A pie in layers called.... "Cheese bread"...

Don' even ask!.... Although it looks like it and although a kind of phyllo pastry is involved they don't call it "pie"... On the other hand, as it is obvious, you could not call it "bread"- not with the classic meaning of the word anyway because.... it is a pie actually. Whatever the name, it is a traditional and unusual recipe coming from Central Greece. Despite the fact that the name and its definition can easily confuse you, it is delicious!!!!!

Recipe of the TV cooking programme of Myrssini Lambraki,

a prominent cook and food writer

For the dough:
1Kg of all purpose flour
2 tsp of salt
1 tbsp of plain vinegar
2 tbsp of corn oil
2 1/2 tea-cups of lukewarm water (a bit less or a bit more)

For the filling:
600gr. feta cheese, crumbled
500gr. butter (not margarine!)

For the glaze:
2 eggs

Method:
In a large plastic bowl put the flour and make a well in the centre. Add there the vinegar, the oil, the salt and the water.

Start kneading well with your hands until the dough doesn't stick on the bowl anymore and it is smooth. See if you need to add a bit of water.

Cover the dough with a kitchen towel and let aside to rest for 2 hours.

Divide the dough into 7 same size balls.

In a small saucepan melt the butter on medium heat.

Get the first dough ball and press with the hands to open a very thin phyllo sheet, drizzling at the same time with a few tbsps of butter.

Sprinkle with some feta cheese all over the surface, fold the phyllo, seal well and let aside.

Repeat the same procedure with the rest of the dough balls and make sure that in the end it is left 1/4 from the melted butter.

Preheat the oven to 220°C.

Get a large oven pan and brush it with some butter. Put in the dish the first folded phyllo and again with the hands stretch to cover the whole surface of the pan with the help of some butter, starting from the center of the dish and outwards.

Repeat the same procedure with the rest of the folded phyllos. Each time adding a new phyllo on top of the other and stretching with the palms using some butter. In the end it should look like a "pie".

In a bowl beat the eggs together with 1 tbsp of water and brush with this mixture the whole surface of the cheese bread.

Put in the oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, until it is crispy and nicely coloured.

Cut in pieces and serve while it is still hot. It can be eaten even cold without the butter getting stiff and greasy and unpleasant in the mouth