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Spanakopita: Yummy, Flaky, Triangular Goodness "Olives, fish, and wine make the Greeks healthy and so fine!" Kali cackled as she slathered her last pita wedge with hummus. She was a prankster and had lots of sayings and dirty jokes.
"No, it just makes you a lush," commented her sister from the other side of the kitchen.
Dia and Kali, two middle-aged sisters from Mykonos, co-owned the Taste of Greece; an awesome little dive that offered great wine, food, and an unfortunate English homophone.
During my two years with these ladies, I endured countless hours of Yanni performances to earn money for college. Thankfully, I also gained knowledge that still serves me today: Greek phrases inappropriate for polite society, a case study on sibling rivalry in seniors, and one awesome recipe for spinach and feta cheese pie. This is a great way to add veggies to your menu.
Supplies:
Colander
1 baking tray
2 trays or cutting boards
Wax paper
Kitchen towel
Pastry brush
1 large bowl
1 small bowl
Sharp knife or scissors
Ingredients:
Phyllo dough
2 8-ounce bags frozen spinach, chopped
8 ounces feta cheese
1/2 cup mozzarella
1 bunch green onions
2 tablespoons garlic
2 tablespoons dill weed
1/4 cup parsley
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Pepper and nutmeg, to taste
1 slightly beaten egg
1 cup melted butter mixed with equal amount of olive oil
Instructions
The filling: After draining the spinach, mix in all ingredients minus the egg. Mix well, then add the egg. It acts like a glue to hold the filling together.
Working with phyllo: This dough is delicate, like antique parchment paper. The key is keeping it covered. Have a tray or cutting board ready with wax paper covered with a damp kitchen towel.
Take out one of the plastic bags from the box of phyllo dough, and cut it into thirds. You will have three sections of rolled-up dough. Put two of the strips in a storage bag, and seal it for later. Unroll the last one on your empty tray, placing the wax paper and towel over it.
Triangle folding: Set up all your supplies: covered tray of phyllo, large bowl of spinach mix, empty tray to work on, baking tray, and small bowl of butter and oil with a pastry brush.
Remember making little paper footballs with notebook paper? That's what you do with the phyllo here. Take two sheets, and lay them on the empty tray. Put a spoonful of the spinach mix at one end of the phyllo. Fold one corner down and across the filling, making a triangle shape. Continue folding the length of the phyllo strip.
Brush the finished triangle with the butter/oil mixture, and put it on the baking tray. When the tray is full, bake for about 20 minutes at 375 degrees F until they're golden brown.
Enjoy the yummy, flaky goodness!
Caveats: There are two things that will ruin this recipe.
Spinach: After thawing the spinach, you have to wring out the excess water by hand or held over the sink between two plates.
Phyllo dough: requires a little preparation, and once it's exposed to air, you have limited time to work with it before it just disintegrates. Also, typically you find it in the freezer section, so make sure you defrost it in the refrigerator overnight. Leaving it out on the counter to defrost doesn?t work. You'll just have a gooey mess.
Tip: I always triple and quadruple this recipe, and fill up extra trays with the triangle pies. Wrap them in wax paper and plastic cling, and put them in the freezer for later. They are an excellent snack and great to bring anywhere for finger foods. They go right in the oven and bake.
This post submitted by Misty from The Mommies Network's Content Team
My Eeyore Experience I have been thinking of going back to graduate school for years. School was always really enjoyable for me, even though I was not the most diligent student, and taking some classes at the graduate level is really appealing at this point in my life. Now that we are in Charlotte and settled here for the foreseeable future, it's the perfect time. Back in September, I got my application all together and applied to the Masters in Liberal Sciences program at UNC Charlotte. I was accepted and am all ready to start!
As a SAHM, I naturally have to find something for my children to do while I am away expanding my mind. After calls to all my regular girls and asking around, I was lucky to find someone who was a full-time nanny for a friend but now has time available right when I need it. Perfect! She came over and met the kids, and I am all set.
I ordered my book for my class (I'm only taking one?don?t want too much pressure my first semester back in a decade) and when it came in the mail, I was a bit surprised by its weight. Books for graduate school are quite big, I soon learned. And in-depth. This is much more reading than I have done in a while. But I got my first assignment and delved in. I certainly want to be prepared for my first day!
After nearly falling asleep several times, I managed to make it through all 73 pages to prepare myself for the first day. Upon reviewing it with a friend, I explained the pages were completely full of words, two columns worth, and were very dense. The sight of a chart was exciting, as it meant less to read.
So here I am, the week that class starts. I am more excited than I have been in quite some time. My homework is done, I have a new computer, and my kids are taken care of. Until I get a text message from the sitter that I arranged, that is.
First of all, it is completely inappropriate to quit a job via text message. Second, regardless of what kind of emergency has come up, a person should always live up to commitments made. Third, I am incredibly upset. My anger subsides and turns into complete deflation. (Here is where Eeyore comes in.)
In Chapter 6 of Winnie-the-Pooh, it is Eeyore?s birthday. Pooh is going to give him a pot of honey. However, Pooh eats all the honey, as he often does. Piglet is going to give Eeyore a red balloon, but while running to see Eeyore, Piglet pops the balloon.
So here I am, with an empty pot of honey and a busted red balloon. All dressed up with no place to go. A dog that doesn't hunt.
But, in this story, Eeyore is quite pleased when Pooh shows up with the empty pot of honey. It is because his popped balloon fits perfectly inside of it.
Sometimes, things fall apart so that others may fall into place.
Post submitted by Katie from The Mommies Network's Content Team
February Is Cultural Awareness Month!
February is Cultural Awareness Month at The Mommies Network, and we're thinking globally! Share a love for foreign language and different cultures with your child in our Multicultural Mommies forum on our National Chapter. Each week, we'll feature several languages and cultural tidbits. You may also participate and strengthen your language lingo in a special webinar. Additionally, our sponsor will provide information on how you can continue your language-learning experience after the month is over.
According to Associated Content, brain research shows that children are at an optimal age for language learning. Although language study is effective at any age, some studies suggest that the human brain is more open to learning a foreign language from birth to preadolescence. Fortunately, researchers have not found an age in which the language window closes completely, especially in the areas of grammar and vocabulary.
Take advantage of this opportunity to think globally, and join us as we learn about foreign languages and different ways of life during Cultural Awareness Month at TMN!
Websites to Keep Your Health Goals on Track Staying healthy and active can be fun, easy, and even free! We all need a little nudge from time to time to stay the course. Motivation, inspiration, and support can be found within our families, friends, and ourselves. However, it can also be just a mouse click away!
Below, you'll find some visitworthy sites to assist you in your journey to your most optimal health and wellness! What's even better is that they are all free resources!
Do you have a few hours of extra time each week? Do you love your local chapter? Would you like to be more involved with The Mommies Network? TMN could not run without the help of volunteers like you!
Please check out the Help Wanted section on the National Chapter for all our current open positions. It is updated regularly, so check back! Posts will note if positions have experience requirements, certain skill requirements, or time requirements. If you have a particular knowledge or skill that you think might be beneficial to The Mommies Network, click here.
If you have any questions regarding our current vacancies, please email hr@themommiesnetwork.org!
