It's all Greek to me 🇬🇷
private cheffing in greece & a recipe for a greek yogurt cake.
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A day in the life…
It’s nearing 100°F/37°C, my feet are aching, there’s no AC. Fans are blowing the hot air round and round and it almost makes you feel faint. It’s 5pm and I’ve unloaded and loaded the dishwasher four times already, well knowing that dinner service will bring at least another 2-3 more runs. But with all that said, I’m happy; extremely happy. Happy to be back in Greece, specifically Spetses, and happy to be creating and cooking up some truly delicious meals. The oooo’s and aaaah’s as the food hits the table, make me realize, once again, why I love feeding people. The feeling of nourishing those around me with good food that’s creative, well thought, and looked after, brings me joy. The familiarity of Spetses is also comforting - the family we cook for (who are lovely), the people around the island (who are warm), and the sea (which is gorgeous, not only in color, but for the reprieve is provides from the boiling sun).
Although the days are long and the work is hard, it’s safe to say I’m pretty darn lucky. Greece is a magic place. The sea, the people, the food. On our first day on the island, we were greeted by our local fruit and veg vendor with a bouquet of beautiful wild and dried Greek oregano. This oregano is a key ingredient in lots of dishes here, but there’s something about this wild oregano that lifts the flavors. It’s bitter and spicy -some pieces of the flowers remain intact which gives the dishes an unfamiliar yet pleasant zing. I cherish those bouquets and hope to bring one home with me after my time here on the island is up.
Like I said, the heat is taking its toll - mostly on the surrounding islands where wild fires rage through the forests and lands. It’s sad to hear and see the stories. These are the homes of so many Greeks who rely on their land, their trees, and their animals as livelihood. As someone who is not necessarily here on holiday and is connected daily with the working people on this island, I see the hurt in their eyes as they speak about their fellow Greek community who are going through something that could very much and has been a reality on this island.
wrote a newsletter which includes some beautiful photos, a recipe from her home in Corfu, and how you can help Greece right now - read it here
Because of the heat and because of my 14-15 hour days, the newsletters over the next few weeks will be short and sweet. Today I’m bringing you the easiest, lightest, airiest cake you’ll probably ever have. For a warm summer night when the heat is grueling and even eating feels like a chore, this cake is like a cloud. A bit of lemon brightens each slice and a dusting of powdered sugar makes it that much more fancy. Without further ado, A Greek Yogurt Cake.
Greek Yogurt Cake
Serves 8-12 people (depending on how big you slice your cake)
4 eggs
230g of Greek Yogurt (I used Fage 5%)
240g of condensed milk
Zest of 1 lemon, lemon peel to garnish
Powdered sugar to garnish
Heat your oven to 180°C/ 350°F.
Line the bottom of a 20cm spring form pan with some parchment paper.
Separate your eggs yolks from your egg whites. In a bowl, mix your egg yolks, yogurt, zest and condensed milk. Bring your egg whites to peaks. Gradually fold your egg whites into your egg yolk, yogurt and condensed milk mixture, until there are no lumps.
Bake cake in a water bath - place the spring form on a rimmed sheet tray with about 2 cm of water in the sheet tray. Bake for about 40 minutes at 180°C/ 350°F, then lower the heat to 160°C/ 320°F and bake for a final 10 minutes. Do not open the oven door. Turn the oven off and leave the cake in the oven for about 1 hour. Remove from the oven and allow it to come to room temperature before putting in the fridge to chill. Serve with a bit of lemon zest and powdered sugar to garnish.
Until next time at a standing reservation…
With love & snacks,
Paige
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Need a happy moment?
There’s nothing like a beautiful table setting to set the scene for a dinner party. Our guests enjoy this view each night and I don’t think it gets any better than that.
Ooooooooh the condensed milk!!!! I gotta retry greek yogurt cake now
The cake looks divine. I want it cold from the fridge for breakfast ðŸ¤