Karen Mintzias
      1 sm Leg of lamb

           - boned, cut into 1" pieces,
           - bones reserved
      1    Lemon (juice only)

    1/4 c  Oil or butter

      1    Onion; chopped

      3 md Potatoes; parboiled in their

           - jackets, peeled & diced
      1 lg Carrot; parboiled, diced

      3 c  Parboiled white rice;drained

      2 tb Tomato puree

      1 c  Feta cheese, crumbled

    1/2 c  Chopped fresh parsley

      2    Sprigs fresh mint; chopped

      1 ts Dried oregano

      1    Garlic clove; sliced

      1 ts Ground cinnamon

      1    Orange or lemon peel

           - cut into pieces
           Salt & freshly ground pepper
     16    Commercial filo sheets

      6 tb Butter (or more); melted

      3    Hard-boiled eggs; quartered

  On the island of Kefallinia in the Ionion Sea, the Feast Day of Analipseos
  (Ascension Day) is celebrated with the traditional "kreatopita" (meat-pie).
  This spicy pie also ushers in the beginning of Lent on the day of Apokreas.
  In a stock pot, cover the lamb bones with cold water. Simmer, covered for 1
  hour. Strain, boil down to 1 cup, and set aside. Sprinkle the lemon juice
  on the lamb cubes. Heat the oil or butter in a heavy pan, add the onions
  and lamb, and saute the meat on all sides until the onions are soft without
  browning. Pour the onions, lamb, and juices into a large bowl. Add the
  diced potatoes and carrot, rice, tomato puree, cheese, parsley, mint,
  oregano, garlic, cinnamon, and fruit peel and season with salt and freshly
  ground pepper. Add enough reserved lamb broth for liquid while pie bakes,
  then mix with a wooden spoon.
  Butter the bottom and sides of a 9 x 12 x 3 inch pan. Spread 8 filo sheets,
  brushing the melted butter in between the sheets, making sure the pastry
  fits the sides and bottom of the pan. Pour in the filling, spreading evenly
  with a spatula. Place the egg quarters here and there across the top and
  cover with the remaining filo sheets, brushing with butter as before. Flute
  the edges with two fingers or a fork and brush the top with butter. Using a
  sharp knife, score the top 3 filo sheets into square or diamond shapes, or
  prick the homemade pastry with a fork. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes in
  moderately slow oven (325 F), raising the temperature to 350 F during the
  last 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let stand on a rack for 15
  minutes. Remove from the oven and let stand on a rack for 15 minutes. Cut
  into diamonds or squares and serve warm.
  From: "The Food of Greece" by Vilma Liacouras Chantiles. Avenel Books, New
  York.
  Typed for you by Karen Mintzias