Meet Story of Stefania

Hello, beautiful friends all around the world! I am really excited to do this 2 part featured post this weekend for many reasons but the main one is that this beautiful talented Greek lady who owns Story of Stefania will be showcased in my second COOKBOOK. Although I can’t say too much about the book yet, what I will say is Maria Trovas shares a beautiful recipe along with information about Story of Stefania & more!

Maria Trovas the name behind Story of Stefania, might sound familiar to you. She was featured on my blog many years ago when I stumbled across her lovely website. You can view the first interview here.  I’m so excited to do another interview with Maria and catch up with this talented Australian Greek lady. She has been a very busy woman these days getting orders all around the world for her amazing unique stefania.

On today’s two-part post I wanted to share with you a very exciting featured recipe by Maria’s yiayia. This recipe is really unique and not something you will find very often while searching for Greek recipes online. Maria shares her special bond with her yiayia and what she has learned from her in the kitchen.

Maria writes: “My Yiayia Evangelia and I share a very special bond. For as long as I can remember I have been by her side. My earliest memories as a child is sitting in her Greek blue painted kitchen happily watching her cooking for us all. Now as I am older, I am still very much by her side and now my children, her great-grandchildren, are watching her cook for us all!
One of our family favorite desserts that we all look forward to having on special occasions, is Yiayia’s Turkish Delight Cigars. It is such a quick and simple dessert to make. Perfect to offer your guests, if you don’t eat them beforehand! As these Turkish Delight Cigars never last long in our house and I’m sure won’t in yours either!”

Let’s get to the cooking, shall we!

Yiayia’s Turkish Delight Cigars Recipe

Ingredients:

• Filo pastry
• 500 grams loukoumi (Turkish Delight)
• 400 grams walnuts
• Vegetable oil
• Icing sugar

Preparation:
Lightly brush vegetable oil on your baking tray.
Cut each loukoumi cube into 4 pieces (or 2 pieces if they are small cubes).
Preheat oven to 190 Celsius or 375 Fahrenheit.

Method:

1. Take out the filo pastry from the packet and lay it on a damp clean tea towel. Lightly brush vegetable oil all over the top filo pastry sheet.
2. Take a piece of loukoumi, stretch it out and place on the bottom of the filo pastry. Continue this process until the width of the filo pastry is filled with loukoumi.
3. Then place half a walnut on top of each stretched out loukoumi piece.
   Gently roll the filo pastry and place onto the baking tray.
4. Repeat this process until all the loukoumi and filo pastry has been used. The filo rolls are to be placed next to each other, do not leave gaps between the rolls, so they do not burn while cooking in the oven.
5. Lightly brush vegetable oil on top of the rolls. Cut each roll into thirds.
6. Finish off with a sprinkle of water with your hands.
7. Place in the oven 190 or 375 degrees for approximately 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Once you see the cigars are golden brown, take the baking tray out of the oven. When the cigars are completely cooled down, dust with icing sugar!

Kali Orexi!

Tip: Do not be heavy handed with the vegetable oil, as you do not want your cigars to be oily.

I thank Maria and her beautiful yiayia for this lovely recipe! Stay tuned in for the second part of this feature coming tomorrow (Sunday) on the blog. Those who are planning a Greek wedding you may want to tune in to find out about Story of Stefania and Maria’s beautiful unique stefania she creates.

Connect with Story of Stefania on social media:

Facebook: Story of Stefania

Instagram: @Storyofstefania

Website: Story of Stefania

Photo Credits: Story of Stefania & NestorZ Photography