Prassopita (Greek Potato and Leek Pie)

3 Tbsp olive oil
4 c cleaned, chopped leek whites and greens (about 4 leeks)
3/4 lb Idaho potatoes, scrubbed, peeled and grated
1 egg
2 Tbsp milk
2 Tbsp chopped fresh dill (or 2 tsp dried)
1/4 tsp pepper
8 sheets phyllo dough, thawed and refrigerated until ready to use
1 c crumbled feta cheese
1/4 c kalamata olives, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9"x13" baking pan with cooking spray.

Heat 2 tsp oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, then add leeks. Cook until they have softened but are still bright green and have not caramelized, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool about 10 minutes. Put potatoes, egg and milk into a large bowl and mix to combine, then stir in dill and pepper.

Place remaining 2 Tbsp + 1 tsp olive oil in a small cup or bowl. Remove phyllo dough from fridge, take sheets out of box and unroll so they're flat. Cover with a sheet of plastic wrap and then a clean, damp dishtowel.

Place a sheet of phyllo on bottom of baking pan. Using fingers, lightly dot with olive oil. Place another piece of phyllo on top, gently press down, and continue until you have 4 layers. Do not oil the last sheet.

Place half the potato mixture on top and sprinkle with half the feta and half the olives. Top with 1 sheet phyllo and, using fingers, lightly dot with olive oil. Continue until you have 4 layers. Oil the last sheet, too, using up any remaining oil.

Bake at 375 degrees until golden brown, about 45 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature. May be made in advance and frozen, then reheated at 350 for 15-18 minutes.

NOTES
From Hannaford.
Untried.

Butternut Cheese Pie

4 c coarsely shredded butternut squash (about 1 lb)
1/4 c uncooked bulgur
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp olive oil
1 c chopped onion
3/4 c (3 oz) crumbled feta cheese
1/2 c (2 oz) grated fresh Parmesan cheese
1/2 c chopped fresh mint
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
8 sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed and divided
cooking spray

Combine first 3 ingredients in a large bowl; cover and chill 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350°.

Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes. Add onion, feta and Parmesan cheeses, chopped mint, and black pepper to squash mixture, stirring to combine.

Working with 1 phyllo sheet at a time (cover remaining dough to prevent drying), place 1 sheet into a 10-inch deep-dish pie plate coated with cooking spray. Gently press sheet into pie plate, allowing ends to extend over edges of pan; lightly coat with cooking spray. Place another phyllo sheet across first sheet to form a crisscross design; lightly coat phyllo with cooking spray. Repeat procedure with 2 phyllo sheets and cooking spray.

Spoon squash mixture over phyllo. Place another phyllo sheet over squash, repeating crisscross design with remaining phyllo and cooking spray. Fold in edges of phyllo to fit dish and form a rim. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes or until golden brown.

NOTES
From Cooking Light.
I like this a lot, but the kids emphatically do not.
I make it without the mint.

Napoleon Sandwiches

Napoleons:
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, partially thawed
16 asparagus spears, trimmed to 5"
6 large eggs
4 oz crumbled feta cheese

Red Pepper Sauce:
1 (14 oz) can roasted red peppers (or 2 whole)
1 1/4 c milk
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp flour
1/2 tsp seasoning salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees; grease a baking sheet.

Napoleons:
Open puff pastry sheet flat; slice in half across the 3 fold lines. Cut halved sheets into 3 strips along fold lines to make 6 pastry rectangles. Reserve 2; bake remaining 4 on baking sheet 15 minutes; set aside.

Meanwhile, cut peppers into 4 strips to the size of pastry rectangles and set aside. Put remaining peppers into food processor with 1/2 c milk and puree until smooth.

Melt butter over medium heat; stir in flour until well blended. Add remaining milk and bring to a boil; reduce heat and stir in pureed peppers and salt and pepper. Stir occasionally; keep warm until serving time.

Steam asparagus until tender (about 5 minutes). Beat eggs; cook in a skillet over medium heat until set (lift edges so uncooked egg runs underneath cooked portion to cook all of it). Slice eggs into 4 rectangles to layer on pastry.

Cut each pastry in half lengthwise. Layer with egg, 1 Tbsp cheese, 1 pepper, 4 asparagus spears, and top with remaining pastry.

Bake 7-10 minutes at 375 degrees or until heated through. Top with 1/4 c red pepper sauce and extra feta. Serve hot.

NOTES
This might be from Vegetarian Times.
Untried.

