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Greek Christmas Cookies – Melomakarona

Melomarkarona are traditional Greek Christmas Cookies made with olive oil, and flavored with orange, cinnamon, cloves, honey, and topped with walnuts.

For this post, I am following a recipe by Diane Kochilas, adapted from her book, The Country Cooking of Greece.

In an electric mixer with the whisk, beat the olive oil with 1 cup of sugar at medium-high speed until creamy. This may take a while. ( I did not add mastiha or mastic crystals in this recipe.) Be very careful not to splatter everything everywhere like I did, including the beautiful cookbook.)

Dilute the baking soda in the orange juice. Add the orange juice mixture, and water to the olive oil–sugar mixture, and whisk for 30 seconds. Replace the whisk with the paddle attachment, and add the flour, 1 cup at a time, until a soft dough takes shape. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 30 minutes.

Shape the dough into oblong mounds, about 2 inches long by 1 inch thick. Using  a fork, lightly poke the tops to form a pattern. Place on baking sheets, mound side up, about 2 inches apart. Bake for 20 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove from the oven, cool slightly in the pan, and transfer to racks to cool completely.

Greek Christmas Cookies - Melomakarona

While the melomakarona are cooling, make the syrup by combining all the ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring the syrup to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

Greek Christmas Cookies - Melomakarona 2

Dip the melomakarona in the hot syrup and place on another baking tray or platter. Sprinkle with the cinnamon and ground walnuts. (You can also dip them in chocolate, and then sprinkle the walnuts before serving. I am going to try that next time.)

The recipe makes many dozens of cookies. Perfect for holiday cookie swap parties! The melomarkarona also freeze nicely.

Greek Christmas Cookies - Melomakarona 3

I have added a printable version of the recipe below. Here is a link to Chef Diane’s online recipe:

Greek Christmas Cookies - Melomakarona
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Traditional Greek Christmas Cookies - Melomarkarona are made the olive oil and flavored with orange, cinnamon, cloves, honey and topped with walnuts.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: Greek
Serves: 6 dozen
Ingredients
  • FOR THE COOKIE DOUGH
  • 3 cups extra-virgin Greek olive oil
  • 1 cup plus 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp. soda
  • ½ cup fresh strained orange juice
  • 1 cup water
  • 11 cups all-purpose flour
  • FOR THE SYRUP
  • 2 cups Greek honey
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • Strained fresh juice and 1 strip of zest from 1 large lemon
  • FOR THE TOPPING
  • Ground cinnamon for sprinkling
  • 1½ to 2 cups finely ground walnuts for sprinkling
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F
  2. Lightly oil several baking sheets (or use non-stick silpat sheets)
  3. In the bowl of an electric mixer outfitted with a whisk, beat the olive oil with 1 cup of sugar at medium-high speed until creamy
  4. Dilute the baking soda in the orange juice
  5. Add the orange juice mixture, and water to the olive oil–sugar mixture and whisk for 30 seconds
  6. Replace the whisk attachment with the paddle attachment
  7. Add the flour, 1 cup at a time, until a soft, malleable dough takes shape
  8. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 30 minutes
  9. Shape the dough into oblong mounds, about 2 inch long and 1 inch thick
  10. Using the tines of a fork, prick the tops lightly to form a decorative pattern
  11. Place on the oiled baking sheets, mounded-side up, about 2 inches apart
  12. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until lightly browned
  13. Remove from the oven, cool slightly in the pan, and transfer to racks to cool completely
  14. While the melomakarona are cooling, make the syrup
  15. Combine all the ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil
  16. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes
  17. Dip the melomakarona in the hot syrup and place on a platter
  18. Sprinkle with the cinnamon and ground walnuts and serve

 

Merry Christmas Santa SmileyMerry Christmas treeKala Christouyenna!  Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas treeMerry Christmas Santa Smiley

Devil’s Double Dark Chocolate Cookies

I’ve been spending a lot of time downtown, working freelance on content strategy at an ad agency. The agency is having a Halloween party baking contest. So, I thought I would test a few recipes before I decide on an entry. These Devil’s Double Dark Chocolate Cookies just might be the evil winners. 😀

Devils Double Chocolate Cookies

I think the unique, delectable taste of these devil-made-me-do-it indulgences is due to two ingredients; Hershey’s 100% Special Dark Cacoa powder and ground caynenne red pepper.

