Yummy Ham & Wild Rice Soup

3c Cooked Wild Rice (about 1.5 raw)

1lg White Onion, finely diced

3 Carrots, finely diced

3 Full Celery Stalks, finely diced

1c Kale, chopped

2 Garlic Cloves, minced

1c Diced Ham

8c Veggie Broth (or chicken)

1/2 stick butter

1/2c flower

1/2c almond milk (or regular milk)

1/2c half & half

2t Janes Crazy Salt

1-2t Fresh Ground Pepper

Prepare rice.  Saute onions, carrot, celery, kale, garlic, & ham in the butter (only about 3min).  Stir in flour gradually while stirring, do not let brown.  Slowly add chicken broth stirring until flour is blended well.  Add seasoning.  Bring to a boil, reduce and simmer for 20 minutes.  Adjust seasoning to desired taste.  Add cream and rice in the last  5 minutes. 

Albanian Burek - AKA (much better than) "Spinach Pie"

2 Packs Filo Dough (in 4 rolls)

12oz Feta Cheese

1c Cottage Cheese
1c Plain Greek Yogurt

3 Eggs

1c Chopped Green Onions

10+oz Chopped Fresh Spinach

1c Olive Oil

4 Cloves Garlic

2c Buttermilk

1/2t Salt

1/2t Pepper

1st make sure to thaw Filo Dough completely.

Preheat oven to 350*.  Spray 2 cookie sheets with oil.

Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat.  Cut the garlic into thin slivers and add to the warmed oil.  Heat the mix until the garlic begins to simmer - ensure garlic is not frying to burn.  Continue to lightly simmer for 5 minutes.  Strain oil to remove garlic (or pick out if slices are big enough).  Use 1/2c of oil and saute the chopped spinach, do not over cook - lightly warm to calm bitterness (approx 5 minutes).  

In a bowl, mix together the feta cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, 2 eggs, 1c buttermilk, green onions, spinach, salt & pepper.  In a separate bowl mix together "wash-mix" of 1/2c oil, 1c buttermilk and 1 egg - whisk.

Place 2 sheets of filo on a piece horizontally of parchment paper.  Brush wash-mix over sheet.  Place another 2 sheets on top.  Spread a heaping 2T of spinach/feta mixture on 1/4 of left side of filo.  Roll up into a cigar.  Flip over and brush closed with wash mix.  Place closure side-down on pan.  Repeat till finished

After all burek cigars are layed out, brush remaining wash-mix over top, as well as on the ends to "close".  Bake for 30-40 minutes.