Spanakopitta Me Avga Spinach Pie W/eggs

SPALDING 3 pounds Spinach

1 each Onion, med. -- chopped

1/2 cup Scallions -- chopped

1 cup Butter

1/2 cup Dill -- chopped

1/2 cup Parsley -- chopped

Salt & pepper to taste 1/2 cup Evaporated milk

5 each Egg

3/4 pound Phyllo pastry

Melted butter as needed 1/2 pound Feta cheese -- crumbled

Wash spinach in plenty of water and cut in sm. pcs.; place in bowl. Salt lightly; stir to spread salt evenly. Take spinach, a handful at a time, and squeeze out the excess water; place it in another bowl. Saute the onion in half the butter until it is a light, golden color; add the scallions and cook untill they wilt. Add spinach; stir until all vegs. take on a light color. Stir in the dill, parsley, salt and pepper; cover the pot and cook until all the water thrown off by the spinach is absorbed. Remove from the heat; turn into a bowl, and immediately add the milk (to cool the spinach). Beat the eggs in another bowl and add the cheese to them; add to the cooled spinach; mix well.

Line a pan with 8 sheets of phyllo dough, brushing each sheet with the melted butter before topping it with the next sheet. Do not trim the overhanging sections. Pour in the spinach mixture, spreading it evenly over the phyllo. Fold the part of the phyllo that extends out of the pan back over the filling. Lay the remaining phyllo on top, again brushing each sheet with melted butter before adding the next. Now trim the overlap. Brush additional melted butter on top of the pie and score it into square or diamond-shaped serving pcs. Bake for 30 to 45 min. in a preheated 300 F. oven; let it stand for 30 min. before serving.

NOTE: This can also be made without precooking the spinach. In that case, squeeze the spinach free of as much water as possible, mix it with the seasonings, and proceed as above, baking it for 1 hr.