Spinach and Meat Pies

Time consuming, but great for picnics.

Dough:

1 cake/package yeast
1 T sugar
6 c flour
2 t salt
2 c water (lukewarm)
1/3 c milk

Dissolve yeast in 1/2 c water with the sugar.  Let double in size.  Place flour and salt in a bowl, make depression.  Mix remaining water, milk, and yeast mixture and pour into flour.  Knead until smooth, dipping hands in water as necessary.

Cover, let rise until double in bulk (2-4 hours).  Punch down and use as directed.

Meat pies

1 lb lamb
2 medium onions, chopped
1/2 c. pine nuts
1/8 t cinnamon
salt & pepper

Mix all ingredients.  Roll out dough (about half a full recipe) into 4" rounds.  Place T of meat mixture on each round.  Fold sides down, forming a triangle, but leaving the center open so meat cooks well.

Bake at 400 F for about 20 min.

Spinach pies

2 bunches fresh spinach
1 bunch green onions
1 medium dry onion
1/8 t allspice
salt & pepper
3/4-1 c lemon juice
1/2 c olive oil
pomegranate (optional)
raisins (optional)

Chop spinach, green and dry onions.  Combine all ingredients.  Roll out dough into 4" rounds.  Place T of spinach mixture in center of each round (if touches the edges, they will not seal).  Fold sides down, forming a triangle.

Bake at 400 F until golden brown.

Crumb Topping (for Apple Pie)

Crumb Topping (for Apple Pie)

3/4 c. brown sugar
3/4 c. flour
1/3 c. butter

Cut butter into brown sugar and flour.  Crumble mixture onto top of pie.  De-lish!

Easter Pie

Part of a lengthy letter from Aunt Evelyn, Mom says she's tried this once, but it's better not at Easter - too much ricotta when combined with manicotti.

Easter Pie

8 eggs
2 lbs ricotta cheese
1 1/2 cups whole wheat cooked (buy in Italian bakery shop)
1/4 quart milk
2 1/2 cups sugar (approx)
1 jar citron
1 tsp rose water
1/2 tsp salt

Beat eggs well.  Mix in ricotta.  Add other ingredients, as listed, until smooth.  Make pie crust.  Double.  [Not sure what that means?]  Bake at 350F until done. [First person to try this gets to tell me how long that is, approximately.]

Aunt Evelyn notes that she substitutes a little box of tapioca for the whole wheat [which must be wheat berries?] and orange juice for the rose water.