oakteak

Spanakopita

2008-07-24T21:15:00.003-04:00

This is really delicious for either a main course, or appetizer.

1 3 oz. package Feta cheese, room temperature
1 3 oz. package cream cheese, room temperature
Package of Fillo (Phyllo) sheets
Butter
Extra virgin olive oil
1 Cup cooked spinach, drained until almost dry. I put it in a small salad bowl, then nested another small salad bowl on top of the spinach and squeezed them together over the sink tipping the bowls, so the water drains out.
½ Large Vidalia or sweet onion chopped medium
2 cloves garlic chopped fine
1 egg
salt
pepper
dill weed

Pie pan

Set oven to 350

Filling:

Saute the onions and garlic in some butter mixed with a little olive oil, until they are transparent, but not browned. Put them aside in a small bowl to cool a little.

Mash up the Feta and cream cheeses, add the egg, then the drained spinach, and finally the cooled onions and garlic, Add a teaspoon of dill weed, ½ teas salt, some dashes of pepper, and mix it all up to evenly distribute the spinach.

Fillo (Phyllo).

Open the package if it has a double package inside, you will only need one of them.

Lay out the Phyllo sheets on a flat surface and cover with a damp towel, don’t let the sheets dry out.

Melt 3 Tab. Butter and 3 Tab. Olive oil in a pan or in the microwave.

Lay one sheet of Phyllo into the pie plate, brush it all over with the butter/oil mixture, scrunch down the edges to fit into the pan. It doesn’t have to be perfectly flat, actually, it’s crunchier if it is a little messy. Add four more sheets in the same way.

Lay the filling on the Phyllo and smooth out, then top with another 5 sheets of Phyllo brushed with butter/oil.

Arrange the Phyllo to fit inside the pie pan.

Bake in 350 degree oven for between 30 and 40 minutes. My oven took about 36 minutes, until a deep golden brown.

Serves 4

Bread Pudding Recipe

2008-06-30T18:53:00.004-04:00

I can't take credit for these recipes, they are a combination of several different sources.

Bread Pudding

6 slices day-old bread
2 tablespoons butter -- melted
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
4 eggs -- beaten
2 cups milk
3/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. Break bread into small pieces into an 8 inch square baking pan which has been greased. Add rasins and distribute throughout. Drizzle melted butter or margarine over bread.

3. In a medium mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Beat until well mixed. Pour over bread, and lightly push down with a fork until bread is covered and soaking up the egg mixture.

You can refrigerate at this point. I think it helps bread absorb the custard mixture. Sprinkle top with some sugar before putting in oven.

4. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the top springs back when lightly tapped. *****************************************************************************

Here are a couple of sauces to put on top if you wish.

Caramel Sauce

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup cream
pinch of salt
2 teaspoons vanilla

To make caramel sauce, bring butter, sugars, cream and salt to a boil and then simmer for 3 or 4 minutes. Remove from heat and add the vanilla.

Lemon Sauce

1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
2/3 cup water
1 Tablespoon butter

Combine sugar and cornstarch in a small saucepan. Mix well. Add lemon zest, lemon juice and water. Bring to a boil and simmer for a couple of minutes until the sauce is thickened and clear. Remove from heat and add butter.

2008-04-19T19:25:00.003-04:00

2008-04-07T19:06:00.007-04:00

Easy Personal Thin Crust Pizza

This is perfect for a snack, or for lunch or dinner when you have differing tastes. Everyone can add whatever they like.

Flour Tortillas, I use the largest size, but it would work equally well for a smaller size.

Lightly oil both sides of the tortilla, then lay it on your pizza pan.

Spoon some sauce on, not too much, just enough to lightly coat the tortilla.

Sprinkle on shredded Mozarella cheese, not too thickly.

Add any combination of your favorite toppings like pepperoni, cooked sausage, sauteed mushrooms, anchovies, peppers, bacon, tiny meatballs, ham, pineapple, etc.

Pop it into a 450 degree oven for 8-10 minutes (I bake mine in the middle rack of the oven) or until it is browning on the top. Check it a couple of times to make sure it is cooking the way you'd like.

That's it, no muss, no fuss!

Recipe for my dear daughter

2008-04-06T18:32:00.004-04:00

Sausage, Peppers, Onions on Pasta

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

One package of good quality Italian sausage (about a pound to a pound and a half
One Large Onion
3 Cloves Garlic
2 Green and/or red peppers
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
One Package of Pasta
Salt
Black Pepper
Red Pepper (as desired)
Fennel spice
Dried Oregano
Dried Basil
Fresh Parsley

Additions if desired: chopped dried tomatoes in oil, pine nuts slightly browned in the oven

Cook Pasta according to package directions, drain, toss with a little olive oil and hold on a large bowl covered

In a large pan, add olive oil to cover the bottom. Coarse chop onions and add to pan, sauteeing over medium heat, until translucent, add chopped garlic, saute until soft. Remove onions and garlic from pan. Coarse chop peppers and add to the pan. Add more oil if necessary. Saute until slightly browned. Remove from the pan, and add crumbled or sliced Italian sausage. Saute until browned, adding oil if necessary.

Remove from pan and combine with vegetables. Toss with fresh extra virgin olive oil, sprinkle salt, pepper, red pepper, oregano, basil and a pinch of fennel to taste. Add additional things if desired. Fresh chopped parsley adds a nice touch.

Serve at the table with Parmesan cheese.