Basic Dough For Spinach Meat And Cheese Pies Middle East Pa Recipes

SPINACH CHEESE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Press bottom pie crust into glass pie dish.
• In a large bowl, combine the spinach, salt, pepper, nutmeg, ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, and Cheddar cheeses. Mix together well and pour into bottom pie crust. Place second pie crust on top of filling and trim edges.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 40 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes and cut into wedges.

BASIC DOUGH (FOR SPINACH, MEAT, AND CHEESE PIES) MIDDLE EAST, PA

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water (or milk). Sprinkle with sugar, cover, and let rise.
• In a large pan mix flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture and butter/shortening.
• Gradually add the lukewarm water, mixing and kneading until dough is smooth and tender.
• Cover with a blanket and put in a warm place for two hours or until dough rises.
• Cut dough into pieces 2" to 2 1/2" in diameter. Form into balls by tucking the dough underneath the balls to make them round and smooth. Let rest for 30 minutes between blankets. (This is where I spread the olive oil under the dough, and coated the ball with olive oil as well. I also left it uncovered. ).
• This dough is now ready to be used with various fillings. :).

GREEK DINER MEAT AND SPINACH POT PIES

Steps:

• For the filling:
• Heat the EVOO in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the meat, brown and crumble. Remove the meat and drain off the fat. Melt the butter in the same pot and add the zest, oregano, garlic, onions and some salt and pepper. Cook to tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Then add the fresh herbs, stir. Add the flour, stir a minute or so and then whisk in the stock. Cook to thicken a little. Add the meat back in along with the lemon juice and spinach. Combine. Turn off the heat, cool and store for a make-ahead meal. Reheat over medium heat until hot. Stir in the feta crumbles just before serving.
• For the puff pastry topper:
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Flour a work surface and lightly roll out the puff pastry. Cut the size and shape of 1 large casserole or up to 6 individual bowls or large ramekins, using sharp paring knife. Place the dough on a nonstick baking sheet and wash with egg. Bake until evenly puffed and deep golden brown in color.
• Serve the hot filling in a casserole dish or individual bowls topped with the pastry.

MEDITERRANEAN MEAT PIES (SFEEHA)

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and stir in the ground beef and ground lamb, chopped onion, pine nuts, cinnamon, and salt and black pepper. Cook and stir until the meat is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease.
• Stir in the lemon juice; taste and adjust the seasonings, and let the meat mixture cool.
• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper.
• Roll out the thawed pastry sheets to about 1/8-inch thickness. Using a sharp 3-inch round cookie cutter, cut out at least 9 rounds per sheet. Lightly brush the inside edges with a little water, and place about 2 teaspoons of filling into the middle of each round. Fold the pastry round in half to cover the filling and seal the edges well. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and repeat with the remaining dough circles.
• Brush each pie with a little egg wash. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.