Greece - for Romantics and Historians
TCnbc Magazine - 11
Ingredients:
1 jar grape leaves in brine, 1 lb. ground beef, 1 large onion, finely chopped, 1/2 cup chopped scallions, 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh dill, 1 Tbsp. fresh mint leaves, chopped, 2 Tbsp. chopped parsley, 2 ripe tomatoes, chopped, 3/4 cup rice, 1 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper, 1 tsp. paprika, 4 Tbsp. olive oil, 2 cups chicken stock, 1/4 tsp. ground cumin, 2 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped.
Recipe:
Take out the vine leaves from the jar and unroll them. Put them in a saucepan and pour warm water over them in order to remove some of the saltiness and acidity from them. Keep the vine leaves in water for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, mix all remaining ingredients except the chicken stock, in a mixing bowl. Take the vine leaves and put one tablespoon of the stuffing on the center of every leaf. Roll small parcels and place them on the bottom of a saucepan. I recommend spreading some bamboo sticks on the bottom of the pan and arranging the stuffed vine leaves over them. When you have rolled all the vine leaves, pour the chicken stock in the saucepan and close it with a lid. Bring to a boil and reduce to simmer. Simmer for about 35 minutes or until the rice in the stuffing is cooked. Add more stock or water if necessary during cooking. If adding extra stock, make sure it is not salty. Serve the stuffed vine leaves with Balkan yogurt on the side.
Stuffed Vine Leaves
(Dolmathes)
There are few places in the world quite as romantic as Greece and when I think of Greek cuisine, red checkered table cloths, crisp white aprons and good red wine comes to mind ~ and HUGE shrimp! The Mediterranean shrimp is almost the size of our lobster!
As we sat on the deck at the outdoor restaurant in Pireaus, just north of Athens, with the waters of the Aegean lapping beneath our feet, I watched as our dinner order, loaded stylishly onto a sliver tray, was carried above shoulder height by the young waiter (and yes, they are called 'waiters', not 'servers').
You see, the restaurant kitchen was on the other side of a busy city highway and the meals had to be delivered by dodging the rush of fast moving traffic and it had to be delivered HOT!
Greece has much to offer in ancient history with the Acropolis, numerous arenas, and ruins, but one site not to be missed is the Fourth City of Ephesus (near Izmir), which was excavated to expose about 25% of an ancient yet very advanced city of marble streets It is in this city that Mary, mother of Christ is reputed to have lived out her later years, under the caring eye of Paul (of the Ephesians) or better known as St. Paul the Disciple, who is buried on a nearby hill.
If history is not your cup of tea, then do visit Greece with a romantic partner ~ soak up the balmy sun, swim in waveless aquamarine seas and experience timelessness as only an ancient civilization has to offer!