Баница Banitsa, Banitsa is a traditional Bulgarian dish that is a combination of eggs and white cheese between phyllo sheets formed in a spiral before baking. It is easy to prepare, yet wonderfully delicious in its simplicity. When it is prepared for New Year's Eve, the Banitsa has lucky charms embedded in each piece – one for each member of the family and guests plus an additional one for the entire household.

Ingredients:

12 sheets phyllo dough 8 tablespoons butter Prep Time: 45 min ½ lb (230 g) (Bulgarian white cheese) or , coarsely Cook Time: 25 min crumbled Total Time: 1 h 10 min ¾ lb (340 g) Bulgarian (preferably sheep's milk yogurt) 4 whole eggs Course: Appetizer 1 egg yolk Cuisine: Bulgarian, Vegetarian Salt Servings: 6 people Pepper

Instructions:

1. Whisk the yogurt and the 4 eggs together. 9. Repeat this process 3 more times to get 4 long rolls of three superimposed sheets of phyllo each. 2. Add the cheese, salt and pepper and mix. 10. Place the springform pan on a baking sheet (or just circle on 3. Melt the butter. baking sheet covered with parchment paper). 4. Take two sheets of phyllo and brush the top sheet with the 11. Begin by sticking the first roll to the edge of the circle, then melted butter. add the following, forming a snail to the center. 5. Superimpose a third sheet on the first two and brush the top 12. Beat the egg yolk and the remaining melted butter together with butter. and brush the whole banitsa. 6. Turn the three sheets over and then brush the non coated 13. Bake at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for about 25 minutes. side. 14. When it's ready, the banitsa should be golden. 7. Put ¼ of the yogurt, egg and cheese mixture on top of the phyllo sheets. 15. It can be eaten hot, warm or cold. 8. Roll everything together lengthwise, so the roll gets to be as long as possible.