Celebrating Mother's Day In Dallas

Of course - the most ancient references to Mother's Day  are (you guessed it) GREEK.  With the yearly spring festivals and fertility rites, also came a natural honor of maternal goddesses. During the spring festivals, the Greeks also honored Rhea, wife of the titan Cronus, and the matriarch of most of Greek mythology.

Nearby (in time and geography) in Rome, an annual spring celebration took place in a similar fashion, and moms were celebrated with an event called Hilaria, dedicated to Cybele, a mother goddess. The Roman version of the event was quite a celebration, and lasted three days and nights. It's rumored that the parties were too wild, and followers of Cybele were eventually banished from Rome.

In other areas of early Europe, early Christians celebrated "Mothering Sunday" during Lent (fourth Sunday) in honor of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Christ. Later, in the United Kingdom, the holiday grew to encompass ALL moms.

This Mother's Day, treat mom to Dallas' award-winning champagne brunch, and let her enjoy Mother's Day as it originated - GREEK!  Visit us for our special Mother's Day Celebration - at Ziziki's (all three locations).  Treat her to time tested family recipes, and an environment like no other! OPA!

Recipe Week: Greek Style Leg of Lamb

If anyone is an expert at cooking fabulous tasting lamb, the Greeks are. Of course, we reserve serving lamb for the most special of occasions. And we do know how to throw a party! Opa!

Lots of lemon, garlic, rosemary, and oregano infuse this spring roast.

Yield : Makes 8 servings

Ingredients
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried rosemary, coarsely crumbled
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 leg of lamb, 5½ to 6 pounds, excess fat trimmed
¾ cup water

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 425° F.

2. In a small mixing bowl combine the lemon zest, oregano, rosemary, garlic, and flour. Stir in the lemon juice to make a paste, then season with salt and pepper. Make ½-inch, deep slits allover the leg of lamb. Rub the lemon paste all over the leg, making sure it gets into the slits.

3. Put the lamb on a rack in a roasting pan and pour the water into the bottom of the pan. Roast the lamb 30 minutes. Reduce the heat to 325° F and continue roasting until a meat thermometer registers 145° F for medium-rare meat, 1 to 1¼ hours longer.

4. Transfer the lamb to a cutting board and let sit 10 minutes before carving. Skim the fat from the pan juices and spoon over the sliced lamb.

If you try this recipe, be sure to tell us what you thought in the comments!

Recipe: Greek Spice Cake

Photo Courtesy of Taste of Home

Who doesn't love cake? The brown sugar, almond extract, cinnamon and cloves is what really gives this cake it's exotic taste. Serve it warm for a special treat. See, you can have your cake and eat it too! Opa!

Prep: 25 min.
Bake: 50 min. + cooling
Yield: 12 Servings

Ingredients
1 tablespoon shortening
2 tablespoons plus 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup canola oil
1 cup buttermilk
3 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar

Directions

Grease 10-in. fluted tube/bundt pan with shortening; lightly coat with 2 tablespoons flour. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the sugars, oil, buttermilk, eggs and extracts until well blended. Combine the remaining flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, cloves and baking soda; gradually beat into the sugar mixture until blended. Stir in pecans. Transfer to prepared pan.

Bake at 325° for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

If you try this recipe, be sure to tell us what  you thought in the comments!

The History of Happy Hour

The term Happy Hour actually has its roots in Navy slang from the 20s, when the time for the scheduled period of entertainment on-ship was referred to as the happy hour. After the National Prohibition Act was instituted in 1919, speakeasies adopted the term for the hours patrons arrived to drink illegal cocktails prior to eating at restaurants that observed the prohibition. The term then began to be applied to the consumption of illegal liquor before dinner in the home as well.

Happy Hour really kicked into gear thanks to an article in a 1960s Saturday Evening Post issue where the Navy's scheduled entertainment time was mentioned. Bars and restaurants latched onto the concept to increase alcohol sales. 

Typically held between the hours of 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Happy Hour evolved into an after work event where co-workers would get together at the end of a work day to socialize and relieve stress. Every local tavern and popular restaurant boasted a happy hour of sorts, often offering cocktails at a discount for those hours.

The best Dallas happy hour is here at Ziziki’s is Monday through Friday from 4-6pm. Come blow off some steam with us.

Recipe Week: Greek Yogurt Chocolate Truffles

Last week we gave you some great info on Greek yogurt. How about trying your hand at a treat made with that nutritious and delicious staple?

This truffle recipe gets rave reviews by everyone who tries it. They simply melt in your mouth. These are quite rich. Just one is sure to cure that chocolate craving.

Ingredients:
- 4 teaspoons of fat-reduced cocoa powder + some extra cocoa to roll the truffles
- 1 tablespoon of fat free Greek yogurt
- 5 tablespoons of powdered skim milk
- 2 egg yolks
- 5 drops of butter flavoring
- 3 teaspoons of artificial sweetener

Directions:
Mix everything together. Add extra powdered skim milk if necessary until the paste reaches a firm consistency. Put aside in the fridge for a few hours. Before serving them, roll the balls in cocoa powder.

If you try this recipe, be sure to tell us about it in the comments. 

Ziziki's Lakeside Market Named One Of Plano Profile's "Best Eats"

Every year, the folks at Plano Profile survey their readers to find out where the best eats are in Collin County. Nowadays, the selection of restaurants in Plano, Allen, Frisco and McKinney is huge - and the talent pool is deep with high-end heavy-hitters like Bob's Steak and Chop House, Nicola's and Jaspers. But we're proud to say that we made the list last year - for BEST GREEK.

We're thrilled to be on the list of local reader faves - it's Costa's tried and true recipes, our atmosphere (have you seen our uber-cool deck and patio?) and the magic that is Greek cuisine.

OPA!