As summer gets closer and closer, my mind is turning toward fresh salads so for our #DoodlewashDinner tonight, I’m bringing this Greek salad. Though here in the States, any salad with olives added is called a Greek salad, this is the traditional version with no lettuce or other leafy greens. Though many variations exist, this one has been made with fresh tomato, cucumber, olive oil, Kalamata olives, red onions, and feta. That last ingredient brings all the magic to this little dish and is one of my favorite types of cheese.
Actually, adding cheese to lots of things can turn the mundane into the magical. As a kid, it seemed like cheese was always yellow, some version of cheddar or individually wrapped slices of American Cheese. Those slices were strange little flaccid things that had a sheen to them similar to rubber. Technically, these can’t be called cheese because less than 51% of the stuff is actually cheese. It’s legally a Pasteurized Processed Cheese Product which just sounds gross and is one of the main reasons I’ve never had one again as an adult who reads labels.
Feta, on the other hand, is a true white cheese made from sheep’s milk, or from a mixture of sheep and goat’s milk. In order to be called “Feta” the cheese must be produced in Greece, similar to the rules for Champagne. People have enjoyed it for ages as it’s one of the world’s oldest cheeses (Homer writes about it in his epic, the Odyssey). I’ll add some crumbled feta to my salad pretty much any chance I get as I find it really addictive. So as summer approaches, I’m getting excited for all of the delicious salads in my future. But my heart will always favor the one drenched in that magical feta.
You’re all invited to a Doodlewash Dinner Party during the month of May! Just tag your food or drink image #doodlewashdinner and I’ll feature you and your culinary creations in a delicious Doodlewash Gallery at the end of the month!
About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Permanent Pale Green, Gamboge, Azo Orange, Pyrrol Red, Dioxazine Purple, and Neutral Tint. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon black ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal
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Oh you have that right…..magical feta…. I have been wanting to make my own some day but with goat milk. We have several goat people, no…. not really goat people but people who raise goats and who sell the milk. Buy some from these people and make some feta! Anyway, your doodlewash looks so good and I seem to always look at your posts when I am very hungry. If I start gaining weight, I’m going to blame you Charlie! 🙂
Lol! Oh no!! Good thing Tuesday is the last day for these!! 😊lol But it’s going be a giant buffet of delicious food when the guests arrive! Lol Hehe…my grandparents were goat people. I miss getting goat milk, but I’m not sure if I’d like the taste as well as an adult. Haven’t had it in years!
I found that pure good ole goat milk is my favorite and this is coming from a person who doesn’t like cow milk!
Hehe…cool! I’m definitely going to have to try some again soon!
Yum – feta, olives, all things I LOVE – let’s add this to our meal together too! 🙂 Beautiful doodlewash Charlie O! Happy Holiday Weekend!
Thanks so much, Jodi!!😃💕 Yes!! Love this stuff…and goes great with wine! Hehe Hope your weekend is going fantastically!
Oh my hunger pangs are now on full blast Charlie. I’m just getting ready to make dinner, but alas no Greek salad. I do have feta cheese, though! Your doodlewash is beautifully done, so delicious looking.
Thanks Sharon!! 😃💕 Feta is all you need really…just snack on that! Yum!! I light to think of the vegetables as my feta plate. 😊
Oh boy! Another salad. Love the painting and the salad. The last couple salads are counteracting all the heavy desserts. Good job on that too
Thanks Teri! 😃💕 Yeah…I figured it would good to go for a balanced diet this month! Lol
Didn’t know that about the lettuce being absent in a true Greek Salad. This is very similar to Mediteranean salads as I know them. Healthy off course, but I can’t eat raw onion.
I never liked raw onion until the last few years, but they’re not for everyone! Definitely a healthier addition to the dinner than dessert…but gotta love desserts! Lol
(Oh, my computer is a pain – was trying to get the other “R” into Mediterranean!) I wanted to comment about how deliciously you painted this salad. The colors are gorgeous and tempting. Now we’re thinking Greek for dinner. Well, American version of Greek, which is still good. Great art here, Charlie, and much better for my weight.
Awww thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕 Glad you liked this one! It’s definitely a healthier treat…it’s all about balance so you can eat the decadent stuff too! Hehe
We did have Greek for dinner – take out, and it was delicious! Thanks for the great idea, Charlie.
Awesome!! Thrilled I could inspire a delicious dinner!
What a delightful plate of colourful and wholesome food, Charlie…lovely! Yum, too…
Thanks so much Janina! 😃💕Glad ya liked this!
Looks pretty yummy, especially the olives and tomatoes. I love feta too but I’m with Sharon, no raw onion. 😀
Thanks Beth! 😃💕Glad you liked this! Minus the onions…hehe…feta is really the point though so glad you’re a fan as well!
Mmmmm, magical feta….your painting looks lovely and delicious, perfect for these warm days. Though I would normally pass on the onions, your painted onions are so pretty they are definite keepers. Thank you for sharing such a pretty dish.
Hehe…thanks Haunani! 😃💕Yeah…the doodlewash definitely needed the onions for the color! Glad you liked them in it!
