Saganaki

Instructions

• Cut the chunk of cheese into slices ½ in. (1 cm) thick. Rinse briefly, then dip into flour to coat lightly on both sides.

• Heat the olive oil over medium-high, in a skillet that is big enough to hold all the cheese in one layer. Place the cheese slices into the hot oil and cook for about 1 to 2 minutes on each side, turning over once. The cheese should become slightly browned. Remove from heat, and get the kids to take three steps back.

• Pour the brandy over the fried cheese and - carefully holding the pan away from you - ignite the brandy with a long fireplace match. Keep a safe distance away from the drapes, the bulletin board, the canary and the kids. The flames will die down by themselves quickly as the alcohol burns off. At this point, everyone is required, by law, to shout Opa!

• (Although the alcohol does completely burn away, you may still prefer to avoid the flaming portion of this recipe. We understand. Simply serve the cheese straight from the frying pan with some lemon juice squeezed over it. It will be just as delicious, except slightly less dramatic.)

• When the flame burns out, squeeze the lemon juice over the cheese and serve with warmed pita bread as a totally show-stopping appetizer.