Mediterranean Melange

An uncluttered Sunday is a welcome respite and perfect for hours spent in the kitchen whipping up new and old favorites. This Sunday I mixed up a Mediterranean Melange in multiple courses. The results are mostly Greek cookery with a bit of Turkish flair. While the family still seems to have the patience, I plan on continuing on with all that is Mediterranean! 

I was a bit captivated with capturing all of the ingredients that went into this meal. Here are a few prep pics from today's efforts: 

Beginnings Of Turkish Rice 

 Soon to Be Sizzling Lemony Shrimp

All Of The Lentil Salad Stuff

Just The Basics For Cucumber Salad

 Handful of Yummy Olive Ingredients

When visiting friends Jane and Joan early in the spring we learned of the transcendence of the olive when baked.  aka: We ate them all! Since then, we have become  turned on to many variations of warmed olives, either simmered on the stove top or baked. Tonight we made a stove top recipe of Spicy Rosemary Olives. We used Alfonso's and a Tuscan Mix w/ Onions. I expect these to be on heavy rotation, most especially as an appetizer for guests. 

A small Greek-style cucumber salad is an expected component (more like a condiment) of any Mediterranean meal. We were drowning in scallions, so I rustled up a cucumber and scallion recipe that we especially enjoyed because of the addition of honey and lots of ground pepper, for a sweet taste and a little kick.

Lentil Salad w/ Feta is an old standby that we have been making for 10 years +.  The lentils are simmered in mellow spices, which works very well w/ the saltiness of the feta and the brightness of the cilantro. We always make plenty so that there will be leftovers for lunch.

Leftover steamed basmati rice made it easy to throw together the below Quick Turkish Rice in mere moments. This is a very simple dish to prepare. You warm olive oil in a frying pan and fry up cinnamon sticks and cumin seed. Add in toasted pine nuts and slivered almonds, a couple of cups of leftover rice and currants. Warm, serve and gobble down.

Our main course was another easily prepared Greek specialty, with only 7 ingredients. Sizzling Lemony Shrimp is simmered on the stove top with olive oil with butter to give it a richness that encourages dipping of fresh crusty bread. Everyone agreed that this recipe is a keeper.

I'll see you soon with more Mediterranean inspired adventures!