Greek Pastries and Homemade "Phyllo"

I've been making these recently, with some success:

Greek Pies with Feta and Greens

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE PHYLLO DOUGH:

• 3 cups/375 grams all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ cup  + 1 T. olive oil
• 3 tablespoons (white wine) vinegar
• ½ c water
•  Cornstarch or rice flour, for dusting

FOR THE FILLING:

• one small bunch kale
• 1 cup/30 grams chopped parsley
• ½ cup/15 grams finely chopped fresh dill
• 1 tablespoon fresh Greek oregano
•  Salt and pepper
•  Crushed red pepper
• 1 cup/120 grams crumbled feta cheese
•  Olive oil, for brushing

PREPARATION

1. Make the phyllo dough: combine flour and salt in the work bowl of a stand mixer fitted with dough hook. Add olive oil, vinegar and 1/2 cup cold water (or one jumbo egg and quarter cup water). Mix at medium speed for about 5 minutes to obtain a smooth soft dough. If the dough seems dry, add up to 3 tablespoons more water. Wrap in plastic film and let rest for 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, make the filling: Blanch greens in salted boiling water for 30 seconds. Drain, rinse with cool water, squeeze dry and chop fine. In a small bowl, put chopped greens, parsley, dill, oregano, black pepper to taste, a pinch of crushed chile and feta. Mix with a fork to combine.
3. Give dough a quick knead and divide into 6 pieces. Dust dough with cornstarch or rice flour, then roll each piece of dough as thinly as possible, stretching gradually to a diameter of 16 inches. Alternatively, roll dough to the thinnest possible setting of a pasta machine. Cut each circle in half and dust pieces with cornstarch or rice flour and stack off to the side. Alternatively, roll dough to the thinnest possible setting of a pasta machine and make smaller pies.
4. Assemble the pies: Put a ridged stovetop grill or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. For each pie, lay one sheet phyllo on work surface and brush with olive oil. Cover half the sheet lightly with filling, using 3 to 4 tablespoons of mixture per pie. Fold over the other side and press down to seal pie. It will be a rough, very flat triangle shape.
5. Brush both exterior sides with olive oil, carefully lay pie on the grill and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until golden and crisp (reduce heat as necessary). Flip pie and cook the other side for 3 to 4 minutes, until golden and crisp. Remove and serve warm, cut into smaller pieces if desired. Continue to make pies with remaining ingredients.
   
   
   I've been adding finely chopped red onion to the mix, as well as a small fennel bulb that I had laying around from our share.  I've also brushed the pastries with oil and baked them because the onion wasn't cooking fully when I just fried the pies.  Of course, I could also precook the onions, just like I blanch the greens first.
   
   At any rate, Once I make a batch of filling, I end up with enough to fill several pies, esp. having added the onion and some additional feta (I sometimes double the feta).  These pies are really quite delicious, as K, Peter, and I know from having tasted various versions of them.  I've also taken to adding more parsley, as well as chives instead of onions when I'm out of onions.  A big part of what makes them easy to eat is the vinegar in the pastry, because since the crust has a pleasant flavor, it's find just to eat it when the filling is not in every bite.
   
    
   

Ongoing Trials... Or Maybe Not (Leading to Ongoing Thoughts on Atheism)

The tenants in my condo in Virginia have filed a "Tenant's Assertion," stating that I was neglectful for having "deprived" them of air conditioning for two- to three weeks while the proposal and contract was written and signed, a new air conditioning unit ordered, was received, and, finally, installed.
There is one nonessential piece of the air conditioning unit that has yet to be installed, but the unit itself is fully functional and has been functioning since its substantial installation, last month.
While I understand that it's unpleasant to live without air conditioning, I have not become so spoiled by modern technology and convenience that I cannot live without it.  In fact, K and I have turned on our through-the-wall unit once, and that was yesterday evening, when it was apparent that it was not cooling down outside when the sun went down.  Damn humidity.  Thought I'd escaped that when I left Virginia for sunny SoCal...
Anyway, tomorrow will be the first hearing of the "Tenant's Assertion."  I've contracted with a local attorney to represent me.  He will tell the judge that, although unpleasant, air conditioning is not a legally-required provision, but an amenity, of any residential rental.
The tenants are suing me for their hotel bills, and, as my attorney stated flatly, the failure of the air conditioning does not entitle them to being treated to a mini-vacation at a multi-star hotel at my expense.  He said he'll let me know what happens after tomorrow.  If we go to trial, we'll subpoena the a/c contractor, AJ Mechanical, to submit his records of when he was first contacted regarding the failure, when the contract was signed, and when the work commenced.  Effectively, I did everything within the time allowable by law (and in less time than allowable).  So the tenants are being, as Peter so flatly stated, "whiny," miserable, and needlessly (I would say foolishly) litigious.  It looks like they want out of their lease, which is fine with me.
Originally, I'd wanted to hold them to pay rent through their lease until I can either find another tenant, or sell the place, which I intended to do next year.  In either case, in my father's opinion, I win, because the irritable and irritating tenants are gotten rid of, and the place gets put for sale, at a time when sales are brisk and prospects look good for sellers.
With any luck, I'll just need to figure out the capital gains taxes I'll owe, for although we lived in the condo for over four years (when I first bought it), we have not been living in it for two of the last three years (and therefore able to sell it as a sale of a primary residence).  
So it goes:  I'd rather pay the capital gains, really, than moving back there for any period of time in order to save on taxes.  Besides, K is in high school now, so it'd be disruptive to take her, not only from her school, but to transport her to Virginia, where she'll be like a (liberally-raised) fish out of water, in the conservative culture desert that is the southeast United States (Home to some, Dixieland to many, Hell to others).
Peter has a friend who (legally) moved to Las Vegas because taxes are lower there.  Our opinion of this move was "Las Vegas?  To live?  Just to save money on taxes?"  In our lives, we've chosen the present over a possibly-nonexistent future.  I guess it's part and parcel of being an atheist.  It's not that we're not preparing for any kind of future (I have a college savings account for K), but that we're not killing ourselves in the present for a future that may never come.  This is no bang against those, who, like my parents, saved diligently throughout their working careers so that they may enjoy their retirement.  They built up a nest egg so that, when it comes down to it, they do not (and it appears will not) need to depend on the care of their children or charity of the State.  They are really the most self-sufficient people I know.
Their future, which was once merely their own children (including me), now extends to their grandchild, K.  Of course, my future includes K, as well, and I want to help her achieve her dreams, whether they continue along the lines of becoming a successful (published) author, or a culinary expert (whether on TV, or teaching in person), or both, should she be so fortunate.
So, anyway, that's what's going on for now.  Oh, and I am still trying to procure services from the Department of Rehabilitation, which presents another set of hurdles and challenges.  More on that in another post.