about
An Introduction
Hi, and welcome to my little corner of the world wide interwebs! I’m Elly, I’m 31, and I live in Chicago. Since 2006, I’ve been married to my amazing husband and best friend, Tom (Yeah, I know, everyone says that, right? But it’s true. Tom and I were great friends for 3.5 years before dating). We welcomed our gorgeous baby boy, Zachary, into the world on April 2, 2010. We decided to make My Big Fat Greek Family sweat it out for a few years. And now, of course, they’re putting the pressure on for #2.
I’m somewhere between a first and second generation Greek (my mom was born in Greece and my dad was the first generation to be born in the States). I do like to cook Greek food (hence the OPA! in my blog title), but it comprises just a small fraction of our meals, as I love experimenting with other foods, ethnicities and taste combinations. But, just for kicks, here’s a picture of me enjoying a piece of my grandma’s (yiayia’s) plasto, which is a savory greens pie. Mmm.
nom nom nom
I started this blog as a way to cure some boredom once I finished grad school and had a lot of time on my hands. It was a way for me to document my recipes (if you know any Greeks, you know they don’t use recipes so trying to figure out how your grandma makes something over the phone is pretty near impossible). It has now helped me do that, sharpen my photographing skills a little bit (I’m still learning), and introduce me to a world of other amazing bloggers.
Some other things I enjoy include music (I’m one of those old-schoolers who still purchases CDs), vodka tonics, filling up my DVR, making lists, and learning things from my son (who is now a toddler, which means I should probably get working on his baby book).
After rereading this about section, I’ve decided I am also a big fan of parenthetical asides (obviously).
Connect with Me
Email: ellysaysopa [at] gmail [dot] com
Press/As Seen On:
Click here for a list of websites that have featured elly says opa!
Product Testing:
I am willing to sample and blog about products, provided that the product is something I’m interested in and would eat. As you can see from my blog, I am all for natural ingredients and am not into artificial ingredients, partially hydrogenated anything, and so on. If you’re interested, contact me at the email above! My new policy states that a reader should be given the chance to win the same product I am reviewing, so please only contact me if you are willing to provide a second item for a reader.
Advertising and Link Exchanges:
I am not currently interested in new advertising on my blog, nor do I participate in link exchanges.
Usage:
This site carries a Creative Commons License. All texts and images ©2006-2012 by Elly Says Opa! Do not use any of my photos without permission. If you use/link any content from my blog, please attribute them to elly says opa! and link to the original post.
elly says opa! is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
{ 59 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi elly,
I’m not one to be jealous of others because it’s one of the 7 sins but…I envy you your young age of 27 yrs. …spit, spit… (I’m quite a bit older) You have so many years of great recipes and experiments ahead of you. Mmmmm.
I found you recently and I enjoy your blog. Keep it up!!
fran
Oh, and your baklava french toast is ….fantastic. I make my “sandwiches” and soak in my french toast mixture overnight. Out of this world!!
How freakin cute are you in this pic? And now with the new site, I can finally leave comments! Yay! :)
Very cool, you’ve got a new site. Okay, I’m being a nerd here, but what kinda software do you use for this? I think Vox is nice, but it’s a bit of a pain in some aspects — like people having to register in order to leave comments, and things like that, so I’ve been wondering about finding something else.
Yeehaw – I use wordpress. It’s similar to Vox in terms of the formatting/posting but it’s easy to import/export files (unlike vox), you can connect it to a personal domain, etc. Eventually I would like to be a little more technilogical and manage my own domain/SQL but for now this works great.
As a fellow Greek woman from Michigan I can very much relate to many of your blog entries. I must say you are a very talented woman and I am so glad I ran across your blog. Best of luck and I for one can’t wait to see what you post next.
Kalispera apo Londino. Se diavazoume edw k ena mina peripou k den boroume na ksekollisoume! Filia, Kiki
Hi Elly
I am a big fan of yours! Congratulations on the amazing job you have done. You inspired me and I have recently created my own page with recipies…but I am afraid in Greek only !
