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XpatAthens

Friday, 20 February 2015 20:23

Surprising Ways To Cook With Greek Yogurt

This wonder ingredient goes way beyond breakfast, to cooling off spicy dishes, keeping burgers juicy and even helping you make a last-minute cake.

A Light -- But Still Creamy -- Mac 'n' Cheese

Sure, you can make swaps to turn this classic comfort-food dish into a healthy dinner, but if you go too far -- e.g., using fat-free cheese, or a butter alternative -- you may sacrifice the richness. Greek yogurt, though, ensures a finished casserole that's just as thick and filling as traditional versions. Recipe

Cupcakes (or Cake) Without Any Fancy Ingredients

The two-ingredient yogurt cake recipe we've been seeing all over Pinterest (just add cake mix!) certainly sounds intriguing. Even if you're skeptical, though, it does drive home the point that if you've got yogurt, you can probably make a cake. (The same holds true for sour cream, but these days, fridges are more likely to contain a tub of plain Greek yogurt than a tub of sour cream.) Adding a cup of yogurt yields a cake that's moist and keeps well for days. Recipe

A Cool Counterpoint To Spicy Soup

We're totally stealing this recipe's trick for taming the heat on a hot soup: You thin plain Greek yogurt with water (use three parts yogurt and one part water), and then drizzle it over whatever you're eating. In this case, it's a curried (and cayenne-d) Indian lentil and chickpea stew, but the technique would work great with chili, too. Recipe

Healthy Burgers That Stay Juicy

Turkey burgers are such a wonderful alternative to burgers made with fattier meats, but all too often they're dry and crumbly. The fix: a quarter-cup of Greek yogurt (for a pound and a half of meat). It's better for you than eggs, and couldn't be easier: just gently mix it into the meat before forming the patties. Recipe

A Dipping Sauce That Goes With Practically Anything

O mag food columnist Sunny Anderson likes to dip fried green tomatillos into this sweet and spicy mix of Greek yogurt, sour cream, honey and hot sauce -- but the creamy accompaniment has tons more uses. Try it on a BLT instead of mayo, with quesadillas or alongside appetizers from potato skins to chicken fingers. Recipe

By Lynn Andriani

huffingtonpost.com

The first part of a government plan to increase the minimum salary is expected to be implemented in October, taking the level up to 654 euros per month for all private sector workers. The government’s election pledge to raise the minimum monthly salary to 751 euros will not be fulfilled before the second half of 2016.

The Labor Ministry is currently planning for two regulations, which will bring the salaries paid to young workers up to the same level as those received by older workers, as well as the minimum salary of menial workers to that of office employees. That way, if Parliament clears both measures, no worker should get less than 654 euros per month.


To read more please visit: ekathimerini.com
By Roula Salourou

Monday, 15 December 2025 07:00

Traditional Homemade Kourabiedes

Merry Christmas with these amazing festive sweet butter cookies! If you haven’t tried kourabiedes (Greek Christmas butter cookies) before, then you are certainly missing out. Soft, buttery, and fluffy with a crunchy bite and rich almond (or pistachio if you are feeling adventurous). This delicious kourabiedes recipe will definitely get you in a festive mood!

Kourabiedes are a delicious traditional Greek treat, packed with the aromas of fresh butter and roasted almonds and garnished with luscious layers of icing sugar - they are the ultimate Christmas cookie!

Prep Time: 40 minutes
Serves: 45-50 Cookies
Ingredients
 
  • 500 g butter, at room temperature
  • 220 g icing sugar
  • 1 g vanilla powder
  • 1 teaspoon(s) rosewater
  • 30 g bitter almond liqueur, or brandy or rum
  • 200-280 g almond slivers or coarsely chopped, unsalted and toasted
  • 900 g all-purpose flour
  • 1 pinch salt
To Serve 
  • 1 tablespoon(s) rosewater
  • 300 g icing sugar
Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180ο C (350ο F) set to fan.

