Banitsa with Yeast

Ingredients

• 1½ teaspoons dry yeast
• ½ teaspoon sugar
• ¼ cup lukewarm water
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup lukewarm water
• 1 cup melted butter

Directions

1. Dissolve ½ tsp sugar in ¼ cup lukewarm water.
2. Sprinkle yeast over it and let stand for about 10 minutes.
3. Sift flour in bowl and make a well.
4. Add salt and yeast mixture.
5. Then add 1 cup lukewarm water and start mixing to form a dough.
6. Knead, adding more flour until dough is soft, but not sticky.
7. Cut into 9 sections and roll into balls.
8. Let stand a few minutes.
9. Take each ball and roll out until the size of a pie plate about 9 inches.
10. Make into piles of three, brushing each circle with melted butter.
11. You will have three piles with 3 circles in each pile brushed with melted butter except for the top circle.
12. Take one circle and roll out on table.
13. Stretch it as much as you can.
14. The edge of the circle should be thin as the rest of the circle.
15. Brush with melted butter.
16. Take ⅓ of your prepared filling and spread along bottom edge of your circle and spread along one side.
17. Roll up, cut in half lengthwise, seal each end with your fingers and place on a buttered baking pan.
18. Repeat with the remaining circles.
19. This will make 6 strips of pastry.
20. Brush strips with butter.
21. Let rise for about ½ hour and bake in a preheated oven for 350°F for about ½ hour until done.