Yigandes Me Spanaki - Greek Spinach, Bean and Feta Casserole

Yesterday I made a Greek dish (Yigandes Me Spanaki) Spinach, Bean and Feta Oven Casserole. I used Nancy's recipe at about.com. Its a healthy side dish. I added carrots for some color and sweetness. I used lima beans instead of yigandes beans but would love to try yigandes beans as well. I did not have fresh dill so I used rosemary and thyme which tasted great. This could also be a great filling for a pita sandwich.

Guasacaca - Venezuelan Salsa

This salsa is a colorful alternative to mushy guacamole. It is very simple and quick to make. I got this recipe from Kathy. I made some modifications. I used a red onion, orange pepper instead of green pepper and 3 tbsp of a hot salsa instead of hot sauce. This salsa taste really fresh and perfect.

Ingredients:
2 avocados
1 medium red onion
2 tbsp lemon juice
3/4 cup of cilantro
1 medium tomato
1 orange pepper
salt to taste
3 tbsp hot salsa

Kazakh Cuisine

Gutap - Kazakh Herb Phyllo Pastries

The first cuisine that I will start with is Kazakh cuisine. Kazahstan is situated in Central Asia/Eastern Europe, it borders Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Historically, Kazakhstanis were nomadic people. Kazakh cuisine is not vegetarian friendly it mainly consists of meat and dairy.

After a lot of research I did come across many baked goods that are a part of Kazakh cuisine. A custom called dastarkhan (a feast for visiting guests and special occasions) includes a dish called Gutap. Gutap is a fried herb fritter that is served with a delicious dip that taste just like a french onion dip. I have found a recipe online, here is a link Gutap. I am modifying the recipe slightly. I am using phyllo pastry in order to make a healthier version.