Recipe - Melopita

PASTRY
1 One half cup Plain flour
1 pn Salt
1 tablespoon Caster sugar
1/3 cup Butter
1 Egg; separated
2 teaspoon Lemon juice
2 tablespoon Cold water

FILLING
500 g Mizithra or ricotta cheese
One half cup Honey
1 tablespoon Caster sugar
1 pn Salt
3 Eggs
2 teaspoon Lemon juice
2 teaspoon Ground cinnamon

Oven temperature: 200 C (400 F), reducing to 170 C (325 F) Cooking time: 45
minutes

Sift flour, salt and sugar into mixing bowl. Cut in butter with 2 knives,
then rub with fingertips until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Beat egg yolk
with lemon juice and cold water and blend in, using knife. When dough
clings together knead lightly until smooth, cover and rest for 30 minutes.

Beat cheese until smooth, gradually beat in honey and sugar. Beat in eggs,
lemon juice and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.

Roll out pastry on a lightly floured board to a 30 cm (12 inch) circle.
Line a greased 25 cm (10 inch) springform tin or pie plate with the pastry.
Lightly beat egg white and brush some of this over pastry. Pour cheese
mixture into pastry case and smooth top.

Bake in a hot oven for 15 minutes, reduce to moderately slow and bake a
further 30 minutes until set. Switch off heat and open over door slightly.
Leave pie in oven until cool. Dust with remaining cinnamon and serve cut
in wedges or in traditional diamondshaped pieces.

Note: Store honey pie in covered container in refrigerator. Bring to room
temperature before serving.

From: "The Complete Middle East Cookbook" by Tess Mallos (ISBN: 1 86302 069
1)

Typed for you by Karen Mintzias