My Big Fat Greek Cookbook

Book excerpt: 2020 finalist for the prestigious Next Generation Indie Book Awards! 65 Deliciously Authentic Recipes Straight from Mama’s Kitchen My Big Fat Greek Cookbook is a comprehensive, contemporary overview of Greek food, recipes, and family culture as documented by the son of a Greek immigrant as his mother neared the end of her life. “This Greek eating tragedy has a beginning (appetizer), a middle (main course), and an end (dessert),” Christos shared. “As my Mama is in her final act, it’s fitting that a quarter of her recipes are desserts. Bon appétit! Kali Orexi! (Insert the sound of breaking plates here . . .)” This is more than just a list of ingredients or series of steps, of course. It’s filled with simple recipes, gorgeous photographs, traditional meals, memories, and tidbits of information that draw family and friends to Greek tables time and again. It has everything from iconic egg-lemon sauce to rich soups, sweet pies, and traditional delicacies like rabbit stew and octopus with pasta, accompanied by tales of Greek history and insight into cultural nuances. Recipes include: Meatballs (keftedes) Lentils (fatkes) Stuffed vegetables (gemistra) Spinach pie (spanakopita) Tzatziki Spaghetti with cheese (makaronia me tyri) Roast lamb (arni sto fourno) Moussaka Apple cake (milopita) Ride pudding (rizogalo) And more! With stunning photographs throughout and 65 deliciously authentic recipes, this book is a peek into a Greek family that has achieved what so many of us yearn for: a fuller, more meaningful, and joyful life, lived simply and nourished on real, delicious Greek meals that you can access anywhere with this cookbook on hand.