So If you can read Greek please visit bettyscuisine.blogspot.com
and let me have your comments!
hey quick question – how do you measure the calories in your dishes? I’ve always been so curious of how one would go about doing that… let me know! thanks x kiki
Hi Kiki! I use sparkrecipes.com for the nutritional information.
Hi Elly!
My name is Katerina, I grew up in Athens and have been in US for 6 years now. I love your website, recipes, pictures and humour, eisai thea! I’m actually going to try and make the Raspberry Buttermilk cake tomorrow!! Will let you know how it goes, filakia!
Hi Elly, guess you can change the bio part about you not having kids “much to my Big Fat Greek family’s dismay”. Congrats on the wonderful news!
I’m a Chicago girl (sorta, Park Ridge). Always looking for suggestions on great Greek restaurants. Which are your favorites? Thanks. Great blog!
Hi Ariana. We recently tried Taxim in Wicker Park and it was fabulous! Slightly more upscale and a little different than your standard Greek food. In Greektown, I like Greek Isles and Rodity’s is pretty good too.
I love you’re story Elly.It sounds cool
My name is Elly! Same spelling, too. Though this Elly is not so much a cook…so, I’m crazy jealous.
I just found this blog off of Annie Eats! Congrats on the upcoming baby, I hope all is well with you and Tom!
Elly,
Can you please contact me at Yiannab@yahoo.com?
I couldn’t find any contact infromation on your site.
Efharisto!
Joanna
Hello, Elly–
I’d like to subscribe to your site.
Yay for good food!
Hi Ann! I *just* added a side bar link where you can subscribe to the blog via email. Hope this helps (you and others)!
Hi Elly,
Google Reader suggested your blog for me today, and I just love it! We seem to have a lot in common (only I’m Italian, not Greek), and I absolutely love your writing style. Some of your dishes are making me hungry — and I just ate lunch! Can’t wait to try some of them out.
Hi Elly -
Ran across your blog while searching recipes to get me through lent with some type of flavor. I gave up sugar, wheat and dairy. Yeah, I know, what was I thinking but I did. Although I found lots of yummy things here I cannot wait to try the Pastitsio.
We grew up next door to a Greek family that ended up becoming our extended family. My “Aunt” Tula made an amazing rice pudding with a greek custard. It had a hard milk shell with a rich and creamy inside. Pure Joy! If you have a similar recipe I would love if you posted it.
Thanks for blogging. I have found some great vegetable recipes to try in the meantime but honestly I am looking forward to the Pastitsio!
Hi Gina. Thanks for visiting! I don’t think I have ever had a rice pudding with a hard milk shell. Sounds very interesting! I have yet to blog rice pudding/rizogalo so I will have to do that soon.
Maybe I am misrepresenting this, my Aunt Tula used a greek custard for her rice pudding. When it set, the milk in the pudding formed a bit of a heavier layer that was just joy to break through cause that meant you got to the wonderful creaminess of the pudding. Either way, it was AMAZING!
I look forward to your rizogalo post!
Hello Elly. I just discovered your blog through Maria’s (Kali Orexi) and it looks fantastic. Lovely recipes and photographs as well :)
I’ll be visiting you often!
Magda
So glad you found me and as a result I found you, Magda! I’m already loving the first post I see on your blog for ravani :)
just had to stop by and say Opa! I am a Greek girl as well. Dad from Greece and Mom from New York but her parents from Greece…..
Geia!!!!!!!!!!!! Opa opa opa…..
Hello from Salonica!
Hi Ellie! I just found your blog through Annie’s Eats. And I just bookmarked about 1000000 of your recipes. So excited to try everything!
I am sooo glad to have found your blog! I love Greek food. We have some pretty great Greek restaurants out here in Vegas (in fact, one is called Opa!), but I’ve been searching everywhere for some grilled vegetables–the medely they serve at many restaurants. I think your lemon potatoes are the ones I’m looking for…any other vegetable varieties you could share?