2. In a mixer’s bowl add the butter, the icing sugar, and beat with the paddle attachment at high speed, for 10-15 minutes, until the mixture is fluffy and white.

3. Add the vanilla powder, the rosewater, the bitter almond liqueur, and keep beating. Remove the bowl from the mixer.

4. Break down the almond slivers with your hands, in order to crumble them, and add them to a bowl. Add the flour, the salt, and put them in the mixer’s bowl.

5. Mix the mixture with a serving spoon, very softly so that it does not lose its volume. As soon as the ingredients are homogenized, mix with your hands.

6. Shape balls, 30 g each, and transfer to a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Lightly press the center with your finger and bake for 20-25 minutes.
  
To see the full recipe and preparation instructions, please visit: akispetretzikis.com

Wednesday, 05 October 2016 03:29

September 6 - A Fresh Start To Fall

Learn more about Greece’s hiring spree for teachers, tips to reduce back to school stress, and the new mandatory swimming lessons in Greek primary schools!

Please click HERE to view this issue of our newsletter!

Remember to stay connected with us through our 
weekly newsletterFacebook, and Twitter!
Monday, 10 July 2017 09:03

Happy 10th Birthday XpatAthens

July 2017 marks our 10th birthday!
The best is yet to come...
 
XpatAthens has been connecting the English speaking community of Athens and Greece for 10 amazing years. We are proud to call Athens our home city and absolutely love the work we do to connect people near and far.
 
 
 
Our warmest thanks to all of our readers, contributors, and advertisers.

 
To Celebrate Our Birthday
 
5 lucky winners will receive a special city experience included below.
 
Enter To Win By
 
A) Completing our quick survey HERE.
 
B) LIKE and SHARE our birthday news with your friends.
 


1) A Cape Sounion Day-Trip Transfer Service from YK Executive Transfers
Take a 4-5 hour trip along the Athens Riviera to the Temple of Sounion. Relax and enjoy as your local driver Giannis takes you for a lovely drive along the coast of Athens. Note, tour guide & lunch are not included, but may be added at an additional cost.

2) 1 spa voucher for a GB Collection Exclusive Massage at the GB Spa
Relish in the serene surroundings of the awarded GB Spa in Athens. Enjoy an exclusive massage at Athens' best spa!

3) Dinner for 2 at Chefi Restaurant
The summer garden is a refreshing city oasis and the food is divine! Enjoy dinner for two at one of Athens' finest restaurants.

4) Dinner for 2 at Dinner In The Sky
Head up above the city for a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience in central Athens that will take your breath away!

5) 2 nights accommodation at the King George Hotel Athens
Relax and unwind for two nights in central Athens at one of the city's best Luxury Collection hotels.



 
                                              logo YK


                            chefilogo                   dinnerinthesly logo




                         KG NEW Logo                         GB NEW Logo        



                       

While wine will always be popular in Greece, recent market trends suggests specialty beer from Greek microbreweries is making its presence known and more and more people are opting for a beer. Ekathimerini reports how Greek microbreweries and beer have gained popularity locally and abroad.

Greece’s microbrewing industry has grown markedly in recent years. In 2009 there were six microbrewers in the country. Now that number has risen to 35. Despite this increase, Greece is still considered an underdeveloped market in terms of microbreweries, with plenty of room for growth. According to the Hellenic Association of Brewers, there are now 1,000 microbreweries in Italy, 300 in Belgium, 500 in the Netherlands and more than 2,000 in the UK.

“There has been an increase in beers from Greek microbreweries due to higher demand from consumers. As a result, more Greek ales can be found on the market these days,” says Sofoklis Panagiotou, vice president of the Hellenic Association of Brewers. “There’s higher demand for flavors from Greece from foreign tourists while Greek consumers are always on the lookout for better beer made in the country and want to help small domestic producers,” he adds.

