Sauces

• Make a homemade tzatziki sauce. Take one medium cucumber and chop it finely. Place the chopped cucumber in cheesecloth or a tea towel and squeeze out any excess liquid. Mix 16 oz. plain Greek yogurt, salt to taste, drained cucumber, four cloves of finely minced garlic, 1 tbsp. olive oil, 2 tsp. red wine vinegar, and five or six finely minced mint leaves. This sauce can complement meat dishes and gyros. Thin this sauce out a bit with fresh lemon juice to create a salad dressing.

Cold

• Mix plain or flavored Greek yogurt with your favorite fruit and add some honey for sweetness. Put granola in the yogurt for a quick breakfast. Use Greek yogurt and fresh or frozen fruit to make smoothies. Use it in combination with mayonnaise to make a cold potato or pasta salad. Greek yogurt will give salads a bit of tang.

Replacements

• Switch out items like sour cream, cream cheese, ricotta or cream and replace them with Greek yogurt. Instead of making a dip with sour cream, use Greek yogurt. Use Greek yogurt in place of sour cream in coffee cakes and muffins. Greek yogurt can also be used as a replacement for ricotta cheese in lasagna, and in casseroles in place of cheese or cream. Replace the cream with Greek yogurt in butternut squash soup or other creamy soups. Put a healthy spin on ice cream by switching out the cream with Greek yogurt.