Thanks for posting your secrets! :)
Hi Lindsay! Thanks for stopping by. One of my favorite Greek dishes is called Tourlou…sometimes also called briam. It’s a long-baked veggie medley and SO good. Here is the link: http://ellysaysopa.wordpress.com/2008/09/17/tourlou-tourlou. Here is a recipe for okra, which is easily adaptable to both green beans (make as is) os peas (sub dill for parsley): http://ellysaysopa.com/2008/04/15/greek-style-okra. Enjoy! :)
Hi Elly,
I just found you today, and I’m so excited to start trying some of your recipes! Keep up the great work!
Take care,
Chris
You are awesome :)
Hi Elly, I just stumbled upon your blog today while surfing the web for some yummy Lebanese recipes. I have been dating my boyfriend for over a year and a half now and he was born in Beirut, Lebanon. Needless to say, I have been immersing myself in the Lebanese culture, mainly focusing on the food. I love that it is your favorite food to eat…his mom is an amazing cook and I can’t wait to start making her recipes. I found some great recipes as well on your site and can’t wait to try them. The Greek style is so similar…so I am a new fan of your site. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for stopping by, Cortney!
Hi Elly!
As a fellow Greek-American I really look forward to following your work! Im only 17, but Im always looking for food blogs to inspire me in my cooking adventures! I just discovered this a few minutes ago, and after I read your ‘about’ I cant wait to venture deeper into it and read all about your amazing creations! Thanks for sharing everything with us :D
I just found your blog when I was searching for recipes for Kritharaki. I’m only one-quarter Greek, but my Yia-Yia used to make this for our family and we loved it. It’s my sister’s birthday so i wanted to see if I could make it for her. It’s something that seems never to be available in Greek restaurants here in Chicago (where I live as well) – -is that true, or am I missing it? Glad to have found you and congratulations on your son!
Hi Elizabeth. When I hear kritharaki, it just means orzo pasta to me. Do you mean the orzo with meat and tomato-y type sauce? If so that can be called youvetsi (baked) or manestra (stovetop). The Greek restaurants I’ve been to usually have youvetsi. I’m not sure if you mean something else though! I have a recipe for both of those on my blog.
wow i just spent most of my lunch hour bookmarking recipes on your blog!! I love greek food and i am really loving your blog.
I’m new at blogging and I am trying to get better at it and add more options and features etc.
Thanks for being such a great inspiration to this Detroit girl!
Hi Elly!
Yasou Elly mou! I just wanted to say hi (from a fellow Greek girl) and to let you know that I have added yout to my list of blogs that I follow on http://www.goodfoodgourmet.com. I have been following your blog for a while now, and love your style. You actually inspired me to create a page ‘for a well stocked pantry’ on my blog! I would love for you to visit…Many thanks again! Caterina
Hi Elly, I absolutely love your blog! My mom is Greek and it’s such a wonderful thing to see the recipes that my Yia-Yia and Thia have made through the years explained in such a clear, fun to read way. I recently started a blog myself at http://180turning30.wordpress.com/, I hope you’ll check it out. Thanks so much for sharing!
All the best,
Marla
Just wanted to say how much I love your blog. There are tons of your recipes on my “must make” list on my own blog that I just started. I check on here all the time to see what you’re up to!
Hey there!
I’d like to pass on a Stylish Blogger Award to you. I love your blog. You can pick the award up on my blog post here:
http://meandmyroommate.wordpress.com/2011/03/19/stylish-blogger-award/
Yasas,
I just found your food blog and I just want to repeat that it is great! After lent I will be trying out your receipes. And your pantry section is very helpful. And like you I married my best friend, a Greek whom I met in Chicago, and we are together almost fifteen truley wonderful years. Keep up the good work!
Yasas
Hi Elly,
Just to let you know that on my recommendation, the editor of this section of our website:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/free-books-cooking
..has decided to add your blog link to his next update.
Regards,
Dr. Glyn Burgess
Site Manager
I love your blog…great recipes and stories about cooking and family!!! I’m spreading the word about you to all my foodie friends!! OPA!!
Hi Elly
I am new to this blogging.
