This is simply the coolest fall dessert. Pumpkin Pie Dip is everything it says it is, all the best Pumpkin Pie flavor without the hassle of making it from scratch. Sound too good to be true? It’s not. Read on! I do love a classic pumpkin pie, but making it from scratch can take a lot of time. Time I don’t always have! That’s where this dessert comes in.  The concept of this dip is that it’s a classic no-bake pumpkin pie filling with lots of flavor and a subtle tang, chilled i

Quickbreads are always a great solution when it comes to using up fruit and getting something yummy on the table. This Apple Cinnamon Banana Bread is especially neat because it combines two favorite fruits and bakes up into one delicious bread that my whole family loves. As it notes in the recipe, the nuts are optional. Since my kids are allergic I don’t bake them, but I know a lot of people appreciate the crunch and flavor.  There are two things that prompt me to make these

This delicious Pear & Apple Tart has a fun, Greek twist to it. I use Kataifi, shredded filo, instead of a classic butter crust. I promise, you’ll absolutely love it when you try it. In fact, you may never go back to the crust version again!  Before you begin cooking this tart, I recommend you get all your ingredients prepared. Prepare your fruit, coat the Kataifi in butter, and have the oven preheating. When you make the caramel, you can’t step away from it at all. It can go

I mean, who doesn’t adored S’mores in the summer?! I know that my family does! Today I’m sharing a recipe for Classic S’more Bars, which are basically S’mores in a bar form. You can finally make them without the campfire! These do take a couple of more ingredients than regular S’mores because you need a graham cracker crust instead of just graham crackers, but that’s really the main difference.  To get started making these line your baking sheet with parchment paper. It might

There's something magical about making fresh fig jam right in my own kitchen, especially when that kitchen is in my new home in Chios, Greece. This recipe for Classic Fig Jam is particularly special to me because the figs are picked straight from the tree in my backyard. It's a true taste of the Mediterranean summer, and I’m so excited to share it with you!  Moving into my new house in Chios has been a dream come true, and one of the first things I did this summer was explore

I love to make homemade ice cream in the summer and this Greek Coffee Ice Cream is one of my favorites. It’s so easy to make because it doesn’t require an ice cream maker, you simply whip it up and pop it in the freezer! This recipe uses the delicious Greek coffee granules we usually use for frappés, which are rich and flavorful. When mixed with the cream and condensed milk they make an ice cream that tastes like the most delicious latte you’ve ever tasted.  They key to makin

Outside temperature defines a lot of what I cook in the summer. It gets very hot in Connecticut and in Greece and I really try to work with cooling, hydrating ingredients as much as possible. These Peach & Raspberry Popsicles are a favorite for hot summer days. They’re easy to make with fresh fruit and you can even give them an adult twist by adding a splash of spicy tequila if you’d like!  Preparing popsicles takes very little time. It’s really easy to throw everything in th

Today I’m sharing my hack for making a delicious Mastic and Sour Cherry Ice Cream at home without an ice cream maker. I adore this ice cream because it incorporates the flavor of mastic which comes from my Greek home of Chios. You can buy the crushed mastic powder online or at a specialty store, but don’t skip it or you’ll miss out on the intended flavor of this ice cream. Mastic is such a unique flavor, it’s almost impossible to describe. It pairs beautifully with the sour c

This is a great summer recipe I remember having as a child. It’s what I call our Greek Yogurt Strawberry Bar Dessert. It looks fancy but it is totally made at home and is great for making with kids. Once you get used to making this recipe, I encourage you to try it with different fruit flavors if you have something you’d like to try. I, for example, also like cherry or peach, depending on what’s available.  To get this recipe right I encourage you to try these amazing cookies

I wanted to post a delicious dessert in celebration of my birthday month. I adore caramel flavored anything and this Caramel Bread Pudding is right up my alley! I think one of the coolest things about this dessert is that it is really easy to make. I’m able to start with the bread I usually have in my cupboard like a brioche, or loaf of country white, then I have to get the custard ingredients and it’s already halfway ready for the oven.  The most notable part of this dessert

