Byrecka (small phyllo pockets)

Ingredients

1. one pound all purpose flour 
2. one egg
3. one cup of plain yogurt (low-fat)
4. one teaspoon salt
5. one teaspoon oil (vegetable/canola/olive)
6. one teaspoon of baking soda

Procedure

1. make sure egg and yogurt are at room temperature before beginning the mix
2. beat the egg, salt, baking soda, and oil
3. pour yogurt into the mix and continue beating
4. add this mixture to bowl of flour and mix thoroughly using your hand if necessary
5. if dough is too soft - add more flour as needed - until ready to be kneaded
6. divide the dough into 10-12 parts
7. roll each dough part to a flat circle (phyllo) using flour to prime the top and bottom surfaces
8. spread each piece of phyllo on the table and cover with cloth so it does not dry
9. put one tablespoon of desired filling in the middle of the phyllo circle and fold in half and seal using fingertips
10. bake at 400F for as long as needed until golden brown (apply oil or butter on top for better color)

Bakllava (baklava)

 Ingredients

1. one packet of fillo dough with 40 pieces (standard size)
2. 2 bars of unsalted butter
3. 2 cups of sugar
4. one pound of walnuts
   

Procedure

1. melt butter
2. crush walnuts mixed with some sugar to small pieces
3. separate out the fillo dough and let it air for 30 min or so
4. use the melted butter to first sprinkle the bottom of the pan and then sprinkle every two fillo dough that are put in
5. add a bed of crushed walnuts with sugar after the first 15 fillo and then another one after the second batch of 15. 10 will be left for the top layer
6. cut the baklava up now, before baking, to achieve desired shape easily
7. preheat oven at 375F and then cook until golden brown (takes about 30 min on my oven)
8. let the baklava cool down completely
9. mix two cups of sugar and two cups of water and boil until it thickens (you can tell this by picking it up with a spoon and letting it fall. if it falls in droplets than it is ready and now you have teh syrup)
10. add hot syrup to completely cold baklava and let it cool down again for best results

Fasule (bean soup)

for two servings

- half a cup of beans need to sit in water for 6 hours
- boil beans and throw away that water
- put them in water to boil again this time adding

• ---one whole onion (cut in half)
• ---one medium red pepper
• ---half a carrot or three/four baby carrots
• ---one small potato

- when vegetables are soft enough, blend them all together in a paste and re-add to boiling beans
- finally add 1-2 tomatoes finely cut or tomato juice and salt in the end
- serve sprinkled with olive oil and oregano on top.