" MEZEDHES"

" CYPRUS HORS-D OEUVRES"

It is almost essentrial that for every Cypriot who drinks wine or any other 

alchoholic drink, to havef them. some thing to pick in front of them. That 

something is called " Meze" and it could be anything from meats, fish and 

all types of salad.

This custom began hundreds of years ago, when the majority of men where hard 

grafters i.e farmers or cattlemen, and they only drank on special occasions .

Such occassions were usually feast " Weddings, engagement, special religious days".

Once they had an excuse they were not content to drink in moderation, One had to  drink

a considerable amount of alcohol to really "feast". 

This lasted for hours on end and on some occasions all day. They took the time eating 

and drinking, they sang songs and told jokes, they " philosophised" about life. 

These delicacies, which were produced unceasingly by the housewifes and her children,

were always served in small quantities, and cut in small pieces. During such "gathering" or

"feast" the host was out to present the best food and drink, which they saved with care for 

these special occasions.

" GREEK BURGER"

 " I had Just come back from Cyprus and I was craving some 

   greek food, but I was also interested in a nice JUICY CHEESE BURGER.

   I had some Greek ingredients in my fringe but I still was unsure on how to 

   put the burger together. Thankfully the burgers came out "AMAZING"

   My friends and family loved them and are always asking me to make them".

  Tip: serve with yogurt sauce, toasted hamburger buns, lettuce, and tomato. 

   Try also with ground lamb.

   

Ingredients 

1 pound ground beef            

• 
  
  1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 (4 ounce) containercrumbled feta cheese

• 2 ounces goat cheese

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  
  
  • 1 clove garlic, minced

• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
• 
  
• 1/4 cup diced cucumber
• 
  
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 
  
• 
  

• Directions

  1. Mix ground beef, feta cheese, goat cheese, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, olive oil, oregano, and garlic together in a large bowl using your hands. Form meat into 4 patties.
  2. Stir Greek yogurt, cucumber, and 3 tablespoons lemon juice together in a bowl.
  3. Heat a frying pan over medium heat for about 2 minutes; cook burgers to desired degree of doneness, about 5 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Serve with yogurt sauce.
    

  

French Onion Soup

" FRENCH ONION SOUP GRATINEE

  

This was one of my first soups I made as whiles studying in 

manchester . Its a soup that comes from the french, but its

admired by many chefs around the world.

Ingredients  recipe makes 4 servings

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 
  
• 2 large red onions, thinly sliced
• 
  
• 2 large sweet onions, thinly sliced
• 
  
• 1 (48 fluid ounce) can chicken broth
• 
  
• 1 (14 ounce) can beef broth
• 
  
• 1/2 cup red wine

1 sprig fresh thyme leaves

1 bay leaf

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

salt and freshly ground black 

Pepper to taste

4 thick slices French or Italian 

Bread

8 slices Gruyere or Swiss cheese slices, room temperature

1/2 cup shredded Asiago or mozzarella cheese, room temperature

Directions

1) Melt butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Stir in salt, red onions and sweet onions. Cook 35 minutes, stirring frequently, until onions are caramelized and almost syrupy.

2) Mix chicken broth, beef broth, red wine and Worcestershire sauce into pot. Bundle the parsley, thyme, and bay leaf with twine and place in pot. Simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove and discard the herbs. Reduce the heat to low, mix in vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Cover and keep over low heat to stay hot while you prepare the bread.

3)Preheat oven broiler. Arrange bread slices on a baking sheet and broil 3 minutes, turning once, until well toasted on both sides. Remove from heat; do not turn off broiler.

4) Arrange 4 large oven safe bowls or crocks on a rimmed baking sheet. Fill each bowl 2/3 full with hot soup. Top each bowl with 1 slice toasted bread, 2 slice Gruyere cheese and 1/4 of the Asiago or mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle a little bit of paprika over the top of each one.

5)Broil 5 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown. As it softens, the cheese will cascade over the sides of the crock and form a beautifully melted crusty seal. Serve immediately!

I hope you like this Receipe, if you like it leave a comment