Taste of the Town: Try the treats featured at Greek Food Festival

In honor of the 42nd annual Greek Food Festival this weekend, we have a recipe provided by Marilyn Flangas, longtime festival public relations representative.

The Greek Food Festival is Thursday through Sunday at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 5300 El Camino Road. Hours are from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 3 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $6 per day (or $10 for a four-day pass) for adults and free for kids 12 and younger, and families of active-duty members of the military. Parking is free.

In addition to the tons of food that have been prepared by church members during the past few months, the festival will include live music and dancing. For details, visit www.LasVegasGreekFestival.com. Part of the festival is the 26.2-mile Torch Relay Run for the Wounded Warriors Project, which will leave Tivoli Village at 440 S. Rampart Blvd. at 2 p.m. Friday and conclude on the festival grounds. For details on that, call Gus Flangas at 702-307-9500. …

KOULOURAKIA (SWEET BUTTER COOKIES)

1 pound butter

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

6 cups flour

2 tablespoons baking powder

2 tablespoons vanilla

½ teaspoon anise extract

1 egg, beaten

Sesame seeds (optional)

Cream butter until fluffy and gradually add sugar. Beat in eggs. Continue to beat while sifting flour and baking powder. Add flour mixture gradually. Then add vanilla and anise extract. Refrigerate for about 2 hours.

Roll dough into 6-inch lengths ½ inch in diameter. Fold in half and twist ends, resembling a braid. Brush with egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds, if desired.

Bake in 350-degree oven for about 12 minutes, or until light brown.

READER FINDS

Karen Arbogast is looking for Scandinavian Delights strawberry-rhubarb Danish spread, which she used to get at Cost Plus World Market. And while we haven’t found a source for her, two fellow readers have suggestions for alternatives. Tom Roca, who said he enjoyed that brand many years ago, suggested the strawberry-rhubarb and rhubarb jams from The Farms farmers market at the Fantastic Indoor Swapmeet at 1717 S. Decatur Blvd. And Linda Rains emailed that the best she’s found was from Tastefully Simple; to get it through a consultant, go to www.TastefullySimple.com. …

And for readers looking for a local source for Mrs. Dash Tomato Basil Garlic seasoning, Mary Jane Van Vactor emailed to report finding it at Albertsons at 5500 Boulder Highway. … more reader requests

Janet Gamboa is looking for dill rye bread; she used to find Oroweat brand in local stores. …

Betty Cameron is looking for Sugar Twin, which she used to find at Albertsons and Glazier’s Food Marketplace. …

And T.A. Riggins is looking for coleslaw similar to what used to be sold at KFC and at Wal-Mart delis.

Readers?

Remember, readers: Keep those requests coming. They, and reader responses, fuel the Taste of the Town engine.

Submit information to Heidi Knapp Rinella, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125-0070. You also can send faxes to 702-383-4676 or email her at hrinella@reviewjournal.com. Include your first and last names and, if emailing, put “Taste of the Town” in the subject line. Follow @HKRinella on Twitter.