Kallitsunia -- Sweet Cheese Pies (greece)

Total Time: 1 hr 50 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 5 mins

Ingredients

• 2 quarts plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup milk, warm
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 cups mizithra cheese (or a suitable substitute)
• 1 egg
• 6 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Recipe

• 1 to make the cheese: in a large saucepan, over medium-high heat, combine the yogurt & lemon juice, then bring it to a boil. reduce heat to medium or medium-low & boil the mixture until it separates (time is a total estimate, about 15 minutes).
• 2 pour it into a colander lined with a double layer of cheesecloth & let it drain for several hours.
• 3 for the dough: after the cheese has been draining for about 1 hour, start the dough by stirring the yeast into the milk & letting it stand for 10 minutes.
• 4 in a large mixing bowl & using a wooden spoon, blend butter & sugar together, then add the flour.
• 5 add yeast milk, orange juice & olive oil & knead until the dough is smooth, then cover & let rise for 1 hour.
• 6 for the filling: meanwile, in a bowl, mix the cheese with the egg & sugar, then set aside.
• 7 preheat oven to 425 degrees f & line 2 large baking sheets with parchment.
• 8 when dough is ready, divide it into 2 or 3 pieces & roll out the 1st one to 1/2-inch thickness, then cut out as many disks as you can using a 4-inch biscuit cutter.
• 9 with the tips of your fingers, flatten the edge of each disk & fold it in at regular intervals to produce a fluted, slightly raised edge.
• 10 place each fluted disk on the lined baking sheet & flatten the dough a little more inside the edges. repeat with the other disks of dough.
• 11 spread 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of cheese on each disk, then sprinkle with a little cinnamon & bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly golden.
• 12 serve at room temperature ~ they are best served the day they're made.