Helen's Greek GEMISTA ... stuffed vegetables

GEMISTA ...STUFFED VEGETABLES


Taste soo yummy and easy to make !!

I haven't had time to write any new recipes lately on my blog
just got a few mins to share this amazing Greek gemista ..stuffed vegetables
with all of you because I've been asked so many times how it's done


you will need 

Vegetables of your own choice

Big juicy tomatoes
aubergines
zuccini
peppers any colour or size
any kind of veggie can be used as long as its big enough to be emptied

filling
2 chopped onions (fresh or normal)
chopped parsley
chopped dill (optional)
chopped mint (optional)
salt pepper to taste  I like to add a pinch of oregano too
carolina rice (short grain ).... I measure one small handful for every vegetable
1 cup of  olive oil  and a little more to pour over the top

You will also use the inside of the vegetables


   Wash all you veg and find an oven tray that fits them all in

• 
  
• using a knife cut  the top of the veg so it opens like a lid 
• 
  
• using an apple corer empty out the inside's of the veg (don't throw away)
• 
  
• grate or blend all the inside from the tomatoes and a little of everything else 
• 
  
• put everything in a bowl ..add the chopped onion ,parsley,dill,mint,salt, pepper, rice (handful for every veg), olive oil ... it should look nice and juicy if it is a bit dry add some tomato fresh or canned ...
• 
  
• mix it all up with a spoon and fill each vegetable  don't fill to the top because the rice will swell and it will overflow while cooking 

• add about a cup of water in the oven tray drizzle olive oil over all the veg and sprinkle a little salt and pepper over them .. cover with foil or oven tray lid put in a heated oven   180 degrees for about 1 hour and 30 mins depending on how fast your oven cooks  check on them every now and then 

when the rice and veg are soft uncover for about 15 mins to very lightly brown the tops ..

    Enjoy and don't hesitate to ask me any questions 

you can find my jewellery page here on FB 

https://www.facebook.com/helenshandmadecreations

chocolate spread bread ...Μερεντο ψωμο

Yummy chocolate spread bread

4 cups -(500gr) of flour     

1 cup of warmed milk  (not hot )

2 egg yolks  (keep egg whites for brushing over top)

2 table spoons (30gr )softened butter
1/2 cup -(30gr) of sugar 
25gr fresh yeast  or 8gr dry yeast 
a pinch of salt
1 cup of warmed chocolate spread ..nutella ...merenda


Are you ready to make this really yummy chocolate spread 

bread .....


well this is how I make mine ... 

 Sieve the flour into a bowl ...  in another smaller bowl add the

warmed milk (not hot just slightly warm )

 crumble in the fresh yeast and 2 spoons of flour...

cover with a cloth and wait about 30 mins until it starts to get a bubbly look ...

 now add the yeast mixture into the bowl with the flour slowly add all the other ingredients except the chocolate spread  knead into a soft slightly sticky dough...

  cover again and wait till it rises and becomes almost double in size it will rise faster if you put the bowl in a warm part of the kitchen ...

 Once your dough has risen it's time to get an oven tray ready I like using oven paper on my trays it saves a lot of washing up  .. and turn your oven on to about 170 degrees ,  now warm the chocolate spread I put it in the microwave for about 15 seconds .... 

  Take your dough and separate it into four equal pieces

lightly sprinkle a clean work surface with flour and roll out the dough into a nice circle about the size of a dinner plate and about 2 or 3mm 

thick ... place it on your oven tray and cover it with warm chocolate spread ...  roll out the next layer of dough and do the same  until all layers are done  leave the top layer without chocolate ..

 Now the tricky bit  put a cup in the middle of the bread press it in a bit (not too hard )  take a knife and cut it into 4 equal pieces make sure you cut ONLY up to the cup  .. then cut each piece in the middle again ... then once more cut each piece in the middle ..

   Remove the cup and carefully take 2 cuts and twist them towards each other twice tuck the ends under a bit so it's tidy .. do that with all the bread ..

  Take a fork and beat the egg whites you kept from before and using a pastry brush ... brush all the top of the bread try not to smear the chocolate ...

  Put it in a pre heated oven of about 170 degrees  for 15 to 20 mins  keep an eye on it you don't want to burn it ...the smell coming from the oven is divine it will make your mouth water ..

  Be careful let it cool a bit before eating I know you really want to eat it ,but hot chocolate spread can burn you ..

  enjoy ..have fun  and don't hesitate to ask any questions, you can find me on my Jewellery page on FB 

https://www.facebook.com/helenshandmadecreations 

check out the photos below to see how to make it 

Helen's Greek mousaka

Helen's Greek mousaka

Todays  yummy recipe is a favourite of mine .I'm sure you have all heard of mousaka one of the most famous Greek dishes ..

you will need :

fried

4-5  big potatoes

2-3 big aubergines

2-3 big courgettes 

mince meat

1kilo beef mince meat

1 onion chopped

2 cups tomato canned or fresh (I use grated canned tomato)

1 glass of wine (optional)

1 cup olive oil

salt pepper

small cinnamon stick

allspice

bay leaf

nutmeg

bechamel sauce

1 cup grated cheese

2/3 cup butter

2/3 cup flour

1 litre fresh milk

first of all start by making the mince meat, its really the same way its done when you make spaghetti ,finely chop one onion  lightly fry the onion in a pan with one cup of olive oil  then add the mince meat continue to lightly brown the meat and try to break it so it does have lumps ..Now if you like the taste of wine then now is the time to pour it in use one glass of wine let it simmer a bit .Add the tomato and water salt,pepper,nutmeg,bay leaf,allspice ( I put the bay leaf ,cinnamon and allspice in a little toule ,don't forget to remove them before pouring meat in the oven dish)

 and 2 cups of water cover the pan and let it cook slowly until it all absorbs ..

 REMEMBER TO REMOVE SPICES

wash  your vegetables peel the potatoes  and cut them into thick slices about 1cm thick sprinkle with salt and pepper

Add olive oil to a frying pan and cook all the veg and potatoes until they are a nice golden colour on both sides ,leave them aside on kitchen towel to drain of the access oil

 I use a big oven dish but thats because we are 6 hungry people and like to eat seconds lol.... you may use whatever size suits your family needs better just make sure it is a deep dish .... now layer out the potatoes in the dish covering it all next the aubergines and courgettes mixed you will need the same amount to do a second layer on top so make sure you have enough .... it all depends on how big a dish you use

Your mince meat should be ready now it needs about 45 mins or until it has absorb its juices turn off the heat and add about half a cup of grated cheese and stir it in  I use regato you can use whatever you like just make sure it isn't too salty .empty all the meat on top of the layered vegetables and cover again with the rest of the potatoes and and veg...

The final step is the bechamel sauce ... you can use packet sauce if you want but I prefer the real thing so this is how i make it

add the butter to a pan low heat let butter melt then add the flour stiring all the time do this for a couple of mins then slowly add the milk  I use a hand whisk in the beginning to avoid lumps keep stirring and on a fairly low heat until it becomes nice and creamy .When you get  it nice and creamy turn off the heat add 1 cup of grated cheese ,salt pepper and grounded nutmeg stir it all up and pour over the ingredients in the oven tray sprinkle grated cheese on the top and cook in a pre heated oven 180C until nice and golden on top

 ENJOY !!! please comment below if you like this recipe I love to hear from you all ♥