Poca (Cheese in Pastry)

Back in the '70's, I was a member of a monthly dinner club among a group of graduate students at Illinois. Eating healthily wasn't a big priority back then and we had a ball with international dinners. (I have no idea how authentic we were!) This comes from our "Greco - Turkish" dinner. Can be made ahead and kept covered in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before brushing with milk and baking.

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• Pastry

• 1  large egg
• 8  ounces plain yogurt
• 2  tablespoons olive oil
• 1  cup butter
• 4  cups flour
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder

• Filling

• 6  ounces farmer cheese or 6  ounces  other soft  white cheese
• 1⁄8 teaspoon salt
•  fresh ground pepper
• 3  tablespoons  chopped chives
• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons  chopped parsley
• 4  tablespoons milk

Directions

1. With a whisk or mixer, combine the egg, yogurt, olive oil and butter until well blended.
2. Add the flour, salt and baking powder and stir to form a smooth dough.
3. Cover and refrigerate for 15-20 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
5. In another bowl, combine the cheese, salt, pepper, chives and parsley.
6. Roll a piece of dough the size of a walnut into a smooth ball. Hollow out the middle and fill with 1/2 t of the cheese mixture. Seal the dough around the filling and form into a ball again. Continue until all the dough is used.
7. Lightly butter a cookie sheet. Place the cheese balls on the pan. Brush each with milk.
8. Bake in preheated 400 F oven for 20-25 minutes. Serve hot.