Authentic Greek Recipe: Spanakopita

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Step 1:

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 10z. bag of Spinach (Pre-chopped)
• Salt and Pepper
• 6oz. feta cheese, crumbled
• 2 eggs
• 2 sticks unsalted butter, melted
• 1 pound filo pastry sheets

Pre-heat Oven to 350 degrees

From the Editor: Kalioreksi! Last thoughts of Greece

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Before I reveal our next destination of the week, I would just like to say how much I've enjoyed sharing my love of Greece. I did manage to dig up my favorite Greek recipe to share with everyone for Spanakopita. I absolutely love this dish! I believe I first had this dish when I was a little kid, and no one makes it like my grandma Olympia. This coupled with my favorite Greek movies is definitely an equation for awesomeness!

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♥Kalinichta♥

Top 10 favorite Greek films!

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Click the movie title to see the trailer! Enjoy.....

Photo Tour of Greece

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The cultural and historical background of Greece has sprinkled the landscapes with ruins that span six thousand years. The alternating invaders, the peaceful settlers, and the country's position at the crossroads between eastern and western culture, have all left their mark on the Greek cultural landscape. Ancient sites around the country side, and museums in cities protect priceless artifacts from antiquity.

Time has been really kind to the land and has adorned the mainland and the Greek Islands with an impressive array of natural attractions. Travelers to this beautiful country especially loved by travelers are the extensive sunshine and the ocean's gorgeous blue hues.

One of my favorite aspects of Greece (besides being surrounded by the very roots of Western Civilization!) are the beaches. They are really breathtaking, and that doesn't begin to fully describe them. Some beaches are well organized and offer many luxuries, while others are very secluded and isolated. Some offer clear water, some perfect soft sand, while others are framed  by incredible landscapes. The national Greek tourist organization has its own "top ten beaches" list based on the voting of its website visitors, and many beaches of Greece sport the Blue flag which symbolizes cleanliness and quality.

I've complied some of my favorite destinations, sites, beaches, and locales in Greece. Check them out after the jump! Enjoy....

Greek Music Playlist

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Some of the most diverse music I have ever heard has hands down come from Greece. The music of Greece is well celebrated as the country's own history. Greek music separates into two parts: Greek traditional music and Byzantine music, with more eastern influence. These compositions have their roots in antiquity. Music is a significant aspect of "Hellenic" culture, both within Greece and in the diaspora.

Typical pop music of Greece includes the following genres: Éntekhno, Dimotika, Hip Hop, Laïkó , Punk and Rock.


Greek music actually extends far back into Ancient Greece, since music was a major part of the ancient Greek theatre. Music was an important part of education in Ancient Greece. Boys were even taught music starting as early as six years old. Greek musical literacy created a flowering of development. It would eventually become the basis for Western religious music and classical music.

Greek instruments that are typically used in music include: the lyra Pontos and Crete, the Outi,  the Bouzouki, and the Baglamas. All of these are stringed instruments. Wind instruments in the Gavali, the Karamoudza, and the Thiambioli. My favorite instruments are the drums, like the Daouli, the Defi, and the Toumbi. Learn more about Greek instruments HERE!


The genre "Éntekhno." arose in the late 1950s. Éntekhno, literally meaning "art song", is orchestral music with elements from Greek folk rhythm and melody. It's lyrical themes are often political or based on the work of famous Greek poets. Mikis Theodorakis and Manos Hadjidakis were the most popular early composers of Éntekhno music. "Laïkó" music, meaning song of the people, is the urban folk music of Greece. It emerged by the creation of Greek music culture in the 20th century. Contemporary Laïkó is currently Greece's mainstream music genre in  their modern nightlife. Contemporary Laïkó emerged as a style in the early 1980s.


I definitely recommend checking out MTV Greece, which was just launched in 2008, as a starting ground to finding out what is happening today in Greek music.


In the meantime, check out the 10 songs I love in Greek after the jump! Enjoy....

From the Editor: "There are two types of people: Greeks, and everybody that wishes they were Greek!"

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Yassou! Welcome to Greece!

It gives me great pleasure to announce our next destination of the week will be to Greece! I have a special attachment to this beautiful country due to my own bit of Greek heritage. My paternal grandmother, Olympia, is half Greek, and her mother was from Kalamata.

I wasn't raised in the Greek Orthodox Church, but my grandma taught me how to say my prayers in Greek. I'm sad to report, I barely remember how to say them. Nonetheless, my Greek today amounts to a keen understanding of the basic phrases. Hello. Goodbye. Good morning, how are you? Etc...


In many ways, we are all sons and daughters of Ancient Greece. Greece is really the cradle of Western Civilization. So much is owed to antiquity, and the rich foundation the Ancient Greeks built in terms of philosophy, literature, political science, major scientific and mathematical principles, education, and Western drama (just to name a few).

Oh, just the home of the gods. No big deal.....

Greek cuisine is some of the finest dining in the world, and the classic example of the healthy Mediterranean diet. It incorporates fresh ingredients into a variety of dishes like moussaka, Greek Salad, souvlaki, and my absolute favorite, spanakopita. And you'd be crazy to turn down a nice, sweet, and sticky helping of baklava!


Greece is the birth place of the Olympic Games. The Panathenian stadium in Athens hosted the Olympic Games in 1896, 1870, 1875, 1906, and recently in 2004. Of course, you can't talk about Greece without mentioning the numerous gods of the ancient Greek mythology. They intersect with the world of literature's greatest epics ever written (uh, can you say The Odyssey and The Illiad?)

I absolutely love Greek culture, traditions, and customs. I am so thrilled and honor to share this piece of my own personal history with you all.

Stay tuned for all kinds of Greek-ness for your everyday life this week!

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♥ Kherete ♥