(Text-only recipe)

These fabulous sweet cheese pastries are like mini cheesecakes, but they are definitely Greek - and more specifically, Cretan. The Greek island of Crete is famous for kalitsounia (say: kah-leet-SOON-yah) made with fresh Cretan myzithra cheese - which is soft (as opposed to the hard aged salty type). {If you can't find myzithra cheese, try Italian ricotta, farmer's cheese, or French Neufchatel.)

Ingredients:

FOR THE DOUGH

• 1/2 cup of olive oil
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1/2 cup of unflavored strained yogurt
• 2 eggs, beaten with a fork
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 2 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup of brandy

FOR THE FILLING

• 1 2/3 pounds of fresh soft myzithra cheese (or other unsalted sweet cheese)
• 1/2 - 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon of grated orange peel
• 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
• 1 egg, beaten (for glaze)

TOPPINGS

• ground cinnamon (for baked pastries)
• confectioner's sugar (optional for fried pastries)
• honey (optional for fried pastries)