Pita di Spinaku

Description
Yields about 18 pieces.

Ingredients

 * 2 x 10 oz pkgs. frozen spinach
 * 4 eggs
 * 1 pound cottage cheese, farmer cheese, or Greek feta cheese, crumbled
 * dash of salt
 * 4½ –  5 cups unbleached flour
 * 2 tsp salt
 * 2 –  2½ cups water
 * 2 sticks butter melted

Filling

 * 1) Prepare spinach according to package.
 * 2) Strain and let cool.
 * 3) Combine cheese, eggs, 1 tbsp of the melted butter and dash of salt.
 * 4) Set aside.

Crust

 * 1) In a large bowl, sift 4½ cups flour.
 * 2) Add 2 tsp salt and mix with a fork.
 * 3) Slowly add the water and work dough with fingertips to form a soft, smooth, elastic ball.
 * 4) Knead for 10 minutes, adding more sifted flour or water if needed.
 * 5) Do not let the dough get tough.
 * 6) Cover and let stand for 15 minutes.
 * 7) Split dough in half to form 2 pieces.
 * 8) Roll one piece of dough until thin and the size of the shallow rectangular pan you will use for the pie (approx.
 * 9) 14" long x 12" wide x 1" deep).
 * 10) Spread the dough with some of the melted butter.
 * 11) With a knife, draw a small circle in the center and cut from the outside of the circle to form a "sun" pattern with 8 cut sections.
 * 12) Turn one piece over onto the circle and butter the top of that section.
 * 13) Repeat the same procedure with each section, layering them on top of each other, but leave the 8th section unbuttered.
 * 14) Refrigerate.
 * 15) Repeat the same procedure with the second piece of dough and refrigerate as well.
 * 16) Remove 1st chilled piece of dough.
 * 17) Sprinkle with flour and roll out until dough is one inch bigger than the pan.
 * 18) Place rolled out dough in buttered pan.
 * 19) Add spinach filling and spread.
 * 20) Roll out 2nd chilled piece of dough so that it overlaps at least one inch on all sides of the pan.
 * 21) Place over spinach filling and tuck edges into side of pan to form a thick crust.
 * 22) Brush top with remaining melted butter.
 * 23) Bake at 450 for 15 minutes, lower heat to 400°F and bake for 15 minutes longer, or until golden and crispy.
 * 24) Remove from oven, cut into squares.