Make Mine A Moussaka

By: Helen Ellis

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Make mine a moussaka? Yes, please. Discover Greece. This book is a jolly good travel read and added cooking challenge. One can seek adventure, culture and new horizons in Greece, depending on the whim of the moment - or do nothing successfully in very picturesque surroundings. Oh to eat moussaka at sunset overlooking a tiny bay, while listening to the waves lap on the pebbles nearby ... Move over Shirley Valentine! Here's a sample from the chapters, recipes included: Athens - Maybe it’s not the Paris of the Mediterranean, but nothing quite eclipses the Acropolis. Moussaka - the authentic recipe. Hydra - A "National Treasure" island where the maritime tales of yore blend with the modern nautical ambience. Spetsioteko Psari - Baked Fish. Fishing is part of the Greek psyche, and so is this dish. The Ionian Islands - The shade of Odysseus still haunts Ithaki, Laurence Durrell’s ghost wafts around Corfu, and perhaps Captain Corelli’s wraith plays his mandolin on Kefalonia. Souvlaki - A real Greek staple. Island-hopping in the Cyclades Islands - A real island-hop through a present-day paradise is a wonderful adventure not to be missed. Choriatiki Salata - We all know Greek salad. Or do we? Return to Paros and Naxos - Paros at the turn of the season - a sudden storm changes everything. The hill towns of Naxos - Climbing up from the coastal plain into rolling mountains, the bus winds across grey sun-blasted rocky plateaus, and through quaint little villages crowned with derelict windmills. Kolokythokeftedes - Zucchini Balls - Vegetarian gourmet delight. Santorini - The glitziest of all the islands, the most spectacular as well - oh those views over the caldera, and the fabulous sunsets! But there’s an underlying mystique, a frisson of something intangible. Soutzoukakia - Meatballs in Tomato Sauce - a local specialty. Sifnos - Two unfit Aussies hike the unspoiled beauty of this special island, then experience an evening with simple home-grown entertainment. Stifado - Stew with a Greek difference. Amorgos and Folegandros - Amorgos - A boat trip to and from this barren, remote island, discovering the tiny islands of the Little Cyclades as well. Flotsam in Folegandros - This is one of the islands the ferries stop at on the way to somewhere else. Folegandros is the island where one can learn to do absolutely nothing. Briam - Baked Vegetables - Greek ratatouille. The Peloponnese - Catching local buses and working your way from Athens to Olympia needs patience and perseverance, but it’s a fascinating and different insight into this picturesque region. Spanakopita and Tyropita - Spinach and Cheese Pie. Nafplio - The old town of Nafplio is a Venetian remnant, with tangible ambience and three amazing castles. Also the jumping-off point for the fabulous ruins of Tiryns, Epidaurus and Mycenae. Kotopoulo Lemonato - Lemon Chicken - Let this dish cook itself. My Favorite Things - Sparta - A modern and ancient contrast. Haunted olive groves under the thrall of towering mountains. Mystras - Fantasy Byzantine ruins sprawling down a wooded hillside. Monemvasia - A Byzantine time-warp town, hidden behind a Middle Ages castle wall. The Mani country - Rarely visited and yet darkly intriguing. Melitzanes Papoutsakia - Stuffed Eggplants - Another easy dish. A Challenge on Crete - The dramatic Gorge of Samaria. I complete the seventeen km hike. Not for the faint-hearted or unfit, but utterly magnificent. The Incredible Olive - Pita me Elies - Olive Pie Nisyros - We're marooned on an obscure volcanic island during a gale, and we discover that the Greek tag of "eternal summer" is a misnomer. Tomates (ke piperies) Yemistes - Stuffed Tomatoes (and peppers) Wedding Anniversary - Not fussed about celebrating milestones, we're back on Sifnos for an anniversary. But there are surprises. We make a toast to Greece. Revithia Soupa - Chickpea Soup - The traditional Sunday dish for Sifniots.