Character Ginny George’s Greek Recipes

Greek Garlic Pasta
from Wind In The Wires

Greek Recipes #1

Ginny George’s Greek Garlic Pasta
Janet Chester Bly

One of her main Greek recipes, Ginny calls this Greek Death By Garlic. Not wanting to scare away any potential cooks, I softened the name. Ginny wanted to fix this for Reba during her stay at Road’s End, Idaho. However, she complained in Chapter 7 the Cahills didn’t keep hot chorizo, green peppers, or near enough garlic on hand in their pantry. Can imagine the spicy menu if Reba ever goes to visit Ginny and her large Greek family in California.

Ingredients:
Servings: 6-8

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
20 cloves garlic, minced or to taste
1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
1 tsp. black pepper or to taste
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes or hot pepper
3 tablespoons fresh parsley
1/4 cup fresh oregano leaves or 3/4 tsp. dried oregano
3 cups penne or rotini pasta
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. dried marjoram
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. dried rosemary
Pinch of ground dried mint
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon (optional)
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg (optional)
1/4-1/3 cup Romano or Parmesan cheese
1 or 2 red peppers, cut in strips or diced
1 or 2 green peppers, cut in strips or diced
1 or 2 yellow peppers, cut in strips or diced
1 can black olives, sliced or whole, drained
1 red or purple onion, sliced thinly
1 (250 g) package feta cheese or 1/2 oz blue cheese, cut and crumbled
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon zest
1 lemon, juice of
6 hot Italian sausages or chorizo sausage, cooked and 1/2” slices

Directions:

• Cook pasta according to package directions.
• While pasta is cooking, in a large stir fry pan or skillet, sauté garlic and peppers in oil.
• Add sausage, olives, and seasonings to warm through.
• Toss hot pasta with garlic mixture and add salt & pepper
• Garnish with cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, onion slices, pepper flakes, and parsley.
• Serve immediately in a pre-warmed serving dish.

Greek Garlic Pasta
a.k.a. Greek Death By Garlic

This recipe also featured at Rambles of a SAHM blog: Greek Garlic Pasta

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Greek Recipes #2

Ginny’s Greek Skillet Mess

Ginny George’s Greek Skillet Mess
Janet Chester Bly

Ginny fixed a variation of one of her many Greek recipes. She prepared this dish one late night in a Chapter 7 scene when she and Reba commiserated over Ginny’s totaled red Jaguar and Reba just learned some terrible news about her grandmother. Hungry Reba wolfed hers down. “You’d make someone a wonderful wife,” she commented. “That’s what my husband thought,” Ginny replied. “Boy, was he wrong.” Then Ginny admitted her unexpected visit with Reba had another motivation. “I’ve run away. We haven’t been getting along.” A heart-to-heart over yummy food.

Ingredients
Servings: 6

1 lb sausages (Kielbasa, sliced) or hamburger, fried & crumbled
5 potatoes (boiled and cut into slices)
1 onion (large, thinly sliced)
1 tsp minced garlic
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 large green and/or red bell peppers
1 large or 2 medium zucchinis, sliced (veggies can be varied)
lemon juice
1 can tomato paste or 1 jar tomato pasta sauce (Ginny likes Ragu® Old World Style®)
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. basil
2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. dill
1 tsp. rosemary

Directions:

Brown sausage and potatoes in oil over medium heat about 15-20 minutes.
Add bell peppers, zucchini, onion, and garlic. Cook until tender.
Sprinkle with lemon juice.
Add 2 tbsp of Greek seasoning.
Stir in pasta sauce (sometimes Ginny leaves this out & uses extra oil, if too dry) and bring to boil.
Simmer & stir about 10 minutes.
Serve with crusty bread.

Greek Skillet Mess

This recipe also featured at Rambles of a SAHM blog: Greek Skillet Mess

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Wind in the Wires
Book 1
Trails of Reba Cahill

These Greek recipes come from scenes in Wind in the Wires, Book 1, Trails of Reba Cahill by Janet Chester Bly. It’s a contemporary western mystery. A road adventure with a touch of romance. It’s Cowgirl Lit.