SAUCE FOR SPANAKOPITA RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Place spinach in a steamer over 1 inch of boiling water, and cover. Cook until tender, about 2 to 6 minutes. Drain and press to remove all water. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onion until tender, but do not brown. Stir in cooked spinach and continue cooking until all moisture has evaporated. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
• In a large bowl combine feta cheese, Swiss cheese, Parmesan cheese, eggs, parsley and cinnamon. Stir in spinach and onion mixture.
• Brush the bottom of a 17x11 inch jelly roll pan with butter. Place 1 sheet of dough in the bottom of the pan; brush with butter. Continue to layer 13 more sheets of dough, brushing every other sheet with butter. Spread spinach and cheese mixture over dough. Continue layering with remaining dough, brushing every other sheet with butter. Tuck edges of dough under. Brush top sheet with butter and, using a sharp knife, score top layer into diamonds.
• Bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until golden brown.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a bowl combine 3 cloves of garlic and all of red onion EXCEPT 2 tablespoons, reserve 1 garlic clove and onion for yogurt sauce.
• Squeeze the water out of the spinach until completely dry. Separate the spinach as you add it to garlic and onion.
• Add feta, egg, breadcrumbs, ground beef, lamb and grill seasoning to the bowl. Mix and combine well.
• Form mixture into 1 1/2-inch, bite-sized meatballs. Place the meatballs on a nonstick cookie sheet. ***At this point you could refrigerate until ready to bake.
• Bake meatballs at 375 degrees for 20 minutes until they are cooked through.
• To make the sauce, place yogurt, 1 garlic clove, 2 Tablespoons onion, cucumber, dill, lemon juice, oregano and a little salt in food processor and process until smooth. Adjust seasonings to taste and transfer to a serving bowl. Serve meatballs alongside sauce with toothpicks.