My nephew, Dalton, is a 3rd year student at the University of Washington (yes, proud auntie!) After two years of dorm living, he's now in an apartment and having to cook for himself.

Dalton likes GOOD food so my sis supplied him with a few cookbooks and he's tagged all the recipes he wants to try. One or two Sundays per month they get together and whip up something neither of them have tried before.

This is one dish that looked too too good not to share! Have it for a meal or serve as a heavy hors d'Oeuvre.

(It sounds a little complicated, but my sis says it's really just savory ground beef in filo dough, don't be intimidated and feel free to mix up your own tasty filling!)
 

Savory Beef Strudel

Ingredients:

• 3 Tablespoons + 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
• 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 3 Tablespoons minced flat-leaf parsley
• 3 Tablespoons minced dill
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice or ground nutmeg
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup fine bread crumbs
• 12 sheets filo pastry
• (Now that I've typed all that out, I think any savory mixture would do!)

Directions:

1. Place 3 T butter in a large frying pan, add chopped onion and cook over med-hi heat until onion is soft; 8-10 minutes.
2. Add all herbs, spices, and ground beef. Cook, stirring often, until ground beef is cooked through; about 10 minutes.
3. Transfer to bowl and let cool slightly.
4. Add egg and bread crumbs, mix thoroughly.
5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 
6. On a clean, dry surface, place the first sheet of filo pastry, long end facing you. Brush with melted butter. Lay a second pastry sheet on top of the first and repeat 5 more times until you have a stack of 6 pastry sheets.
7. Now take half the beef mixture and spread it over the top of the stack, leaving a border of approximately 1 inch all the way around.
8. Fold the sides then the ends of the sheet over onto the beef mixture, then with the end nearest you, carefully roll up like a jelly roll.
9. Repeat steps with remaining filo sheets, butter, and meat mixture.
10. Place side by side on a cookie sheet, brush tops with remaining butter, place in center rack of oven and bake until golden brown; about 40 minutes.
11. Remove from oven, let cool slightly, cut into 1" slices on the diagonal.
12. Serve hot.