I was lucky enough to, quite literally, galavant through Europe with my best friends for two weeks. Now that I’m back, I’ve developed a hankering for Feta Cheese that may never be satiated, I now prefer Aperol Spritz’ to actual water, and I still have no idea how Germans can make a potato pancake fluffy, crispy, and still made of potato. The potato pancake recipe still needs more work but here’s what I was able to recreate!
Here’s to my quest to quench my cravings.
What’s on the Menu:
Tiropitas
Leftover Orzo Salad
Tatziki and Pita
Pancetta Pizza
Greek Salad
Aperol Spritz
Bucket of Mojitos
Sour Cream and Onion Pringles
Tiropitas
Takes: 90 minutes
Makes: 18
Mise: 1 packet of filo dough, 12 oz feta cheese, 1/2 cup melted butter, 4 oz Ricotta cheese, 2 eggs, salt.
1. Thaw filo dough per package instructions. Combine cheese, eggs, and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Melt butter. Find pastry brush.
2. Lay out full filo sheet on counter then cut into four strips. On the first strip, place 2 Tbs of filling on the bottom left of the sheet in a triangle form.
3. Brush the sheet with butter. Gently fold the filo over itself in a triangle pattern. Brush next strip with butter. Place rolled triangle on next sheet and fold again. Repeat with other strips.
4. Once all filling and filo is used, preheat oven to 350*, brush the tops of the tiropitas with butter, and bake until golden brow, about 20 minutes.
5. Let rest for 10-20 minutes. Serve and enjoy.
Leftover Orzo Salad
Takes: 20 minutes
Makes: 12 servings
Mise: 1 1/2 cups orzo pasta, 1 cup olives, 1 cup crumbled feta cheese, 1 cup cucumber, 1 cup tomato, 1 cup grilled vegetables, 1 cup chicken, 1/2 cup onion, olive oil, oregano, salt, pepper.
1. Prepare orzo per box instructions. Set aside to cool.
2. Dice vegetables and shred chicken.
3. Combine cooled pasta with vegetables, drizzle with olive oil, season with salt, pepper, and oregano.
Tatziki + Pita
Takes: 5 minutes
Makes: 12 servings
Mise: 2 cups unflavored Greek yogurt, 1/4 cup mayo, 1 large cucumber, fresh dill, salt, pepper.
1. Combine Greek yogurt and mayo in a bowl.
2. Slice cucumber down the middle and use a spoon to remove the seeds. Then, using a cheese grater, grate the cucumber into the yogurt mix.
3. Chop a bunch of fresh dill and add it to mix, season with salt and pepper.
4. Grill pita and serve
Greek Salad
Takes: 5 minutes
Makes: 2 large servings
Mise: 4 roma tomatoes, 1 large cucumber, feta cheese, red onion, Greek olives, olive oil, salt, pepper, dried oregano.
1. Cut tomatoes and cucumber into large chunks and add to a bowl.
2. Slice red onion thinly and add desired amount to bowl. Add olives, toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, and dried oregano.
3. Cut feta cheese into large blocks and place on top.
Aperol Spritz
Takes: 2 Minutes
Makes: 1 Large Drink
Mise: Aperol, Prosecco, Sparkling Soda
1. In a wine glass, add 1 Tbs Aperol, 8oz Prosecco, Anne combine.
2. Add ice. Top with soda.
3. Drink until pleasantly tipsy.
Bucket of Mojitos
Takes: 5 minutes
Makes: a Bucket of Mojitos
Mise: 1 bucket, 4-8 long crazy colored straws, raw sugar, fresh mint, 3-4 limes, simple syrup, club soda, gold rum, white rum.
1. At the bottom of your bucket, macerate mint with sugar and juice of your limes.
2. Add in desired equal portions of simple syrup and white rum and 1.5 of that amount of gold rum.
3. Top with soda and ice. Decorate with crazy straws. Crush with friends.
Sour Cream and Onion Pringles
Takes: 5 minutes
Makes: 1 can
Mise: 1 hangover, 1 Jeep Wrangler, 4 exhausted women, 1 small gas station in the middle of nowhere Germany.
1. Release hungover women into gas station snack section after they’ve all gone to the bathroom.
2. Let them roam until they’ve acquired their caffeine of choice.
3. Wait until the Alpha exclaims, “OMG,” lifts a Pringle’s can into the air, and shakes it as if it were a dinner bell.
4. Wait until the rest of the women respond with their own, “omg yesssss”
5. Grab multiple cans. Pay for them as fast as possible.
6. Devour in the back of said Jeep Wrangle until rejuvenated.