More Kouppes

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We think that one of the most comforting phrases anyone can hear is, “Me too!”.  With these two, simple words, so much is communicated; they signify a sense of belonging, of kinship, of mutual understanding.  You once dreamed of being a prima ballerina, even though you have size ten feet and zero flexibility?  Me too!  You think you have an amazing singing voice that needs the acoustics of a shower to really shine?  Me too!  You are convinced that potato chips are a vegetable because, well, potato?  Me too!
Since beginning this blog and sharing the idea behind Mia Kouppa with friends, family, co-workers and random strangers (we are very shameless  friendly people), me too‘s have been reverberating in our ears.  When we tell people that our parents measure nothing in the kitchen, that their cooking is instinctual and that their “recipes” (note: the term is used very loosely) are littered with instructions that truly make no sense, heads nod, laughter ensues, and “Me too’s!” are chuckled.  Folks, we are not alone.  It seems that there are cupboards in Greek kitchens everywhere which hold the ubiquitous kouppa.  All sorts of kouppes! More kouppes!!  And behind every one of these kouppes there is a mother, a father, a grandparent or an uncle, someone, who wields this kouppa like a magic wand, whipping up delicious food that is next to impossible to re-create.  What to do?  Keep these amazing recipes confined to one kitchen?  Silly…of course not!


Given the joy we have had cooking with our parents, (and all that we have learned from them), and the excitement of sharing their delicious and traditional recipes with all of you… we decided to spread the happiness.  We extended an invitation to family and friends, asking them to choose a favourite family meal, one that they did not have a true recipe for.  And then, we invited ourselves into their kitchens and we arrived with our cameras, our notepads, our scales and our measuring tools and we set to cooking with these kitchen wizards.  As when we cook with our own parents, the recipes are then transcribed so that they can be shared.  More Kouppes is our way of celebrating all of the great, Greek, home cooks that we, and you, know.
Yay!
Helen and Billie
Links to our More Kouppes recipes
Cheesecake
Pear-shaped cookies (ahladakia)
Cherry spoon sweet
Theia Voula’s pizza
Vegan pastichio

Thanks for sharing!

16 Comments

  1. elliebleu says:

    Such a lovely post. I actually learned how to cook when living in Athens and becoming friends with women in my neighborhood. Then, years later, when I returned to the states, I taught my mom and cousins how to cook with olive oil, fresh herbs, and everything wonderful about Greek cuisine. It’s something that I look forward to passing on to my children some day. I learned the best stories start in the kitchen, and it’s fun to follow yours.

    1. miakouppa says:

      Oh thank you so much! Your comment makes my heart sing 🙂

  2. Lovely post! I would like to say “Me too”… but it is more like “Us too” and “us” here refers to Indian families… our parents never measured anything, but everything came out tasting just perfect!

    1. miakouppa says:

      Ha ha …love it! Believe me, Greek families are just as large, and everyone has an opinion. Aren’t parents awesome 🙂

  3. Alexandra says:

    This blog is not only beautifully executed but further shown us the power of cooking. It ultimately brings us so much joy and connects us to the ones we love most. Mia Kouppa has not only shown us this but helps ignite that passion in their readers 🙂

    1. miakouppa says:

      Thank you Alexandra for this beautiful comment!! We are so happy that you are enjoying our blog. xoxo Helen & Billie

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