Greece: Mousaka

This dish can be made in many ways. Could be all vegetarian, meat and potatoes, meat and eggplant, and also you can use your own imagination and ingredients. The recipe I will post here is made with ground beef and potatoes for the reason that my teenage daughter likes very much those two ingredients.

The following recipe it is based on a 9" x 9" glass oven safe cooking dish that will be enough for four people. You can refrigerate leftovers for next day and just heated up in the oven or microwave (covered).

Ingredients: 3 big long white potatoes crosscut into 1/4" slices, your favorite cooking oil, 2 lbs of lean ground beef (93/7 is preferably), 3 beaten large eggs (like for omelet), shredded taco type cheese, shredded mozzarella. Also I use taco seasoning (the kind you find in a grocery store in a can - there are so many flavors - you choose the one you like) to mix with the ground beef.

Procedure: Set the ground beef in a large skillet at medium heat to be browned together with salt and pepper to taste and any other seasoning you would like to use. I use the taco seasoning in can so the browned ground beef will not be too dry after cooking. While the meat is cooking, set another large skillet with 2-3 tbls of your favorite cooking oil at medium high heat and fry potato slices on both sides until light brown. While everything is cooking (keep a close eye on your stove) set oven at 350 to preheat. Spray a 9" x 9" glass oven safe dish. As soon as potato slices become ready cover the bottom of the dish with one layer of potato slices. The remaining cooked potatoes place them in a dish lined with a paper towel to absorb the grease. After the bottom of the dish is covered in one layer of potatoes, pour about a half of the browned beef and spread that evenly. Spread a thin layer of the taco shredded cheese on top of the meat and add another layer of cooked sliced potatoes. Now pour the remaining of the meat and spread evenly again. Do not sprinkle any cheese this time, instead add the remaining potatoes making sure you cover the entire surface. On top of potatoes pour the beaten eggs and then sprinkle the shredded mozzarella. Cover an place dish in the oven for about 20 to 30 min. Use oven gloves to take the dish out and make sure the eggs are cooked and mozzarella is melted. Cut in 4 and serve hot. Enjoy!

Note: I like cheese a lot! It is up to you to use any cheese or what kind of cheese. Also, after you take the dish from the oven you may sprinkle some fresh parsley, or you can use some sun dry tomatoes or whatever you think might enhance the appearance of this dish. Some other recipes will require that the first layer should be with sliced tomatoes. Potatoes could be replace by slices of eggplant (I believe that is the original recipe for this dish). Use your own imagination and experiment with ingredients you and your family likes the most.

If you have any home cooking recipes I will be happy to post it here with your name attached to it so you will get the credit for it. Thank you!