Anna's Spanakopita

 

It's been far too long since I posted. I have been doing mediocre on my diet. I am losing .5 - 1 pounds a week. I am still breastfeeding, so it's going to be slow.....but come on now. This is killing me. My goal was the end of the year, and there is not a chance in France I am going to make it. However, I will carry on and hope to make it later on this winter.

Halloween is officially over and I made it through without a single piece of candy! Yahoo!! I did, however, eat 5-6 pieces of baklava last night. Ooops. I love baklava. I was hosting the dinner party...what was I supposed to do?

For this dinner party, I made my friend Anna's spanakopita recipe.  The filo dough has white flour in it, but it was worth it.

One med onion, minced
3-4 green onions, minced
saute these in olive oil until soft.  About 5 min.

add 2 cloves of garlic, minced.
saute for 30 seconds

add 2 boxes of frozen chopped spinach that have been defrosted and squeezed of all liquid.
saute for 1-2 min.

Add salt/pepper and dill (fresh is best)

In large bowl, scramble one egg.
add a med container of ricotta cheese.
add the spinach mixture
add 1-1.5 cup feta
adjust the spices

take 2 cookie sheets and line with parchment paper OR a baking dish. 
melt a stick of butter and have a pastry brush handy

Have everything ready to go before you open the filo dough.

Open the package of filo dough (defrosted in your fridge over night)

Take one sheet, brish with butter, cover with another sheet.  Put a tablespoon size amount of the spinach mixture on the bottom if the sheet just tot he left of the middle.  Fold the sheet in half length wise, then fold over on itself in a triangle shape.  Keep folding over itself up the sheet.  Brush top with butter.  Put on the prepared cookie sheet.  You have to move fast as the dough dries out quickly.

Aternatively, you can put 10 sheets in the bottom of a baking dish, brushing with butter as you go, add half the spinach, another 10 sheets, the rest of the mixture, then top with 15-20 sheets.

Bake at 350 for 30-45 min until golden brown. 

They are amazing.