"Burek" or Feta Cheese Phyllo Pie

There are different version of BUREK (some eastern Europeans even Greeks) roll a fresh dough and then spend more time rolling, folding and waiting. But if you're use phyllo it's quick and you can always keep it in the freezer. Please excuse the directions, but the recipe doesn't really have measurements or written directions! This is an old recipe and no one ever wrote it down.

Total Time: 1hr 5mins

Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 45 mins

Servings 12

Ingredients:

- 1 (32 ounce) package phyllo dough

- 5 -6 eggs

- 1 -3 cup milk

- 3 cups feta

- 2 tablespoons oil

- 1 (16 ounce) cottage cheese

Instructions:

FIRST - Let me explain the Feta. We have an Italian Market that sells fresh fruits and veggies etc. and they have a fresh cheese section. I always buy a block of French Feta Cheese. I use half for this recipe and the rest for omelets etc. You can use the prepacked Feta but if you want the full experience you'll need a lot. Also, you may use other variety of Feta (there's Hungarian, Bulgarian even a salt free one) The French is very salty which is why I add cottage cheese. It kind of balances out the saltiness abit. YOU JUST NEED 1 PACKAGE OF PHYLLO. Mine says 32 oz, buy the long box not the country (it's too thick).

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In large mixing bowl beat eggs, add 2 cups milk and mix well. Take your block of Feta and cut in half. Use one 1/2 and refrigerate the other. Crumble the Feta into the egg mix and add cottage cheese. Make sure you have nice chunks. Mix well, the mixture should be thick and very lumpy. If too thick add more milk (hence the extra milk).

Take a large deep baking dish. Sprinkle oil on bottom only (dip your spoon into oil, take out and just drizzle slightly). Lay one sheet phyllo and drizzle with oil, continue until you have 4 sheets. When you add the last sheet place your hand flat on the phyllo sheets and GENTLY gather, without tearing by pulling the sides slightly toward center. (It should resemble a crumpled bed) :).

Use 1 full Ladle of the egg/feta mixture onto the layer, you don't need to cover all the phyllo just don't leave the feta in one spot distribute.

Layer another phyllo sheet and sprinkle with oil. Layer another sheet of phyllo and again crumple the center then sprinkle the oil (just a little). One Ladle of the egg/feta mix. Continue in this pattern (Don't forget to gather the center each time). If you see that you have alot of the egg/feta mix left you can start to add more than the 1 ladle. Your last layer should be 3-4 layers of phyllo. Don't sprinkle with oil yet. Take a soup spoon and with the handle, tuck in the sides. Now sprinkle with oil.

Bake for about 30-40 minutes or until the top is puffed and nicely browned.

Your kitchen with smell wonderful. The Burek will puff high off the top of the pan but once cooled will drop. You must cool completely or you will nto be able to cut with out it falling apart.

It's moist and a bit salty and goes great with a nice cold beer! You can serve as main meal with salad or as appetizer (cut into small squares).