Foodbuzz 24x24: Taste of Europe

I was more than happy that Foodbuzz team has selected me again for this month 24x24. You have no idea how honored I feel.

I have chosen 5 Countries from Europe to present and share with all of you as well with my family who were main tasters of this incredible meal!

Since I do cook a lot of Italian based meals this was kind of little lesson for my kids that there is other cuisines with delicious meals. So what we did, I wrote 20 countries on a separate pieces of paper and 5 of us took turns, each picking one country. My little one picked former Yugoslavia, my oldest son picked Spain, my daughter took from the bag Germany, my husband France and I picked Greece. Than an idea came for this 24x24...before I purposed for this family dinner, I went online and looked at most traditional dishes from each of those countries and yesterday night all the dishes came alive. My boys(including my husband love mussels) me and my daughter not so much, but all of enjoyed the rest of the meal which was fantastic that we set down and shared together our likes and dislikes about it! Only debate was about mussels like I said, I am still not big fan, just like my Anna, but boys loved it! 

1. From Yugoslavia I presenting ~Cheese Pastry Pie~ Gibanica

This is typical dish in any household from countries in Balkan. From Serbia and Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Slovenia..Those are all now countries and than Republics in former Yugoslavia. When somebody ask me what is your traditional food I have no idea what to comment on that because I am connected and my cuisine to all these beautiful countries in one way or another.

~Cheese pastry pie, some people call it Gibanica(Gib-a-nica), some Pita which is pie in translation is crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. There is many versions and one of those is after it is baked you can put homemade sour cream on top, bake for 5 more minutes so that sour cream can become bubbly and dough becomes soft and delicious. You can have it as a appetizer or enjoy it with salad on the side!

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 1/2 Tbs. of olive oil
• 1 pk. of  Feta cheese
• 2 Tbs. Sour Cream
• 1 pinch of baking soda
• 1 pinch of sea salt
• 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1 pk Philo Dough
• 1 Tbs. of melted butter, to brush the dough or/ spread sour cream on top

You can find more ideas like meat or spinach- cheese, ..click on the links for full recipes!

2. From France I present ~ Mussels mariniere ~Moules Marinières

My oldest son..Aleks!

A typical summer recipe, very popular along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coast. Mussels are fresh and cooked in a white wine sauce with parsley, thyme, bay leaf and onion. It takes only 10 minutes to cook a tasteful mussels mariniere. The secret is to season carefully the meal and to discard any mussels that don't look good enough.

3. From Spain I am presenting ~Canarian wrinkly potatoes~Papas arrugadas

This is traditional Spanish baked potato dish eaten in Canary Islands. They are usually served with a pepper sauce, called Mojo, or as an accompaniment to meat dishes.The dish is made from small new potatoes which are cleaned (but not peeled), then boiled in water and then baked in their skins until they become shriveled. I thought that these potatoes will compliment mussels very well, and they did!

Mojo sauce:

• 4 dried red peppers – bell or any other non-spicy red pepper
• 1-2 slices stale white bread – crusts trimmed if very dry
• 3-4 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1/4 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp coarse salt
• 1 cup extra virgin Spanish olive oil
• 1/4 cup water or chicken broth
• Spanish sherry vinegar to taste

4. Greek Salad~~ χωριάτικη σαλάτα(choriátiki saláta) It is also called Rustic salad or summer salad

Greek salad is made with pieces of tomatoes, sliced cucumber, green bell peppers, red onion, sliced or feta cheese crumbles, and Kalamato olives, typically seasoned with salt and dried oregano, and dressed with olive oil. I served this salad in a green lettuce, illusion of a bowl.

5. From Germany ~I am presenting Apple Strudel~Apfelstrudel

Filling is sauted apples in a sugar and Cinnamon and wrapped in a puff pastry dough, than baked and after sprinkled with powdered sugar. In this mixture I added dry raisins and they were just wonderful addition, and gave me more flavor.

I hope you have enjoyed my tour and taste of Europe... It was truly an incredibly delicious meal! 
Thank you  FoodBuzz for one more amazing opportunity!!!

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