Yiayia's Little Kitchen

10/06/2026

Koupes

Luckily for me, my cousin Michael Evangelides recommended a wonderful Koupes shop in Paralimni called Psillos. They are made there on site. I just love shops that sell and specialise in one thing.They are incredible.

Koupes are a Cyprus street food. A spiced bulghar wheat shell is made, filled and fried. You have to eat them warm with lots of lemon juice. Traditional Koupa are made with pork, parsley, onions, spices etc....but you can get fabulous mushroom ones. At another bakery nearby we found halloumi and mint ones....delicious!

They are very large koupes from Psillos. I should really only eat one but I do eat 2 for lunch. They are really filling and for me, they say...Cyprus.

I remember in 1973 and again later in 2002, when we took our kids back to Cyprus, my Nona picking them up from a bakery and us opening the packets in the shady mountainside of Troodos. What a treat it was to picnic on these.

I make them at home in NZ but not this big, as the cases are made by hand rather than machine. If you want to learn, they will be taught at upcoming cooking classes. Just email me if interested.

08/06/2026

Hospitality here in Cyprus is highly valued. Having alot of food offered is an important cultural practice. It expresses generosity, the importance of socializing when eating, it welcomes, it expresses food as identity, connection and love. Yesterday we went to visit a friend of a friend in her eighties....we arrived to her home which exuded a warm Cypriot welcome. Thankyou Vertha (and daughter Yolanda)....it was so wonderful spending time with you. Spinach or Olive pastries, koupes, cheese pastries and Tahinopitas pastries were offered.....everything tasted amazing. My Cypriot coffee was made in the Briki and then came the eating and the storying from times gone by in Famagusta and the meals Vertha used to cook for everyone, especially on Sundays. Kopiaste!

08/06/2026

Mahalepi (Μαχαλεπί)

I was dying to eat this in Cyprus again....it had been so many years since I had it and here we were, on a very hot day, in a delightful village coming back from Troodos mountain and I saw it on a cafe sign. There was only one left in the cafe and I got to have it. Delicious!

So what is it exactly? Well....you might think it's a bit weird, as it is unusual, but perfect in very hot weather when you want to have something but its too hot to eat. It is a traditional Cypriot dairy-free summer pudding. Made from cornstarch (nisiaste), water, sugar, and rose water, it is cooked into a thickish custard, chilled, and served floating in ice-cold water with rose syrup (triantafyllo) and ice cubes. Sometimes it is cut into cubes, mine was not but it was perfect. The first time I ate this in Cyprus I was 12 years old.

03/06/2026

I have taken so many pics of our adventures so far, but I adore this one. It is my favourite...so I am sharing it with you.

02/06/2026

29/05/2026

Today we were back in the mountains....a cooking class in Kouronchori....I was the only student! Visiting a 4TH century and then a 5th century church in Chalki and Moni. Whether you are religious or not, so much history and beautiful art is in the churches. Fabric was retained although very threadbare...frescos were in tact... in some places albeit slightly visible. I wondered how many people had been in these churches over 1700 years. The interiors of the mountain village churches in Naxos were very impressive indeed. At Chalki the priest was welcoming of all tourists, accepting inclusive and educational. I lit more candles for my mother and godparents. We finished our mountain experience with a very special meal with a tremendous view. All the food served there came from the land around the taverna. 3000 year old olive trees, citron fruits dried and dusted in sugar, sour goats cheese to offer a Greek Bliss salad with a difference and Fava to die for....I have never had such a delicious plate of Fava before and I had it in Northern Greece and Turkey.I am going to do everything possible to replicate it when I get home. The stuffed tomatoes were sublime with citrus and spices...our favourite thing in Greece overall is Orange Pie ...this will be made in my second series of Fun with Phyllo classes. I'm not sure how many kilos I have put on!!!!!!! We are walking everyday and swimming...I can't wait to share more authentic recipes with you all when I get back

27/05/2026

Feeling the heat....recoverable moments in the shade with a fab Greek coffee or home made lemonade. Spent some time in a mountain village called Filoti and looked at 17th century olive oil making equipment...if you are thinking about Greece, Naxos is perfect for end of May

23/05/2026

Sargali

These scrunched up Baklava Rolls were much bigger than my middle finger eaten in Pireaus. I chose the pistachio one and was so disappointed to find it stuffed with Nutella. It was delicious but I've not got the love of chocolate that I used to have. The other one chosen by hubby was filled with a light custard and flaked almonds. Now that was a delight to eat.

The Tzatziki on the island of Hydra was laden with garlic and very thick with so much cucumber. Do any of you remember the Sophia Loren movie about the Boy on the Dolphin? Walked up a coastal path on Hydra to find the sculpture.

There are cats everywhere in Greece. Big ones, fat ones, sick ones, skinny ones...everyone feeds them.

20/05/2026

Loving being back in Greece. The morning yoghurt is so, so thick...the honey so malty, the Koulourakia with my coffee in the mornings just perfect. Food here is amazing....there is orange jam to die for at breakfast, the orange cake at the local bakery is sublime, my cup is full; of language, swimming in the med, food that feels like home to me and history all around me.

19/05/2026

Cooking Classes

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