Category: Greek

Cooking & cars run in my family

Yanoulis Restaurant

I just converted this photograph to a digital file. It was taken in the early 1950’s, of my maternal grandfather, Emanuel Yanoulis, and his family, at his restaurant on the east side of Detroit near the Chalmers Motors/Chrysler Jefferson Assembly plant in Detroit. So you see cooking & cars run in my family!

Starting from the top left is my Aunt Bess, who is my mom’s twin, my dad, Fred Dallas, my brothers, Ted and George and my Mom, Matina. In the middle is my cousin Nick, just under my Aunt Bess, then my Papou. Starting from the bottom left are my cousins, Victoria, and Evelyn, and my brother Mike.

Many Chrysler auto workers ate breakfast, lunch and/or dinner at my grandfather’s restaurant. Here’s a photo of a Chrysler Town & Country, which was a model they made at that time. Also, my father worked for Ford Motor in Dearborn for over 30 years. More evidence of cooking & cars.Chrysler Town & Country Newport CoupeLots of Greek and Detroit history in that family photo. And don’t you just luv this car?!!

Pastitsio Recipe – Baked Pasta

The Ladies Philoptochos Society of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
in Grand Rapids Michigan host a wonderful luncheon and bake sale every year.

Greek Luncheon: Ladies Philoptochos Society of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids Michigan
One of their most popular entrees is pastitsio – baked pasta with meat sauce.

pastitsio recipe-baked pasta with meat sauce
This year they decided to follow Tina Afendoulis’ pastitsio recipe,
(she’s my Aunt and Godmother!) which is also in their cookbook.

Taste of Life Greek Food Cookbook
The Taste of Life Greek Food, Ladies Philoptochos Society of Holy
Trinity cookbook was published in 2004.

pastitsio recipe-baked pasta with meat sauce
Here’s my Nouna’s recipe.

Tina's recipe pastitsio-baked pasta with meat sauce
My Nouna Tina in the church’s professional kitchen. She’s so cute and
looking great at 83! Check out her 80th birthday party here.

pastitsio recipe-baked pasta with meat sauce
I ordered a half-pan of pastitsio, that I was lucky enough to get delivered!
(It helps to have cousins who happened to be making a trip to my side of
the state this weekend).

pastitsio recipe-baked pasta with meat sauce
That’s a big casserole but I just cut a portion of it to reheat and put
the rest back in the fridge for another time later in the week.
pastitsio recipe-baked pasta with meat sauce
There are a lot of recipes for pastitsio out there in cookbooks and online,
but this one IMHO, is the best. Enjoy.

 

From Yaffe Group Tidbits Blog? Hello & Welcome!

If you’ve landed here from a link off the Yaffe Tidbits blogpost… hello and welcome to Kitoula’s Greek Food Journal!!! I’m Greek. This is my journal. It’s mostly about food.

My next post will be about a recent weekend trip to Toronto where Yianni and I had some delicious meals at some fantastic restaurants. We also met a couple of Toronto foodbloggers; Peter Minaki and Paula Costa. It was great meeting them both IRL!

Yianni and I also attended Toronto’s Theatre 20’s production of Sondheim’s musical Company with Greek-Canadian movie star Nia Vardalos; she’s the My Big Fat Greek Wedding gal. She luvs me on Twitter. I have proof…

 

So come back… I plan on posting all about our weekend in Toronto soon. Until then, kali orexi!

Greece – World Cup 2014

Yesterday’s Costa Rica vs Greece – World Cup 2014 soccer game was amazing. Team Hellas made history. They reached the last 16 for the first time. But in a penalty shootout they were defeated by Costa Rica.Greece - World Cup 2014
Antonis Samaras, Greece’s Prime Minister, sent the team a telegram that said: “Greeks are proud of our national team. Congratulations to all the boys.” I’m still super proud of the team! Bravo boys!

There were so many funny images on social media about the World Cup. What do you think of Christ the Redeemer wearing a Greek soccer jersey! Ellas Ellas Ellas!