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