For Mike and other men: Saving marriages, one cooking lesson at a time.

A couple of nights ago, at an hour when only Brett, Mike, witches and vampires, and I, were up, I had this conversation on Twitter with Mike.  The @ symbol means the comment is directed to the name that follows.  Mike's Twitter name is ihenpecked and mine is SomethingGirl. You would have likely figured that out but I just wanted to make it clear in case someone like my aunt is reading. The aunt who said I looked good for having five kids.  Seeing as I have only four kids, I figure that's like saying I don't look a day over 30, when I'm actually 28.  Nice of her to pay attention. :-P

ihenpecked: Which packaged dinner do I feed my kids tonight? I'm so bad.

somethinggirl: @ihenpecked We're having frozen pizza. Where's your wife? I take it she usually cooks? I could give you some easy, impressive recipes...

ihenpecked: @SomethingGirl I do cook, honest. Tonight's been one of those nights.

somethinggirl: @ihenpecked Well, you show yourself in the kitchen like you're commander of all things culinary. Would be sad to disappoint. (Referring to the photo below, taken from Mike's blog.)

ihenpecked: @SomethingGirl Alright, for you, some Sloppy Mac coming right up.

ihenpecked: @SomethingGirl But seriously [reduces voice to a whisper for fear of losing his man card] please give me some recipes.

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Jude wants to know what "Sloppy Mac" is. Is that a combo of sloppy joes and mac & cheese (called "Kraft Dinner" in more civilized parts of the world)?  Because that sounds so disgusting that a tear trickled out of my left eye for Mike's children.

Anyway, I haven't had time to put together how-toS on recipeS, plural, because I'm occupied with being depressed right now (no, don't ask, it's none of your business and I mean that in the politest way). 

But, I am showing Mike and all you other husbands who could stand to impress your wives a little, how to make a perfect company-worthy dish: Spanakopita (pronounced spah-na-KAW-pee-ta), or "spinach pie", except that this version is not at all a pie.

It's perfect because it's:

• darn tasty
• inexpensive to make
• very healthy
• pretty fool proof
• quick
• impressive-looking
• freezes well
• reheats well
• nice and portable for a lunch
• triangular
• darn tasty
• Greek

1.   Assemble the following ingredients:

• 1 average-sized pkg of baby spinach leaves, chopped up
• 1 leek sliced finely, which should be about 1/3 the amount of chopped spinach
• about 2 cups of crumbled high quality feta.  (If you see the brand I've shown in the photo below, buy it.  It's superior to any other feta I've had, including that which is sold at Costco.)
• about 1 cup of shredded mozzarella
• about 1 cup of Thompson raisins (I have a bias towards Thompsons.)  Even if you don't like raisins in salads and stuff like me, please try it with the raisins.  It just adds some sweet to the savory. It has a nice bite, not too hard.  I usually hate raisins in dishes but I love them here.
• about 1/2 cup of fresh dill, chopped
• an egg white, lightly whisked
• phyllo pastry sheets 
• about 1/2 cup melted butter, maybe more

 

2.  Mix it up.  (Duh.)  It should have the basic proportions so as to resemble this:

3.  Lay out your phyllo pastry sheets, one at a time.  I've only covered my countertop with saran wrap because it's honed granite, as opposed to polished, and it soaks in butter like the desert soaks up water.  You don't have to lay down any saran wrap if this situation does not apply to you.  Keep the remainder of the phyllo moist under a damp tea towel.  It dries out very quickly, being as thin as paper and all that.

Brush the sheet of phyllo with butter and then layer another sheet overtop.  It doesn't have to be a perfect demonstration of layering.  Even if the sheet tears, no big deal. Just put the pieces together as best you can.  Brush that sheet with butter and then add a third layer of phyllo. Brush it with butter, too.

(See how it's torn?  Totally doesn't matter as long as each sheet is not torn in the exact same place.)

4.  Slice into thirds thusly.

5.  Spoon about this much onto the bottom right hand corner of the first third.

6.  And now a video on how to roll it:

7.  Place on untreated baking sheet and bake for about 7-10 minutes at 350 degrees.  The edges will look lightly toasted.

And let me tell you, it has such a nice bite to it.

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Mike, you are welcome.  I expect a reprint in the Sunday edition of the Democrat Herald, in the Awesome section, front page. (Please don't tell me your family is allergic to wheat or spinach or something....)

Daily Gratitudes

1. My camera.
2. My van.
3. Typepad.
4. Prayer.
5. The speed at which my hair grows out.  Don't ever let me cut my hair short again, please.