Apple crisp pie

Every year in September I have the same thoughts...and the same smell in my memory...

For some reason it smells like apples, cinnamon and my mom's love. I am sure you have never

eaten better apple pie, than the one your mothers make, and I agree...My mother's apple crisp pie is the best I have ever had, or will ever have because in my mind it will never be just an apple pie...every bite of it brings to my memory loads of love, caring, laughters and chilled autumns that my mom's warmth have always made milder...and for making me loving the warmth of one's home I dedicate this recipe to her and her kind heart:)

I love you mom...

What you need:

For the dough:

250 gr. melted butter

1 cup sugar

1 lemon (its juice)

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

Flour...around 3cups but depends on how the dough feels like (instructions following)

For the filling:

5-6 apples medium size

1 cup sugar

1-3 Tbsp cinnamon (depending on your love for it)

1. Clean, smell and peel your apples:)

2. Cut them and then grate them

3. Add 1 cup sugar and cinnamon..

4. And let them be while you prepare the dough...

5. Melt the butter

6. Squeeze the juice of one lemon and keep it in a cup

7. In a clean bowl put the other 1 cup of sugar and on top pour the melted butter

8. In the cup of lemon juice mix the 1tsp of baking soda and pour quickly into the bowl with the butter as it is becoming foam.

9. Now you start adding the flour and you have something like this...well keep adding until...

10. It becomes like that...so crumbs and crumbs...Once your dough is ready....put half of it in

a layer in the pan you are using...

11. And then spread the apple mix

12. And last the rest of the dough.... bake until golden brown..35-40 min even more...at 180° C

Now I have to inform you that I forgot to take a pic when took it out of the oven..so this was the closest to a ready one I had...

Caution! My mom's apple pie you have to eat with a cup of great coffee, milk or tea and in the presence of someone who loves you, to share with!

From the heart,

Anna

Bruschetta dalla Grecia (αλλά ελληνικά)

I mean who doesn't like bruschetta seriously?

If you don't I eat your pieces as well:)

Bruschetta is Italian I admit, but due to the geographical proximity can be adapted by a hungry Greek! Initially bruschetta was supposed to be garlic bread made with bread, oil and garlic. Tomato was added later on. But the good thing is you can add what you want, as i did...so enjoy my version!

What you need: 

Slices of the bread you like

Cherry tomatoes cut in half or normal tomatoes cut in cubes (don't ask me how many it depends on how hungry you are)

Feta cheese

Olives (I used black olives with a lot of soft flesh)

Olive oil

Garlic 

Oregano

Thyme

Salt

For extra something special you can add:

Tabasco

Brown sugar

Balsamic vinegar 

1. Gather your ingredients, wash and cut tomatoes, remove the core from the olives, mix the cheese with oregano.

2. In pan add some oil and put on very low fire

 

3. Add the bread and let it there for a while until it turns golden brown on both sides..

4. In a smaller pan put enough olive oil, tomatoes and garlic..

5. When it starts bubbling add the tabasco

6. The balsamic vinegar

7. The brown sugar and salt

8. And the olives with the thyme

9. Don't forget to flip the bread

10. Add the feta cheese with its oregano... and let it for a very short time..

11. Put the bread on a plate and spread your magic taste...

Enjoy with fingers only!!

From the heart,

Anna

Banana Muffins

I love muffins!

I just love them, their name, their shape, their smell..everything!

I want to share my happiness with you:)

Banana muffins on the rack...

What you need:

350 g plain flour (or 3 1/4 cups)

3/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp food soda

2 tsp ground cinnamon (I always put more)

160 g caster sugar (1 1/4 cup)

375 ml buttermilk

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

70 g butter (melted)

400 g banana

(portion for 12)

1. Mix flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, soda and cinnamon in the mixer until combined. 

In another bowl mix the buttermilk, egg and vanilla extract, combine and add slowly by beating in the flour mix until ingredients are incorporated. In the end add the melted butter and..

2. Stir in the smashed bananas..

3. Until the batter looks like that..

4. Line the muffin tray with paper cases...

5. Spoon in the batter...and sprinkle with extra sugar and cinnamon... Bake at preheated

oven at 170° C for 20-30 min. until...

6. Yummy looking... 

7. Let them cool on a rack...

 

8. And eat as many as you can:)

I just love them...with coffee

From the heart,

Anna

Greek Stuffed Melomakarona

Every Christmas I think I become a New Person but my grandmother's stuffed melomakarona helped a little more to it!

I do not really know if there is a translation in other language about them, but when I think of Christmas I always remember their taste on my palate...

So I share this precious recipe with you:)

What you need:

For the dough:

2 cups sunflower oil

250gr butter (melted)

1 cup sugar

3/4 cups cognac

3/4 cups orange juice

1 tsp (fat) baking powder

orange zest (a lot)

and flour - there is not exact amount I can only show you how the dough should be:) around 1kg I would say...

For the filling:

All kinds of marmalades, sweet fruits, nuts depending on your taste

Cinnamon

Clove

Orange zest 

For the syrup: 

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

1 Tbsp honey 

Decoration: Powder sugar

1. Put all your ingredients together except for the flour and mix well

2. Start adding the flour little by little until it is well incorporated and then..

3. Add more and more until you dough is like that, still moist though:) and set aside

4. Put in the processor all your goodies, nuts, sweetened fruits, clove, cinnamon and orange zest!

5. It should be something like this, and put aside

6. Return back to your daw and start taking little by little and make round plates.

7. With a small spoon put the filling in the center and..

8. ... fold into small pockets

9. Seal on top and... voila

10. I had a problem thou so their appearance did not come out every good, but the taste never disappoints me:) Bake for around 30 min at 180° or until golden brown!

11. In the meantime prepare the syrup but do not let it boil, and let aside so that it gets a little bit cooler.

12. When the 'melomakarona' are ready let them cool but not completely and dip them into the syrup for a few seconds and let them dry on kitchen paper. When they are completely cool you can then decorate with powder sugar:)

13. Mmmmm

14. And serve..

From the heart,

Anna

Lemon loaf soft and moist!

Sorry I am late:)

Dew to the huge amount of pics I have taken lately, I did not have space in my disc anymore! That made my cooking-photographing life difficult! But NOT anymore!

I am back with one of the most delicious loafs I have had lately and in my life in general:)

Loafs, remind me of bread and breads I love!

It is moist fresh and goes perfect with coffee:) especially morning coffee!

What you need:

320 gr. or 3 cups of caster sugar

3 eggs

the zest of 2 lemons

350 gr flour (all-purpose is fine)

1 1/2 tsp baking powdr

1 tsp salt

250 ml whole milk (it makes difference if you use low fat)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract (I put more;)

200 gr melted butter 

1. Beat the sugar, eggs and lemon zest in your mixer, until well mixed.

2. Like this:)

3. IMPORTANT NOTE: You need 2 different bowls (let's name them A & B). In bowl A you put the flower (sifted), the baking powder and the salt. In bowl B you put the milk and the vanilla extract. Add the 1/3 of the flour mix into the mixer and then 1/3 of the milk mixture. Do that until both bowls are empty (please ask if this is not clear).

4. Melt the butter

5. And add it like a ribbon to the rest of the mix...

6. Beat until smoothly combined and pour the mixture in a 23x13 cm loaf tin! Bake in a preheated oven at 170° for 1 hour and 15 min 

7.  I love when cakes pop up;) 

P.S. I just love this cake, the smell - the texture - the appearance, please eat it tenderly! 

From the heart,

Anna