I never knew that Feta has to be made in Greece (like Champagne and France)! Interesting. And your salad is mouth-wateringly good! <3
Thanks Teresa! 😃💕 I’m not sure we always abide by these international rules here. Hehe…they do called it California Champagne to distinguish at least.
One must have the Kalamata olives to be a true Greek salad but I wasn’t aware of the lettuce part! Your doodlewash looks delish, Charlie! I made up my own Greek salad with orzo pasta today. And of course, feta cheese was a must! 😉🎨🍴
Thanks Jill!! 😃💕oooooooo orzo pasta is delicious!! Yum!! I’m totally going to eat a brick of feta today…I can feel it coming on… 😊🐷🐷lol
I hope you were thinking of me while eating this😜
I WAS!! Hehe…I was also thinking of you when I wrote this post hoping I got all my facts straight! 😊
Sure did !!!
Yay! Awesome! 😃
Just loving that salads are hot on the menu. This is a great combo, which I often pick, infact just went shopping yesterday, bought green and black olives, and halloumi cheese ( my daughter does not like feta) great doodlewash, as you always do, and another fav of mine 😀
Thanks Rebecca!! 😃💕 Halloumi is awesome. I love it grilled…so delish!!
Just how my daughter has eaten it, mmm yum yum
One second… let me just flick the cucumber out. 😉 (That’s definitely not a euphemism) Well, actually they work pretty well here – what powerful colours all thrown together – so much zing, while also appearing suitably refreshing. Wonderful! And feta cheese <3 oh, now you’re triggering certain cravings!
Thanks Jacob!! 😃haha!! Yeah you need all the ingredients for color in a doodlewash! But when it comes to the real thing, onions are very popular either. So feel free to flick your cucumber! Yeah…there’s just no way that’s not a euphemism.
Haha, it does sound quite bad… though I’m starting to think a decent amount of cucumber wouldn’t be so bad after all! 😉
Beautiful and juicy dish, Charlie! You really have a knack for food, just loving the textures and colors in your paintings, bro! 🎨💜❤️💛
Thanks so much sis! 💕😃It’s fun, but I’m realizing my food choices are limited. I eat a bit like a hamster having the same thing every day. 😊running out of things to paint! Lol
Drawn and washed real delicious, Charlie!!! I love Greek salad and i am looking forward to make one myself pretty soon. Thank you for the reminder. 🙂 I agree with you that the feta gives it the magic. But even with the best Feta cheese i can get here in Germany it will never be the same salad i had once on the beautiful Greek island of Amorgos. The pure magic came with the sun-ripened tomatoes,cucumbers, onions and olives from their gardens. You can go to the best stores here and pay an incredible amount of money for sun-ripened veggies from Greece – but you will never get the same taste. I should go there again – as soon as possible.:-)
Take me with you!! Lol You just painted an amazing picture there! Sounds incredible! Glad you liked my doodlewash, Carsten. 😃But it sounds like it pales in comparison to the authentic thing! Yum!
Ohhh I love Greek salad I visited Greece twice and I had the opportunity to eat there delicious food and amazing Greek salads I love Feta! You nailed Charlie <3 your plate looks beautiful, delicious and colorful and is a great doodlewash!
We are at the end of this month and I am wondering about what adventure you will come up next! 😉 <3
Aww thanks Carolina! 😃💕I’ve always wanted to go to Greece. One day!!
Yes is a nice vacation! 😉
OK Charlie, you’ve solved my problem of what salad to serve for dinner…feta cheese is one of my favorites…and olives…(K)
Awesome! Glad I could help, Kerfe! 😃💕hehe…you really can’t go wrong with these ingredients!
You are definitely making me hungry as I read all these posts I’ve missed the last few days and looking at your wonderful doodlewashes. Greek salad is my favorite salad! So many yummy flavors and textures. I just love the salty feta! Now I need to eat!
Aww thanks, Kari! 😃💕That’s high praise for food doodlewashes! I always as show Philippe and ask if it looks yummy or not! Lol So glad you liked this one. Feta rocks!!
You caught me on this one Charlie. I love a greek salad and doubly love Feta cheese. Perfect illustration for a nice warm day!
Thanks Cathe! 😃💕Yeah I simply couldn’t tolerate a life without feta. Hehe…it’s soooooo good!!
Charlie, your salad looks light and refreshing! Forgive me if I’ve told you this story before, but last year we visited Greece and were shown around by one of the locals in Corfu. For lunch we had locally made, creamy feta that was not salty at all, and we put it on fresh crusty bread, added tomatoes just picked off the vine and a few basil leaves that we picked off the plants in the garden ourselves. This was drizzled with olive oil and washed down with a few sips of ouzo. I will never forget the lively, fresh flavors and how they blended together so well. It is my quest to find a feta sold here in The States to rival what we had in Greece but no luck so far. Never fear, I shall continue my research until such a feta is found 😉 Opa!
Thanks Carol! 😃💕And I’ve always really wanted to go to Greece, but now after your story, more than ever!! You described it so vividly I’m starving now!! If you ever discover that feta here…hook me up!!
Do visit my country and create your own myth you will love it ! As a suggestion i would also add some oregano! Try it it gives the feeling of traditionality 🙂
Yum! Sounds delicious! I’ll have to try that! Thanks! 😃
Looks pretty yummy,!
Thanks so much! 😃