Greek Chicken With Lemon & Olives

Simple roasted chicken is always welcome on my dinner table. This golden-brown, crispy and juicy chicken is spiked with a punchy hit of lemon, oregano and garlic. Briny olives give the pan sauce a delicious saltiness. The sunny flavors of Greece make this dish a hit in our home. It's not complicated to cook either. Serve it with my Ultra Creamy Hummus with Greek Salsa  and my Rice Pilaf with Toasted Orzo, for a delicious Eastern Mediterranean meal.   

Ultra-Creamy Hummus with Greek Salsa

This ultra-smooth and creamy hummus makes a lovely lunch, when served with pita. My Lebanese grandmother used to prepare a large bowl of it at every holiday meal. She made it the old fashioned way, soaking the dried chickpeas overnight and adding lots of tahini.

My quick and healthy version swaps the tahini for Greek yogurt. The yogurt gives it a light and luscious texture. It's high in protein too. The hummus is topped with briny olives and my fresh Greek salsa. The salsa has an herby hit of oregano, crunchy cucumbers and spicy chili pepper. The combination of the crisp salsa, creamy hummus and salty olives is good eating. In the summertime, we often enjoy light meals of Greek Turkey Meatballs , fish or chicken, hummus and fresh pita bread. Warm some pita and get dipping!

Chili-Lime Tzatziki Chickpeas

Fresh salads are making their way into my kitchen. I'm half Lebanese, so I'm genetically programed to love chickpeas. I like using them as the base for satisfying salads. Here, these protein-rich beans are tossed with a creamy yogurt-cucumber dressing. The dressing is spiked with a little garlic and fresh lime juice. The recipe comes together quickly. Everything is combined in one bowl. A red chili pepper finishes things off with colorful flavor and heat. I highly recommend it. Stuff this refreshing salad into soft pita with crisp lettuce and tomato. It's great over a fluffy baked potato for a light vegetarian dinner too.   

Greek Turkey Meatballs

Since I'm half Middle Eastern, the sunny flavors in this dish are close to my heart. I've been making these meatballs for twenty years. A bit of oregano and a pinch of cinnamon give them an Eastern Mediterranean vibe. The delicious aromas of this dish remind me of my Lebanese grandmother. She cooked beautiful meals in her little, yellow, Brooklyn apartment kitchen. She taught me to add a pinch of cinnamon to savory dishes to give them an authentic taste.