Category: entrees

Stuffed Grape Leaves with Rice & Grated Vegetables (Dolmathakia Yialantzi)

By: Hallee

In a Mexican restaurant, my husband, Gregg, will determine whether he’ll be back or not based on the taste and quality of their tamales. I do the same thing with Greek and Mediterranean restaurants and grape leaves. Grape leaves are an absolute favorite dish of mine. You can easily refrigerate any extra stuffing and use it as a side dish for another meal. The lack of meat, dairy, and eggs makes this the perfect dish for Lent or Daniel Fast. And, notice how I’ve given you yet another wonderful dish with which to use up those zucchini come August?

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Greek Lenten Tomato Fritters (Domatokeftethes)

By: Hallee

Tomato fritters are a delightful appetizer or side dish, and a specialty of Santorini, a Greek island known for its tomatoes. The combination of herbs can be adjusted to include dill, parsley, basil, mint, or oregano, depending on taste preference. The recipe calls for self-rising flour. This meatless, eggless, dairyless dish is perfect for Lent or a Daniel Fast. The fresh vegetables in it also make a wonderful summer dish to prepare with the bounty out of a vegetable garden (and, come on – who isn’t desperately searching for zucchini recipes right around mid-August?)

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Greek Lenten Fritters (Tiganites)

By: Hallee

Similar to small pancakes, these light, crispy medallion-sized treats are a delight served with honey or petimezi… or with syrup, preserves, or a creative topping of your own design. They can be eaten as a sweet snack, with breakfast, or as a brunch dish. Favorites during The Great Lent, these contain no eggs or dairy products. If served with honey, they are perfect for a Daniel Fast as well.

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Greek Meatless Stuffed Cabbage Rolls with Rice (Lahanodolmathes Orphana)

By: Hallee

The word “orphana” means “orphaned” and in Greek cooking, usually means a dish that can be made with meat, but in this case is made without. Cabbage is a favorite winter food, and this meatless recipe is delightful and a Lenten favorite. These cabbage rolls are delicious as a main dish, but I often make them using small pieces of the cabbage leaf, to create small rolls that are perfect as a side dish, addition to a buffet table, or appetizer. Try them also using chard leaves and Romaine lettuce leaves. Because of the lack of meat, this dish is perfect for Lent or a Daniel Fast.

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Easy Tuna Casserole

By: Hallee

This is THE EASIEST meal you can make for your family. My children love it. They get seconds and thirds. Throw it on a plate with some green peas and a garden salad, and you have a healthy, home cooked meal that takes you as long as it takes the macaroni to boil.

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Mediterranean Grilled Chicken on the George Forman

By: Hallee

This recipe is fantastic for grilled chicken, whether it’s outside on a charcoal grill, inside on my cast iron grill pan, or on the George Forman. I served it with grape leaves, hummus, Greek salad, and an olive tray.

The pictures in this recipe were taken during a romantic weekend getaway shared by Gregg and me. We had a hotel suite with somewhat of a kitchen, and were able to enjoy all of our meals together, in the privacy of our room.

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Scrumptious Steak with Mushrooms & Onion on the George Forman

By: Hallee

This recipe is my “go to’ recipe for any time I grill steaks – whether it’s outside on a charcoal grill, inside on my cast iron grill pan, or on the George Forman.

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Beautiful Black Eyed Peas with Smoked Turkey Leg

By: Hallee

Our family always eats black eyed peas for New Year’s Day dinner. Because we don’t eat pork, we use a smoked turkey leg. It is a WONDERFUL substitution.

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Christmas Churros (Mexican Doughnut Strips)

By: Hallee

This is my family’s traditional breakfast for Christmas morning. It’s a very light dough, crispy, with a delicate sweet flavor brought about by sprinkling it with sugar and cinnamon. I only make them for Christmas so that we have something different and new to look forward to every year.

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Turkey Burgers with Basil Mayonnaise

By: Hallee

I didn’t used to like ground turkey. Back in my previous life with no grocery budget to speak of, I’d buy ground turkey because it was cheaper than ground beef. But it was gristly and just didn’t taste good. I came across some ground turkey breast on a manager’s special at my grocery store and thought I’d give it another go. After much searching, I found this amazing recipe. I’ve made it twice now, tweaked it a bit here and there, and it is a WONDERFUL sandwich.

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