To read this article in full, please visit: Ekathimerini
Tuesday, 12 February 2019 07:00

'The Favourite' Takes Home Seven BAFTA Awards

Yorgos Lanthimos's tragicomic royal drama “The Favourite” won 7 awards at Sunday's British Academy Film Awards. “The Favourite” received the outstanding British film and screenplay awards as well as prizes for production design, costumes, hair and makeup. Olivia Colman and Rachel Weisz were also awarded for best and supporting actress respectively.
 
"Thank you for celebrating our female-dominated movie about women in power," said Deborah Davis, who won the original screenplay award alongside co-writer Tony McNamara.

Alfonso Cuaron's "Roma," won awards for best picture, director, cinematography and foreign-language film. Rami Malek won the best actor trophy for his gripping performance as Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody”.
 
The BAFTAs, will be scoured for clues on who might triumph at the Academy Awards on February 24 as this year’s frontrunners, Yorgos Lanthimos’s "The Favourite" an Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma” have each received 10 Oscar nominations.
 

 
To read this article in full, please visit: ekathimerini.com
Image Credit: www.bafta.org
Thursday, 09 December 2021 12:59

Chocolate Truffles Recipe

If you are looking to make a sweet edible treat this Christmas, also ideal as a small gift, try these decadent Sokolatenia Troufakia (chocolate truffles) with dark chocolate, walnuts, and Petit Beurre biscuits. 
 
They can be stored in the refrigerator for over a week, as long as they are in an airtight container. 
 


Ingredients

160g dark chocolate
180g Petit Beurre biscuits
1/2 cup full cream milk
1/3 cup fresh cream
1 tablespoon liqueur
1 & 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Method 
  • Chop chocolate into small pieces and completely melt over low heat in a double boiler.
  • Place biscuits in a large bowl and crush them into very small pieces. Add a quarter of a cup of chopped walnuts.
  • Pour melted chocolate over biscuits and walnuts and mix together with a wooden spoon.
  • Add milk, fresh cream, and liqueur and mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon until all ingredients are well combined.
  • Cover bowl with cling wrap and place in refrigerator (not freezer) for 1.5 hours.
  • Remove from refrigerator and take a teaspoon of the mixture and begin forming them into ball-like shapes by rolling the mixture in your palms. It makes it easier by wearing food handling gloves, otherwise wet your hands with water in between each truffle.
  • Roll each truffle into the chopped walnuts and place them back in the refrigerator covered tightly until ready to serve.

Originally published on: greekcitytimes.com
Monday, 23 May 2022 07:00

Greek Semolina Cake - Revani

Revani (also spelled ravani) is a Greek cake known for its citrus flavors and use of semolina flour. The sponge cake is made with lemon zest and sweetened with a simple syrup with orange zest.

Here's an easy-to-follow recipe for the perfect revani, a delightful addition to any sweet table!



Ingredients

For the cake: 
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup fine semolina
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs, separated
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 lemon, zested
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 pinch salt
For the syrup: 
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 strips orange zest
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
  • Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9 x 13-inch pan and set aside.
  • Mix the flour, semolina, and baking powder in a medium bowl.
  • Cream the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy using an electric mixer. With the mixer running, add the egg yolks one by one. Continue mixing until the batter turns light yellow. Add the vanilla extract and lemon zest.
  • With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in 3 batches alternating with the milk.
  • Clean the beaters well and beat the egg whites in a separate bowl with a pinch of salt until soft peaks form.
  • Using a spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the batter until just combined. Don't mix too much, or you will "flatten" your egg whites.
  • Pour the batter into the pan, level with a spatula, and bake for 45 minutes or until the cake is a nice golden color.
To make the syrup:
  • Add the water, sugar, and orange zest to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add the lemon juice and cool.
  • While the cake is still warm, cover it with syrup. When the cake cools, you can sprinkle it with some powdered sugar, cinnamon, and almonds, if using.
To read this recipe in full and discover useful tips for delicious revani, please visit: thespruceeats.com
The best golf event in Greece and Cyprus, Greek Maritime Golf Event, will take place for the 9th year, on September 7-10, 2023, at Costa Navarino, Messinia, drawing the attention of the global and Greek maritime industry. 
 





