Despidoodle

the digital alias of Despina Panagakos Yeargin

  • Greek. Braised. Lemon. Chicken.

    Greek. Braised. Lemon. Chicken.

    Sounds SO boring, doesn’t it? But it isn’t. My husband walked into the house when this dish was cooking and said that it smelled like home. The aroma made him feel safe and cozy, comforted and loved. Now that’s quite the accolades for just a few simple ingredients, but, indeed, this is how it is…

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  • The Best Greek Soup You’ve Never Had

    The Best Greek Soup You’ve Never Had

    This is the best Greek soup you’ve never had.  And you’ll probably never have it at a Greek restaurant. It’s made in homes all over the Peloponnese area of Greece and anywhere that Greek immigrants from those parts have landed. My father’s side of my Greek family is from Sparta. My father and his sisters ate…

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  • Tiny Tarts. Greek Flavors.

    Tiny Tarts. Greek Flavors.

    What takes thirty minutes to prepare? What’s simply delicious? What would make Ina Garten happy? What’s a great addition to a charcuterie board with cocktails? Want me to keep going? No? Just one more! What’s an easy addition to a beautiful green salad and sliced fruit for an elegant lunch? Click here for a printable…

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  • Happy New Year, Greece, Italy and a Birthday

    Happy New Year, Greece, Italy and a Birthday

    Perhaps I’m a tad late with the New Year greeting. Perhaps not. Perhaps I’m a bit confused, you say? Perhaps. Here’s what happened for me on the first day of 2022. The olive oil cake that saved the day First Day Conundrum. I set the table the night before to enjoy a traditional Southern New…

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  • Reboot, the Greek Way

    Reboot, the Greek Way

    Today is for new beginnings. A clean slate. A fresh start. A day for EASY to prepare but delicious food. January is for balancing the overeating and carb overloading of that joyful time from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve. What’s different about how Greeks do it? On the second day of the year, I showed…

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  • An Alternative Christmas Dinner

    An Alternative Christmas Dinner

    If you’ve grown tired of turkey and ham and all of the traditional side dishes, why not try an easy dinner that you can prepare for two, for three, for four or as a feast for many? Perhaps you find yourself with no idea what to cook. Don’t stress over this. I’ve got a plan…

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  • Kourabiethes–Say That Three Times

    Kourabiethes–Say That Three Times

    Just about every cultural group has a version of shortbread cookies dusted with powdered sugar. Greeks are no different. Our version is not just dusted with powdered sugar–we have a heavy snowfall over the cookies just as soon as they’re out of the oven! Here’s a link to a printable recipe for you to try.…

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  • Sweet Potato Hash

    Sweet Potato Hash

    A beautiful and nutrient-dense side dish, this sweet potato hash can stand on its own as a vegan main dish–just replace the oil with coconut oil or more olive oil. For a printable recipe, click here. Adding red Swiss chard towards the end of cooking elevates the nutrition level While I recommend serving this dish…

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  • Pumpkin Spice Cake

    Pumpkin Spice Cake

    This was one of our best-selling cakes at my restaurant. During fall and winter, just as soon as the temperatures dropped, we baked this cake daily. I’ll share the recipe with you and give you a few of my restaurant tips that you can apply at home. For a printable recipe, click on this link.…

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  • Green Beans, Southern Style

    Green Beans, Southern Style

    My sister-in-law Sue, always brought her green beans to the family Thanksgiving dinner. She always used pole beans and a little bit of fatback…or maybe it was a lot of fatback. Simple. Traditional. Really good! This has been one of my favorite holiday dishes since Dewey and I married. Sue is recovering from a stroke…

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