Devil's Double Chocolate Cookies
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Devils Double Chocolate Cookies recipe with 100% Special Dark Cacoa, bittersweet chocolate chips and cayenne pepper.
Recipe type: Dessert
Serves: 18 large cookies
Ingredients
  • 1 cup softened unsalted butter (2 sticks)
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon pure orange extract
  • 1 tablespoon brewed strong dark French Roast coffee (or whatever is leftover from breakfast)
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon of salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cayenne red pepper
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1¼ cups Hershey Special Dark 100% Cacoa powder
  • 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1½ cup Ghirardelli 60% Dark Cocoa bittersweet chocolate chips
  • *Turbano cane sugar for decorating the top
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, cream together butter, white and brown sugars
  2. Add eggs and vanilla, and mix well until light and fluffy
  3. Mix in the baking soda, salt, cayenne pepper, and cinnamon
  4. *Slowly* add in cocoa powder and mix only low (to keep the powder from turning into a puffy cloud that lands everywhere)
  5. Mix in the flour until all is incorporated into a thick batter
  6. Add bitterweet chocolate chips to the batter
  7. Using a small ice cream scoop place on cookie sheet
  8. Using a fork dipped in hot water, slightly flatten the mounds of batter
  9. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 - 15 minutes

 

You might also like my recipe for Dark Chocolate Banana Bread. If you want yet another baked chocolate treat, try my Gooey Fudgy Dark Chocolate Brownies.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! happy-halloween-emoticon

Dark Chocolate Banana Bread

This is my take on a Dark Chocolate Banana Bread recipe adapted from food blogger Maria of “Two Peas and Their Pod.” My ingredients and measurements are a bit different from her original recipe.

I used unbleached flour, Hershey’s Special Dark, 100% cacao powder, 4 small brown, over ripe, previously frozen, then thawed, bananas, crushed walnuts, olive oil, agave nectar, and Ghirardelli bittersweet, 60% cacao, chocolate chips.

A printable version of my recipe is at the bottom of this post.

To start: Read the recipe, all the way through. Pre-heat your oven to 350°F. Then gather and measure all your ingredients.

Dark Chocolate Banana Bread

Grease a 9-by-4 1/2 inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda. Mix in the crushed walnuts so they are powdery and covered. Set that bowl aside.

Dark Chocolate Banana Bread

In a large bowl, mash the over ripe, brown bananas with a fork. Add the melted butter, sea salt, oil and stir until combined. Whisk in the agave, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth. Adding the sea salt to the wet mixture will help it dissolve.

Dark Chocolate Banana Bread

Fold the dry ingredients with a spatula, into the wet ingredients. Be careful to not over mix. Fold in 3/4 cup of the chocolate chips, and pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan.

Dark Chocolate Banana Bread

Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of chocolate chips over the top of the bread mixture. On the middle oven rack, bake for 50-65 minutes, or until a toothpick or thin skewer, inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. You might see some melted chocolate chips on the skewer, but make sure the batter is not sticking. This dark chocolate banana bread loaf was done at 50 minutes.

Dark Chocolate Banana Bread

Remove the pan from the oven and set on a wire cooling rack.

Dark Chocolate Banana Bread

Let the bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the edges of the bread and carefully remove it from the loaf pan. Let the bread cool on the wire  rack another 5 to 10 minutes.

Dark Chocolate Banana Bread

It should be baked all the way through, but still very moist.  My version of this recipe is mostly dark chocolate in flavor, with the bananas keeping it very moist and the walnuts adding a nice crunch.

