Hi Everyone
As a continuation from last year, this year each week I will try and make a Greek recipe here with the Greek ingredients that I can find here, that are usually a little harder to find in the states!!! This recipe however no problem finding the ingredients in the states!!!
There is a restaurant we go to often called Isalos. We know the owners and they wait for my little group to arrive because my kids order big and we eat a lot!!! The speciality is fish and seafood of all sorts!! Here is a picture from last year to remind you of where I am talking about!!
The Greek tradition when you eat at Greek restaurants is that the owner gifts you the dessert! Yes, no paying for dessert!!! And they usually bring you ice cold watermelon and a sweet dessert. Well at Isalos the favorite amongst my little group is the Kormos!! Literally no plates needed, you quickly just stab the nicely cut piece with a fork and just eat itoff the fork! And then you fight for the few remaining pieces!!!
So I decided to try my hand at this dessert. It is literally chocolate + pieces of biscuit cookie. How hard could that be? I was excited that when I bought the cookies they ever so nicely put a small little recipe pamphlet inside the package. The downside was that it was in Greek. Now I can read Greek just fine. Understanding what I read is another thing. But I managed. The other problem is that all the ingredients were measured out in grams......seriously, don't they know I know nothing but cups!!! So my handy iPad served as my ingredients translator! So again I managed! Then half way through mixing the recipe I decided I probably should double the recipe, which then caused me issues because I forgot to double the butter. When the mixture was all complete I was puzzled as to why my ingredients were so watery, duh, you need to add more butter silly. Oh right. So anyways, what I'm trying to say, this recipe, when done like you know what you are doing, should take 5 minutes to mix up!! Seriously 5 minutes......it took me an hour!!! Great project to do with the kids.....as all the cookies need to be broken apart. I was helped my chef Theo & chef Ana.....who had a tough time at first understanding that their mom WANTED them to break the cookies! I had to show them a few times that is was OK to break the cookies! Well, once they understood they completed their job perfectly and with great enthusiasm!!
So, how did it turn out????? Welllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll, rave reviews from everyone. Yesterday Icut up a plate of the delicious little squares and before the plate was put on the table everyone, especially the kids, inhaled the pieces before Grandma Meme could even pick up her fork......I, of course, gave her a bowl of her own!!!! And told her to run for the hills to eat it!! This coming Thursday at our local grocery store they have weekly specials on items....and this Thursday they are selling a kitchen scale, so I will no longer have to figure out if I am serving up the correct amount of grams!!! Yahoooo!!!
Anyways, try this recipe! It is super easy, super yummy, you serve it cold so perfect for summer! No cooking involved. All the ingredients can be found in the USA. I hope you enjoy it!!!!
KORMOS
Kormos is the Greek word for tree log and this dessert is named after it's shape. A summertime favorite in Greece! This dessert is so easy, even a child can make it!
Ingredient
1 pkg Plain FLAT butter biscuit/cookies
2 cups Sugar
250g Butter or Margarine(1cup) - room temperature
½ cup Milk
1 cup Cocoa Powder
1 tbsp
orLiqueur of your choice – optional
Directions
- Break the cookies into small pieces, don't crumble them. Wet with milk and cognac. Do not soak!
- Beat butter, sugar, and cocoa powder.
- Add to broken cookies and mix well. Line a bread tin or any freezer safe, long, rectangular dish with grease proof paper, leaving enough over the sides to fold over once filled. Press the mixture into the tin, fold in sides to seal. Place in freezer for at 2-3 hours. If you want a more rounder log shape, don't use the tin, just place the mixture on a sheet of grease-proof paper and the roll the paper up, sealing the sides by tucking under the ends. Once it is sufficiently chilled, remove your "log", slice and enjoy!!!
ps....Did I mention that the website Food Explorer listed it as one of the TOP 100 Desserts in the World!! Excellent!! They also listed Tsoureki, the Greek Easter Bread that I make every Easter, which is also amazing!! Check out the other desserts listed. Check out if your favorite country made the list!!
Super Sweet Hugs XOXO
Val