Linzer Cookies (Dorie Greenspan)

This cookie recipe for Linzer Sables require a little effort, but they are so beautiful and tasty. The recipe is from one of my favourite cookbooks, “Baking: From My Home to Yours”, by Dorie Greenspan. For a simpler cookie, omit the cutouts, although it does make beautiful cookies. You can dust these with confectioner’s sugar just before serving. Both dough and cookies freeze well (without the sugar dusting). Dough requires 45 minute chilling time.

Minty Cheese Filled Pasta (Kärntner Kasnudel)

Another traditional dish from Austria, which is rather easy to make, even though a bit time consuming, but the effort is absolutely worth it. You can find this dish mainly in the south of Austria (I like to think it is a bit Italian-influenced) and sometimes it is the only vegetarian food (apart from salad) to find on a menu (countryside pubs and restaurants). Lucky me,that it is one of my favourites. This dish usually comes with fountains of melted, browned butter, you can either induldge or adjust, e.g. limit, the amount to your preferences :).

Spanakopita, Armenian Style

Delicious traditional recipe. A little more cheesy than the typical recipe. I have included more detailed instructions on rolling the filo into triangles, for those who haven’t used filo before. It can be tricky. I teach my friends to fold the triangles by practicing on a napkin to get the hang of the triangle fold. PS. Contrary to Tarra’s opinion, there is NO comparison between filo and puff pastry, and ricotta has almost no taste…similar to cottage cheese!

Argentine-Style Stuffed Flank Steak

DH and I made this and thought it had great flavor, despite the fact we overcooked ours. So, be careful in Step 10….the original recipe says to cook about an hour until the instant-read thermometer registers 130F. After an hour, ours was way too well-done. DH suggests you check the meat with your thermometer at least every 15-20 minutes. Also, prep and cook time do not include time it takes to roast the red bell pepper. Finally, you will need kitchen string. From the Williams-Sonoma “Steak and Chop” book.

Traditional Algerian Baklawa / Baklava – Family Recipe

This is the most famous Algerian ‘heloua’. You will find it at all the weddings & special occasions. It isn’t all that difficult to make but is a bit time consuming. It freezes OK too! To see me making this step by step with lots of photos, go here: http://www.recipezaar.com/bb/viewtopic.zsp?t=230630&start=0

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