This is such a fun recipe because it combines two of our favorite things – baklava and cheesecake. Yum! I keep these Baklava Cheesecake Bites easy by starting with phyllo dough from the freezer. Then, I get the rest of my ingredients ready. This is a layered dessert with a nutty baklava filling, cream cheese layer, and more nutty filling on top. Then, it’s soaked in a sweet syrup and served when cool to touch.  To get started making these bites I recommend you get everything

I love making pastry cup appetizers. They always please a crowd and are very easy to pull together. Today I’m making Fig & Feta Pastry Cups, they are two of the most popular ingredients in Greek cuisine and there’s a good reason for it. Figs are sweet and tender, feta is salty and soft. When put together they play off each other perfectly. These cups are the ideal salty and sweet appetizer everyone loves to pop in their mouths while they sip a little wine before dinner.  Maki

Upside down puff pastry recipes have been a real trend lately. I like to make them because they’re one of those things that are actually very easy to make, they just look complicated. Once you get to know the method it’s very easy to figure out how to make lots of variations with different flavors. Sometimes I make them sweet, other times I make them savory. Today I’m doing both and making a Honey Brie & Sour Cherry Puff Pastry. It’s both savory and sweet and can be used as a

I love making Loukoumades and today I’m giving them another fresh take by making Loukoumades filled with Banana and Nutella. Loukoumades are Greek-style donuts and for the twist in this recipe we are filling them with more flavor that everyone goes crazy for. In this episode I’m using bananas and nutella because it’s a flavor combination that reminds me of delicious French crepes.    When making Loukoumades it’s always important to leave enough time for the dough to rise. You

Today I’m making Easter Peanut Butter Blossoms. I love making these for all the holidays because I have so many fond memories of making them as a child with my mother. My mom used to use the recipe from the back of the bag because it always worked perfectly. These days I’ve added my own adaptations to add a little more flavor and holiday flair. Easter is the perfect time for these because everyone is indulging in so many sweets and these are so cheery on our Easter table.   S

I love making Loukoumades and today I’m giving them a fresh take by making Loukoumades filled with Jelly and Chocolate Sauce. Loukoumades are Greek-style donuts and for the twist in this recipe we are filling them with more flavor that everyone goes crazy for. In this episode I’m using strawberry jelly because my family loves it. However, you can use any jelly you think your family would like the best! For the chocolate sauce I used melted hot fudge sauce but, again, you can

Before you look at this and think it’s too difficult, I can assure you it is not. This Chocolate Raspberry Braid is a delicious pastry you can easily make at home with very little fuss. What I love about this recipe is that it looks so complicated but it really isn’t at all. Everyone is always impressed by it and I don’t have to sweat making it at all. I never, ever make puff pastry from scratch. Buy a good quality box of puff pastry from the grocery store and start with that

I have no idea who started the idea of cloud desserts, but I absolutely love them. This No-Bake Cherry Cloud is endlessly adaptable and somehow manages to be innovative and comforting all at once. In a way it’s like classic nursery food, easy to eat and flavored with cherries, graham crackers, and vanilla. Sometimes I think it’s like a cheesecake that got mixed up together and dumped into a bowl. All the flavors are there but the delivery is different. The cloud-like texture

Cheesecake is always a winning idea. I’ve never met a cheesecake I don’t like; the only problem is that making them can be very involved. Sometimes I’m up to making cheesecake from scratch with the hot water bath and the cooling oven. However, sometimes I prefer this No-Bake Raspberry Cheesecake Bars recipe. It’s a classic cheesecake recipe made without all the fuss. It also enjoys a crunch graham cracker crust and sweet raspberry jam topping making it a delicious dessert to

This Chocolate Mousse with Strawberries is the most perfect dessert to serve to your Valentine. Working with chocolate can be intimidating, it often requires heat and can be very delicate. However, this recipe is entirely fool proof. By whipping the chocolate together with the cream cheese, you instantly have a stable recipe that won’t veer off course. It comes together in just a few steps and tastes incredible Sometimes I put my kids in charge of making this since it doesn’t