I wanted to share with you all a recipe which you should try if you like Greek salad. I know there are millions floating around out there – but this is the best. My cousin G. reminded me of it quite recently. Actually, this is always how I’ve made “village” salad but I’ve diverted of late to the Nigella Lawson watermelon version. So, G., thanks for the reminder!
Here’s G’s version of the famous salad:
… whenever I make greek salad (the authentic Horiatiki kind with just tomatos, onion, cucumber, green pepper (sometimes), feta and olives with lots of oregano) I always make it as your Dad taught me. Make sure the veggies are a room temperature and put salt on the tomatos and let them sit of 5 minutes or so before you put the olive oil on. That way they release their juice and the “sauce” that is left after the salad is eaten is the greatest thing in the world to dip bread into.
I have only the following to add: do not use any vinegar on this version. It’s not needed because the liquid that comes from the tomatoes provides the acid. Most greek salad recipes call for an olive oil and wine vinegar dressing, but this is over the top if you just let the tomatoes sit for a few minutes as G. says.
And if you don’t believe me, these guys give the salad two thumbs up!
I feel I should sign off on a crafty note because I’ve been derelict on that front of late. When researching photos for this post I came across this snazzy one from a tote bag:
Now, if anyone comes across a pattern like this, please do let me know ASAP because I would take up cross-stitch again if I had something like this in hand. This, by the way, is saying a lot – given that at the age of 37… oops 38 … I blame the fact that I need bifocals on this little piece that I made for my mother one Christmas:
Let me just say that it was actually a LOT bigger that this photo will belie, and that the canvas was not preprinted. She ended up getting it for her birthday in June the following year. And now I’m half blind. So, Mom, this is the evidence that I do really love you.
I should just, instead, have stuck with something like the minimalist art that my brother V. had come up with some years previously:
But no. Instead, I turned myself off cross-stitch forever – aside from a little piece that I made for Holly the Zombie Fighter Extraordinaire a while back:
Now, when Takis
saw the zombie hankie, he started to give me a speech about proper Greek female behaviour.
However, his wife Spiroula’s feedback?
She said “You go, girl!!!” with a strong grik accent. Or rather, “gggheeeeeiou ggggo, gkerrrrl!”
I think that this is enough rambling for now. In observance of the Labour Day weekend, I will not be posting this Friday or on Monday. So – see you Tuesday!
Bespoke By Brouhaha 
I remember seeing your brother’s Charlie Brown Christmas decoration before and I must say that I just love it…even though it doesn’t hold a candle to the cross-stitch Santa that you made.
And thanks again for the you-know-what we talked about in the email.
Thank you for the tip re: the tomatoes – this has absolutely made me want to go out and buy some olives and feta RIGHT NOW!
I think your Father Christmas x-stitch is amazing!
Counted Cross Stitch is evil. It sucks me in and doesn’t let me go. I’ve only ever finished one. And the wicked evil thread that tangles worse than any unwound skein of yarn . . . ahhhhh! But yours is beautiful. Do you still knit? : )
I love Greek salad but I’ve never found a good recipe for the dressing. Do you have any suggestions for recipes that are a little more traditional? The watermelon weirds me out 🙂
Hope you have a great long weekend!
I do counted cross stitch, and after a while, my eyes hurt. It’s one of the reasons I picked up knitting: even intricate lace doesn’t require the same light conditions. And I love your zombie hankie.
RE: Greek Opa!! – “if anyone comes across a pattern like this, please do let me know ASAP because I would take up cross-stitch again if I had something like this in hand.”
I’m working on starting my own cross stitch biz. I could try my hand at designing a pattern w/that picture, if you’d like.
Comment back w/any suggestions.
And there you have why I was never moved to take up counted cross-stitch. Needle-point, not petit, was bad enough. Happy Labour Day.
WOW, the Christmas x-stitch is gorgeous and very difficult without a pattern and all the “fussy” work. I have a beautiful x-stitch waiting to be done, but these days there is just no time for anything! Why didn’t I find a rich man and marry well??? Well, not really, I just think that in moments when I lose my mind! lol
That’s useful to know about salting the tomates beforehand. Any tips for the perfect tzatziki?
OPA! indeed!
You could scan the OPA! into microrevolt’s knitpro program and it will spit out a handy needle point pattern for you. It’s worth a try…