I just discovered your site through Peter G. I too am a Greek foodie and also love International food. I live in Australia, however I am a true Greek as I was born there many moons ago. My heart is in Greece although I have not been back since 1956. WOW you might say, but, such is life. I love food and love cooking and baking for my family and friends. I will one day create a blog like yours so that my experiences can be shared with others. I have grand children that love to get into the kitchen with their yia yia (grand mother) and they love to make baklava and koulourakia. cheers for now –
yia yia angie
Hi Elly!
Just came across your blog and I’m glad to find someone cooking Greek food
I enjoy reading your blog and your writing style is fun and intelligent!
I can also remember my own yiayia whenever I asked for a recipe she would always give me the same answer: “Koutourou!”. So no recipes from her side and sadly she is long gone but she used to make a wicked backlava and the most amazing french fries in an old style skillet…Oh memories!
Keep it up and thnx for all the lovely recipes. Great blog!
Catherine
Hi Elly! I have just stumbled across your blog (lucky me!). You have a great way with words and you a quirky humour ! I look forward to checking back & trying some of your recipes. They look delish!
Nellie
Hi there and Happy New Years to you and your beautiful family! I just recently found your blog and I love it! I’m not from Chicago but our son lived there for a few years so I am familiar with The Spice House and Rick Bayless’s restaurants and adore both. I buy all my spices and herbs from the house.
Thought I would give a ringing endorsement (and I am in no way affiliated) to Rancho Gordo. Their website….ranchogordo.com sells many varieties of heirloom beans that
have no genetic modifications. Since you seem to like mexican so much, I think you’d really
like these. They are so easy-soak over night-cover with broth and seasonings and cook on low in the crockpot all day. Dinner!!! I always keep the cans on hand but these are just so yummy and fresh that you’ll be in love.
Hi! I found the blog by chance and scrolling through it I saw you are doing a great job! Well done, and I’ll be following! Oh, and Kalimera! :)
Well, today was *supposed* to be productive (housecleaning), but I took a break after I finished the vacuuming & stumbled upon your blog. That was about 2 hours ago…So my productivity took another direction — THANK YOU! Your photos are lovely, your recipes intriguing, and you write very well. I had to subscribe, or I’d be here till tomorrow!
Thank you Caroleena, you’re so sweet. :)
Opa! Opa’s an African-derived expression, its forms being “epa” and “eba” in Africa. I’m surprised it ended up in Greece after the Greek invasion in Egypt. I thought the Greeks said “oompa”, when in fact, they actually left it quite close to the original!
I wonder what other African words traveled there. I’ll be sure to tell my linguist fiance, though something tells me he’s already well aware!
Epa é!
Hi Elly,
I made one of your recipes a few weeks ago and it was just perfect. I am talking about the Plum Cake. I want to make it again but for some reason I can no longer find it on the site. Can you repost it please? Pretty please!
I didn’t save or print the recipe, I just thought I would always find it here :).
Thank you! Love your cooking and your sense of humor!
Ana
Hi Ana. It’s still there, not sure why you couldn’t find it! http://ellysaysopa.com/2009/09/20/a-year-in-the-kitchen-with-nigel-slater-septembers-plum-cake/
hello Elly! Stumbled on your blog and have forwarded to my sisters. my family is from Greece and many settled in the Chicago area. your recipes are very similar to my yiayias, and I especially like the vegetarian and healthy recipes. my second favorite foods are spanish/mexican which you seem to like too. I can’t wait to try your recipes and am making the baked leg quarters today! I didn’t read the pantry section of your blog but I would suggest in your recipe descriptions to maybe put in something about olive oil. I find using the Greek Calamata olive oil gives the dish a definate Greek flavor that one would find missing using Italian or Spanish oils.
Hi, are you “JULAINE59″ on allrecipes.com? If not, that user is stealing your photos and posting them as her own. See here:
http://allrecipes.com/Cook/18873704/Photos.aspx
Nope, I’m not. Thanks for the heads up!
Just stumbled onto your blog and love it! I am not Greek, but grew up in Detroit, where there is a heavy Greek influence. Above that, is that my two daughters and I LOVE greek food, it just about the fav around my house!
Look forward to trying some recipies, especially the saganaki and stuffed grape leaves!
I hope I can find the needed items in this little town in Cental Alabama!
Be Blessed!