Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Spanako-triangle-pita


Spanakopita

Pita 4


Pita 2

I am very lucky to be part of a Greek family..... through the bf... I'm the token redhead. hehehe

So bf's Yia Yia is the family pita maker and well no one is learning how she makes it. So i have taken it on to learn her fabulous recipes.
Note i cant actually eat it because of the dairy. But all reports were glowing.

Just so you all now the reason they are triangles is because i got the wrong pastry.... blush blush so embarrassed. But it worked out well.

I was under the impression that pita would be hard but its not. That's why i trialled these at home before i attempted Yia Yia's pita.

So below is my recipe to make Spanako-triangle-pita enjoy

Ingredients

Puff Pastry
a lot of Spinach
200g Goats Milk Feta (goat has a bit more bite to it and the cows feta is smoother in taste)
2 Eggs
2 Spring Onions
Salt
Pepper


Method

Thaw puff pastry (you will only need 2 sheets for this recipe)
Cut each sheet into 4s

Wash spinach
Heat a fry pan (use non stick, otherwise use a little olive oil)
Grab a handful of spinach and wilt in the pan
Take out wilted spinach and place in a colander or bowl
Repeat until all spinach is wilted
Let it cool to room temp

Cut spring onion in small pieces

Medium size bowl place crumble in the feta
Crack One egg on the feta
Add spring onions
Mix it together (i like to have chucks of feta so i make sure not to crush them while mixing)

When the spinach is cool (put gloves on)
Squeeze the spinach in your hands to get rid of the liquid
This will take lots of squeezing (small amount at a time helps)
Add to the feta mixture and mix around

Crack the left over egg into a bowl and beat
This will be your glue for the pastry
Also the egg wash for the outside of the pastry

Using one small square score the inside where the pastry will meet with a fork
This will help the pastry stick together
Use a tablespoon and place the mixture in the middle of the square
Egg wash 2 of the pastry sides
Fold the non egged side over to cover the mixture and press down lightly
Use a fork and push the down all the way around the edge to really make sure the pastry sticks
Place in a non stick oven tray (use baking paper otherwise)
Repeat

Use a basting brush and egg wash the triangles (this is how pastry becomes golden brown)

Place in oven on a moderate heat for about 10 to 15 minutes
Lift a triangle up and the bottom should be flakeyish like the top and not clearish
(I've found if you have trouble here you can flip the triangle and cook a little longer)



I realise the method seems long but its not the whole thing should only take 30 mins to make!!!
You can choose how much spinach you want in there and you have the happiness of making something that everyone is bound to love.

The Bf practically woofed them down and i had to hide the ones i made for Cottonsocks and Oreboy. I hope you like them, i will make them again for you if you wanna!

Time for me to go and collect my broken bike so it can get fixed. I crashed it like a idiot ages ago and it stopped working..... i promised myself i would ride more and well that didn't really work out.
But this time I'm serious!!! like a super serious motivated like a crack head looking for crack..... hehehheheh i think that was a bit much

Friday, February 12, 2010

Russian Roulette Spanish Style

Pimento de Padron

The Age Epicure had a little article on these little gems. I love them
I first had them at Rockpool years ago as a side dish. They were a special of the day.

So anyhoo a friend at work and i decided to go halfies in a kilo and get them freighted down from Queensland. Best decision eva

They are described as Russian Roulette in hotness because 1 in 5 will blow your head off.
It really is fun times. Description and picture here

Ingredients

Pimento de Padron
Olive Oil
Good quality salt

Method

Cover the bottom of your fry with a good quantity of olive oil.
Wait till its hot hot hot (test put a pimento in the frypan and you should hear and see bubbling)
Place in your pimentos and let them cook away moving them around and turning
They will start to blister and then turn a little brown on the blistering
Use tongs to take them out and place on paper towel

Don't be alarmed they will deflate.

Sprinkle with salt and serve.

I'm not drinking beer at the moment, but these little wonders would be a great tapas item to have with beer.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Breakfast Parfait - Gluten Free

Breakfast Parfait




















I started making these for the bf so he will eat breakfast. Any thing with the word parfait and well that is all it took.
I am casein intolerant (milk products) so i cant eat it, but i have had great reviews.
Probably the healthiest breakfast you can have
Ingredients

Mixed berries (i use frozen)
Natural Yogurt (full fat - its really healthy people no need for low fat)
Cereal - http://www.worldsbestcereal.com/ Gluten free (highly recommend i have it with rice milk)
Honey
Glass or anything really (it looks pretty in a wine glass)

Method

Mix honey and yogurt to the desired taste
Get your glass and add muesli (section your muesli up for layering)
Cover muesli with yogurt
Cover yogurt with berries

Repeat

Cover with glad wrap
Then leave the parfait over night in the fridge

The mixture does shrink and doesn't look as pretty as the photo above - but the taste will be better. Also if you use frozen berries like me they need to defrost.

I hope you all make this its super easy and super duper healthy. I would say the portions per person would be the same as if you were making a bowl of cereal