need to make this, visit my online shop here, where you’ll discover a […]
Ikaria Longevity Zucchini Potato Skillet Pie
Tourlou is typically a mixed summer vegetable casserole found all over the Eastern Aegean. The word is Turkish (turlu) and means a hodgepodge. There are many similar casseroles around Greece that go by different names. What I like about this old Ikarian recipe is its utter simplicity. It also reminds me of a similar recipe […]
Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato Sauce from Ikaria
A made-for-summer too-lazy-too-cook kind of spaghetti! For a lovingly curated array of Greek ingredients to pair with this recipe, check out my online store here.
Taro Root Salad from Ikaria
Taro root, called kolokasi in Greek, is a staplefood on the island of Ikaria and cooked in ways similar to potatoes.
Ikaria Cornmeal Pie with Dried Fruits, Olive Oil, and Greek Yogurt – Bobota
I’ve made this traditional Ikarian dessert in the most elegant restaurant settings in New York City.
Ikaria Longevity Secret: Herbal Teas
Let’s talk about tea and longevity. Not just any tea, but the wide array of herbal teas that Ikarians drink. “We drank herbal teas like sage and fliskouni (pennyroyal). Those were the ‘antibiotics’ of our time! Our mother would prepare sage tea, honey and a clove of garlic if we had a cold or the […]