Top 20 Greek Recipes for the Week - April 6 - 12, 2009

This braided or twisted sweet dessert bread is made throughout the year and at other holidays, but it is an Easter tradition decorated with red eggs, symbols of the holiday. Also delicious for breakfast or with coffee or tea.

The creamy combination of yogurt, cucumber, and garlic makes tzatziki a refreshing appetizer that can be eaten alone, with bread, or as an accompaniment to vegetables, meat dishes, and pita wraps. It is one of the dips for which Greece is most well-known. Making it for a large group? Try adding grated carrots to increase the quantity (1 carrot for each cup of yogurt used). They add a nice crunch and don't affect the taste.

The skins used to make the dye are from yellow (Spanish) onions. This method, that dates back at least to the Middle Ages, delivers a fabulous, deep red color, symbolic at the Greek Orthodox Easter celebration and fun for all families who make Easter eggs.

This is the Greek recipe for moussaka with eggplant, probably the most well-known of all versions, and a favorite of Greeks and non-Greeks alike. An oven casserole dish, moussaka is made with layers of ground meat and vegetables, and topped with a rich cream sauce.http://z.about.com/d/greekfood/1/6/I/H/moussaka_and_plate_499.jpg

This dip is a delicious appetizer and a favorite with regional differences in this part of the world. The key to great hummus is to let the flavor of the chickpeas come through, rather than be overwhelmed by the lemon (it's easy to get too much lemon taste). It's quick to make, no cooking involved, and it's vegan- and vegetarian-friendly.

Leg of lamb (bone in or out) and potatoes roasted together with the flavors of garlic, lemon, and oregano is a great Sunday roast or special occasion meal. The recipe is easy to prepare, and the taste is out of this world. If you've never prepared lamb and/or potatoes with lemon juice, this is the time to try.

Simpler or more complex variations of this recipe are served in homes all over Greece. This is one of our family's favorites and adds a bit of a different touch with a dash of orange juice.

These butter cookies are easy to make, and the dough is pretty dense, making it ideal for creating a multitude of shapes. The only thing standard about the cookies is that they're small - perfect for snacking, adding to lunchboxes, or serving with coffee and tea.

On the menu in every Greek restaurant and many non-Greek restaurants as well, this salad has many individual variations. This is the traditional version that does not include lettuce.

The way professionals make gyro on an upright rotisserie is fabulous, but not the most practical for most of us cooking at home. This version uses the same meat (pork) and seasonings, but has been adapted to home cooking.