Spanakopita

This recipe is by no means easy but definitely worth it. It is always the center of attention at get-togethers or parties!

SPANAKOPITA

A delicious Greek Pastry

1 clove Garlic
¼ cup butter (for garlic, spinach mixture)
1 cup butter (melted on low for basting)
1 package spinach
1 package phyllo dough—found in the freezer section of your grocery store. (needs to be fully thawed before starting)
1-2 packages feta cheese

Finely chop garlic, then sauté on Medium Heat with ¼ cup butter. Once garlic begins to brown, add spinach. Cook until spinach is done, approximately 7 minutes. Leave spinach mix on stove on Low Heat. Melt 1 cup butter in a separate pan on low heat. Keep heat on low and move on to dough.

Keep the phyllo dough in the fridge until ready to use because once it is open, it will begin to dry out. Keep your unused strips covered with a damp towel or cloth. Phyllo dough is very thin so when you work with it you will need to be careful not to tear it. Pull one layer of Phyllo dough apart
from the pack and lay it flat across the counter. With a basting brush, baste dough with the melted butter from the stove. Do this with two more layers so you've formed a 3 layer sheet. Cut dough into 2-3 inch strips.
Add spoonful of spinach mix at the top of the phyllo strip. Then continue folding in triangles down to the bottom of the strip in a triangle shape. (See image) The closing edge should stick to seal the triangle; if it doesn't, just apply a little of the melted butter to the edge and seal it up.

Place on cookie sheet, then baste with butter after the strip is formed. Check them at about 15-20 minutes. Use a wooden toothpick to test the center. Essentially, what you're after is for the cheese to be melted and the layers of phyllo cooked. This is delicious warm, but many prefer it at room temperature. (Personally I like it a few minutes out of the oven!)

Brazilian Lemonade

3 T lime juice concentrate (or 2 limes)
3 T sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup sugar
3 cups water
ice

Combine all the ingredients in a blender. Continue to add ice to the desired consistency.

Kid Friendly Recipes

Dowlin and I went to the kid's cooking class at Macey's tonight. I thought I would post the things we made. Keep in mind that these are definately for kids!

FROSTY

1/2 cup milk
4 tsp. nesquik powder (chocolate or strawberry)
2 cups vanilla ice cream

Add all ingredients to blender and mix well.

FROGS

2 miniature pretzel twists (per frog)
1 sandwich cookie, oreos work well (per frog)
vanilla frosting
2 M&Ms (per frog)

Attach pretzels to the bottom of the cookie with the frosting, these are the frogs feet so one on each side. Add a little frosting to the M&Ms, these will make the eyes.

WONTON CHIPS

30 wonton wrappers
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/4 cup parmesan or romano cheese
cooking spray

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray. Cut wontons in half diagonally, arrange 1/3 of the triangles in a single layer on a baking sheet. In a small bowl, stir together oil, garlic and basil. Use a pastry brush to coat the wontons. Sprinkle with the cheese and bake for 8 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a cooling rack and repeat with the reamaining triangles. (These were not a huge hit with the kids, I thought they were ok. One mother suggested using cinamon sugar instead.)

APPLE CRISP

1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1/8 tsp. apple pie spice
2 tbsp. frosted flakes cereal
1 tbsp. almonds, walnuts or pecans (optional)

Stir apple pie spice into the apple sauce in a microwave safe bowl; microwave for 15-30 seconds. Sprinkle cereal and nuts over the top and eat warm. (She suggested using the applesauce cups you buy and just having your kids put nuts and cereal on top. Dowlin loved this one!)

EASY S'MORES

graham crackers
chocolate hazelnut spread (Nutella)
marshmallow creme

Take 1 graham cracker and break in half. Spread chocolate spread on 1 half and marshmallow creme on the other. Place on a micorwave safe plate; microwave for 10 seconds.

*Add 10 seconds for each additional s'more that you cook at one time.

Snickers Salad Dessert

Here is a recipe to impress!

Ingredients:
16 oz whipped topping
1/2 carton strawberries - cut up (or you can use 5 apples - diced with skins on)
3 king-sized snickers bars--cut into bite sized pieces

Directions:
1. Mix whipped topping, snickers and fruit together.
2. Cover and keep chilled until ready to serve.

Welcome April!

We would love to have you join our group and post too, I just need your email address so I can add you to the list of people who can post. If anyone else comes on and wants to join, you are more then welcome to.

Danish Puff Pastry

DANISH PUFF PASTRY

1/2 c. butter 1 c. flour 2 tbsp. cold water Combine butter and flour. Then add water and stir well. Speed on ungreased jelly roll pan to thinly cover. 1/2 c. butter 1 c. boiling water 1 tsp. almond flavoring 1 c. flour 3 eggs Combine butter and water in pan and bring to a boil. Add almond flavoring. Remove from heat. Stir in flour. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Spread over bottom layer. Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes. Frost while hot with frosting made of following: 1 1/2 c. powdered sugar 2 tbsp. butter 2 tbsp. milk (or more to make thin frosting) 1 tsp. almond flavoring Sprinkle with coconut and slivered almonds (optional)

Southwest Crockpot Chicken

Add boneless, skinless chicken breast into a crockpot. Add 1 to 2 cans of black beans, 1 to 2 cans of corn, and one jar (16 oz) salsa. Cook on high for 6 to 8 hours. Serve with tortillas, avocado, sour cream and cheese.


We get a new recipe from our ward newsletter every month, but I usually have the intention to try it and I end up throwing it out. Anyway, I thought I could put them here and then I will know where to look when I want to try something new!