Avocado Pasta Salad

1 lb uncooked pasta, such as rotini or fusilli
1/2 c crumbled feta cheese, or shredded Parmesan
1/2 - 1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 bunch green onions, ends removed, thinly sliced
1 - 2 ripe avocados, peeled and chopped
1/2 c vinaigrette dressing
1/2 c mayonnaise
1 Tbsp honey

Boil pasta according to package directions. While it's cooking, clean and chop vegetables and crumble the cheese. Whisk together vinaigrette, mayo and honey; toss with pasta. Add onions, tomatoes, avocado and cheese; toss again and serve.

*If made ahead, add avocados just before serving.

NOTES
Adapted from Penzey's.
Untried.

Roasted Beets with Feta

4 medium beets
1/4 c minced chives
2 Tbsp parsley
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
crumbled feta cheese to taste

Roast beets in one of two ways: 1) Wrap each beet in foil and roast at 400 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour, until easily pierced with a fork. Once cool enough to handle, peel and slice. Or 2) Peel and slice beets and roast at 400 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour, until tender, stirring and flipping slices every 10-15 minutes.

While beets are cooking, combine herbs, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper; whisk well.

When beets are cooked, toss with dressing and sprinkle with desired amount of feta.

NOTES
Adapted from a recipe at allrecipes.com
My absolute favorite way to cook beets. They're amazing.

Greek-Style Scampi

1 tsp olive oil
5 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 c chopped fresh parsley, divided
2 (28 oz) cans whole tomatoes, drained, coarsely chopped
1 1/4 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 c (4 oz) crumbled feta cheese
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
4 c hot cooked spaghetti (about 8 oz uncooked)

Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add garlic; saute 30 seconds. Add 1/4 c parsley and tomatoes. Reduce heat, simmer 10 minutes. Add shrimp; cook 5 minutes. Pour mixture into a 13"x9" baking dish; sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with 1/4 c parsley, lemon juice and pepper; serve over pasta.

NOTES
I think this is from Cooking Light.
Untried.

Greek Chicken Casserole

1 Tbsp olive oil
2 c chopped onion (about 1 large)
2 Tbsp dried thyme
1-2 tsp black pepper
10 garlic cloves, minced
6 c cubed red potatoes (about 2 lb)
2 c cut green beans (about 1/2 lb)
1/4 c water
2 Tbsp finely chopped olives
2 (14 1/2 oz) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
8 skinned, boned chicken thighs (about 1 lb)
1/2 c (2 oz) crumbled feta cheese

Heat oil in a large ovenproof Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion; saute 3 minutes. Add thyme, pepper, garlic; saute 1 minute. Increase heat to medium-high. Add potatoes; saute 8 minutes or until potatoes begin to brown. Stir in beans, water, olives and tomatoes. Remove from heat. Nestle chicken thighs into potato mixture and top with feta. Cover and bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.

NOTES
From Cooking Light.
Untried.

Roasted Vegetable Pot-pie with Feta

Vegetables:
6 c cubed peeled eggplant (about 1 1/4 lb)
2 c cubed zucchini
2 c (1") pieces red bell pepper
2 c (1") pieces yellow bell pepper
2 c sliced carrots
1 large sweet onion, cut into 8 wedges
20 slices portobello mushrooms (about 2 large)
4 plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise
1 large garlic clove, minced

Pastry:
1 c all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 c buttermilk
2 Tbsp butter, melted and cooled
1 tsp cider vinegar

Remaining Ingredients:
1/2 c (2 oz) crumbled feta cheese
1/3 c thinly-sliced fresh basil
1/4 c chicken broth
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp dried rosemary
salt and pepper
1 egg white, lightly beaten

Vegetables: Combine first 6 ingredients on a greased jelly-roll pan. Bake at 450 degrees for 40 minutes, stirring once. Add mushrooms, tomatoes and garlic; bake 30 minutes more or until vegetables are tender. Remove from oven; reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees.

Pastry: Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Add buttermilk, butter and vinegar; toss with fork until moist. Place dough between two sheets of plastic wrap; roll into a 12"x7" rectangle. Freeze 10 minutes. Remove 1 sheet of plastic wrap; let stand 1 minute or until pliable.

Assembly: Combine vegetables with all remaining ingredients except egg white in an 11"x7" baking dish. Fir dough over filling; remove top sheet of plastic wrap. Brush dough with egg white; cut slits in top of dough to allow steam to escape.

Bake at 400 degrees for 35 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly around edges. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

NOTES
From Cooking Light.
Untried.