Dark Chocolate Banana Bread
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
This is my take on a Dark Chocolate Banana Bread recipe adapted from food blogger Maria of "Two Peas and Their Pod." My ingredients and measurements are a bit different.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: International
Serves: 1 loaf
Ingredients
  • 1 cup unbleached flour
  • ½ cup Hershey's Special Dark, 100% cacao powder
  • 1 cup crushed walnuts
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 4 small brown bananas (approximately 1 cup mashed, previously frozen, now thawed)
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 6 tablespoons of agave nectar
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips, 60% cacao, divided
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat your oven to 350°F.
  2. Grease a 9-by-4½ inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  3. Set it aside.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda.
  5. Set that bowl aside.
  6. In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork.
  7. Add the melted butter, sea salt, and oil and stir until combined. Adding the sea salt to the wet mixture will help it dissolve.
  8. Whisk in the agave, egg, and vanilla extract.
  9. Stir until smooth.
  10. Fold the dry ingredients with a spatula, into the wet ingredients, don’t over mix.
  11. Fold in ¾ cup of the chocolate chips.
  12. Pour batter into prepared pan.
  13. Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of chocolate chips over the top of the bread.
  14. Bake for 50-65 minutes, or until a toothpick, or thin skewer inserted into the center of the bread comes out mostly clean.
  15. Check at 50 minutes. (Oven times vary.)
  16. Remove the pan from the oven and set on a wire cooling rack.
  17. Let the bread cool in the loaf pan for 15 minutes.
  18. Run a knife around the edges of the bread and carefully remove from the pan.
  19. Let the bread cool on the wire cooling rack for another 5 to 10 minutes.

 

If you want another chocolate baked treat, try my Gooey Fudgy Dark Chocolate Brownies.

 

Quick and Easy Family Dinners

Here’s an article I first posted earlier this week on LinkedIn:
Quick and Easy Family Dinners. I cover some basic ideas for dinner. Especially for those who get home from work and are greeted by a hungry family.

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In a hurry? Feeling lazy or just uninspired? Let me help you create a repertoire of quick and easy family dinners. Meals that you can make without too much planning, with ingredients you have on hand in the refrigerator, freezer, or pantry. Or those you can easily find at your local market.

These should be meals you know your family likes, that you can create without looking at a recipe. Quick and easy dinners that you can make without a lot of preparation. No need to get out the food processor or blender. Here are my suggestions for dinners that include meat, chicken, fish, or just a big salad.

Meat

Quick Easy Family Dinners

Beef steak is an easy choice for dinner. Typical cuts of beef for steak include tenderloin, strip, T-bone, and rib-eye. If you have a large family, or are on a budget, chuck or flat iron steaks may work better for you. Your choice of steak can be sauteed in a pan or broiled. To make the meal complete add peas or corn. I prefer the frozen varieties. I usually like to include another side dish too. Try boiling small potatoes. They cook quickly and shouldn’t take more that 10 to 15 minutes to boil. Frozen veggies and a starch, like instant rice, can be added as side dishes to any of these meals.

Chicken

Quick Easy Family Dinners

Chicken is a staple in my repertoire. I usually choose chicken that has already been cut into pieces, like breasts, legs, or thighs. Chicken can be broiled or sauteed, and if the weather is good, cooked on a grill. For quick added flavor, I keep a dry rub from the grocery market in my cupboard that I can sprinkle on chicken or fish. An easy side dish is green beans. Most grocery markets now carry them pre-washed and packaged in the produce department, ready to steam or microwave.

Fish

Quick Easy Family Dinners

My favorite fish as a main dish is grilled salmon. It can be prepared quickly in a grill pan on your stove top or on a gas grill. I choose salmon fillet and ask my grocery’s butcher to slice it for me. For quick side dishes, I like corn and couscous. But if that’s too much starch for you, try a pre-washed salad or Cole slaw kit. Doles’ Sesame Asian salad kit is one of my favorites.

Salad

Quick Easy Family Dinners

The great thing about having a big salad for dinner is you can use any leftovers from the previous meals above to top them. Just toss your salad greens with your favorite dressing, plate, and top with sliced steak, chicken, or fish. If you are a vegetarian, try grilling tofu and adding it to top your big dinner salad.

I shop for food about once a week to make sure I have the ingredients I need to make several quick dinners for my family. Once you have confidence in 4 or 5 quick and easy meals for your family dinner repertoire, start adding a few more. Pork or lamb chops? Why not? Pasta? Sure! I make pasta at least once a week. I promise that as you practice your repertoire, it will become easier and easier to quickly whip up a delicious dinner.

Got questions? I’m here to help.