BEEF PITA~ GREEK STYLE #2

      Title: BEEF PITA~ GREEK STYLE #2
  Categories: Hamburger, Beef, Greek
       Yield: 12 Servings
  
       2 lb Ground Beef
       1 md Onion, Chopped
       4 cl Garlic, Minced
     1/2 lb Fresh Mushrooms, Sliced
       1    Bay Leaf
   1 1/4 ts Salt
     1/2 ts Chili Powder
     1/2 ts Cumin Powder
     1/4 ts Cinnamon
       8 oz (1 cn) Tomato Sauce
     1/3 c  Burgundy Or Rose Wine
       1    Egg
       8 oz (1 pk) Cream Cheese,
            Softened
       1 c  Creamed Cottage Cheese
     1/2 c  Crumbled Feta Cheese
     1/2 c  Unsalted Butter, Melted *
       8 oz (1/2 Pk) Phyllo Leaves **
     1/4 c  Dry Bread Crumbs
 
 MMMMM-------------------------GARNISHES------------------------------
            Parlsey Sprigs
      12    Cherry Tomatos
            Fresh Fruit Kabobs (opt.)
  
   Contributed to the echo by: Jean Hores Beef Pita, Greek Style
   
   *  Unsalted margarine, melted, can also be used. ** Phyllo Leaves are
   Greek pastry and they should be defrosted.
   
   Combine ground beef, onion and garlic in a large frying-pan; cook,
   stirring frequently until beef loses pink color. Pour off drippings.
   Add mushrooms, bay leaf, salt, chili powder, cumin powder, and
   cinnamon; cook, stirring frequently, until mushrooms are tender about
   5 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce and wine; cook, covered, 10 minutes,
   stirring occasionally.
   
   Remove bay leaf. Cool while preparing cheese filling. Combine egg and
   cream cheese in medium bowl, beat with electric mixer until smooth.
   Stir in cottage and feta cheeses and blend. Brush 13 x 9-inch baking
   pan with melted butter. Line pan with 1 sheet of pastry, fitting
   pastry to contour of pan. (Pastry will come up over edges of pan.)
   Brush pastry with butter. Layer with 3 more pastry sheets, brushing
   each with butter.
   
   Sprinkle bread crumbs evenly over top. Spoon 1/5 of meat filling in
   layer over crumbs and 1/5 of the cheese filling over meat. Place 1
   pastry sheet over cheese filling, crinkling to fit inside dimensions
   of pan; brush with butter and layer with 1/5 of the meat and 1/5 to
   the cheese fillings. Repeat with 3 more pastry sheets, crinkling
   each, brushing with butter and topping with fillings. Turn bottom
   pastry ends up over filling. Place remaining 8 pastry sheets smoothly
   over top, brushing each with butter.
   
   Using spatula, tuck top pastry sheets around inside edges of pan. With
   sharp knife, score top lightly in half lengthwise and sixths
   crosswise. (Do not cut through.) Bake in moderate oven (350 degrees
   F.) 1 hour or until top is golden brown. Cool at least 10 minutes
   before cutting along scored lines. Place a cherry tomato on each of
   12 small wooden picks and insert pick in center of each serving.
   Garnish with parsley. Garnish individual servings with fresh fruit
   kabobs, if desired. FRESH FRUIT KABOBS: To make fresh fruit kabobs,
   place chunks of fresh pineapple, cantaloupe, whole strawberries or
   other fruits in season on small wooden skewers.
   
   Servings: 12
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