Golf & Maritime Industry join forces once again for a good cause
The Greek Maritime Golf Event is a tournament that proves with actions its social work every year. This year, the top golf event will support Parents Association of Children with Cancer “Floga”. More specifically, during this year’s award ceremony to the winners and winning teams respectively, on Saturday, September 9, attendees will have the opportunity to directly contribute the amount they wish by taking part in the raffles for significant lottery prizes. The total amount collected will be given to Floga, which stands by children suffering from cancer and their families, fights for better medical, mental, and social care for them, shares their fears and concerns, supports their struggle in any way possible, and vindicates substantial presence and in issues relevant to the medical, mental and social care of these children. For more information about Floga: www.floga.org.gr   
 
In the context of this year’s event, the president of the Parents Association of Children with Cancer “Floga”, Ms. Maria Trifonidis stated: “Floga is a Panhellenic Association of parents of children with cancer that now counts 41 years of dynamic presence and social work alongside children suffering from cancer and their families, from diagnosis to the end of their treatment. In the guest rooms of Floga, 50 families from all over Greece are accommodated completely free of charge for as long as the children undergo treatment in the Oncology Departments of the Pediatric Hospitals of Athens. In childhood cancer, there is no prevention, but there is an early diagnosis that can lead to a cure for more children. Together, we can break down prejudice. We thank everyone who in one way or another supports our work and enables us to realize our goals”.
 
Two Game Days & a Golf Clinic
This year’s event returns to the two signature 18-hole courses The Dunes Course and The Bay Course, in an idyllic landscape full of centuries-old olive trees with a stunning view of the Ionian Sea, the historic bay of Navarino and the picturesque port of Pylos.  

On Friday, September 8, participants will take part in the shotgun scramble held at The Bay Course. On Saturday, September 9, the golfing action moves to The Dunes Course for another shotgun scramble. Teams will compete to win the top three positions in the overall standings, whereas special awards will be given to individual players who will achieve the best scores in the “Longest Drive” and “Closest to the Pin” categories.
Finally, non-golfers will have the opportunity to attend the Golf Clinic that will take place on Saturday, September 9, at The Dunes Course. 
 
Significant companies embrace the event
Greek Maritime Golf Event is attended by some of the most significant maritime companies from Greece and Cyprus, and many other important Greek companies that support the event.
IRI/The Marshall Islands Registry is the event’s Platinum Sponsor.
Mainline Shipping Company is the event’s Gold Sponsor.
Aegean Baltic Bank, Arrow Hellas, DNV, Marine Tours, and Swift Marine are the event’s Silver Sponsors. 
Miele is the Official Sponsor.
Poseidonia Restaurant and Grey Goose are the Official Supporters.
Under Armour is the Official Clothing Partner.
Messinian Spa is the event’s Official Beauty Partner. 
Minoa Water is the event’s Official Water.
Karalis Beach Hotel, Miran, Athi Rodi, and Daily Deli are the event’s Partners.
Costa Navarino, The Margi, Tsikeli Boutique Hotel Meteora, Iliada Sunset Suites, Namaste Boutique Apartments, Marmari Bay Hotel, Ogarden Suites, Grand Meteora Hotel, and Platanos Steakhouse are the Auction Partners. 
Boo Productions is the Audio Visual Partner.
 
The event will be held under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism.
Greek Maritime Golf Event is organized by Birdie Events, through an initiative of the recognized Greek PGA golfer, Mr. Thanos Karantzias. The Sports Marketing Agency of the Year ActiveMedia Group has undertaken the event’s Golf Production. 
The golf tournament is exclusively addressed to distinguished executives of the maritime industry.
 
#greekmaritimegolfevent #costavarino 

Photo Credit: Greek Maritime Golf Event 

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