Tzatziki - sounds like a crazy puzzle doesn't it!!

TZATZIKI ...

If you're not familiar with it, no it's not a crazy new fad puzzle, Tzatziki is a greek dill and yogurt dip.  I absolutely love it.  I use it to top salads, to make chicken salad, to make cucumber, tomato salad, to spread on sandwiches, and I'm sure I'll come up with other variations before I finish this blog post!!  Sometimes I forget about it and all of a sudden I'll go to our local greek hot spot, The Hero House, and get a chicken souvlaki on a pita, as I did today.  Taa daaa reminded and now I'm excited, I can't wait to run by the grocery on the way home and pick up my ingredients so I can throw a batch of this dilectable stuff together and use into next week!!  Seriously folks this is the kind of stuff that I get excited about.  Am I getting old, or am I just boring??!! I don't know, but I can't wait to dig into this stuff tonight.  Nothing excites me more than FLAVOR put together with LOW FAT AND LOW CARB - WITH HIGH PROTEIN POTENTIAL!!  I'm just about to jump out of my skin!!

This stuff is just what I'm looking for right now, it is springtime heading into summertime and I'm on the hunt for new, quick and easy ideas to spice up my boring old baked chicken and my ham and cheese sandwiches... my salads my flank steak.  Tzatziki accomplishes it all. 

Tzatziki incorporates a whole bunch of my favorite, (huge stars in my eyes) things, garlic, low fat and high protein greek yogurt, sour cream, dill, lemon juice...  I really am crazy about it.  mmmm mmm m m mmmmm.

Another great thing about it is that you can prepare it minus the cucumber and store it in the fridge for a week to 10 days.  Just take it out and add in the fresh cucumber or tomato or chicken or not!  Just use it as salad dressing!  See I'm STILL excited!  lol...

OMG I just ran accross the above meatball souvlaki picture on the internet!!!  wowoooowww..  Looks so good!  See as the post runs on I'll have to add another post for this recipe so I can give you my meatball recipe.  As you know many people have asked for my meatball recipe, it is decadent and yummy in my tummy!! 

So here goes Tzatziki Base - plain - minus the veges -

• 1 pound (1 pint) plain greek yogurt (whole milk or low fat)** or regular plain yogurt
• 1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup low fat sour cream
• 1 tablespoon vinegar or white wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (approximately 1 lemon)
• 1 tablespoon good olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic or more
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh dill
• Pinch freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Mix in the sour cream, vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, dill, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper. You can serve it immediately, but I prefer to allow the tzatziki to sit in the refrigerator for a few hours for the flavors to blend. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

NOTES:  I use this "big" recipe doubled for my base... then when I want to use some I add the fresh tomato or cucumber to the mix.  Be creative add other veges you think might work well!! 

**If you choose to use regular plain yogurt, you’ll have to drain the water out.  To do this, place the yogurt in a cheesecloth or paper towel-lined sieve and set it over a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of kosher salt; place it in another sieve, and set it over another bowl. Place both bowls in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours so the yogurt can drain.

http://chobani.com/kitchen/recipes/tzatziki/ - this is the Chobani greek yogurt recipe.  YUM!!  notice it is served with beef kabob's as a dip!!  oh my goodness... oh My goodness!  so good!

ENJOY guys,  I hope to be posting an update with pictures from my kitchen to share.  much love and have a greek day!!  xo