Dried Plum And Cheese Strudel Recipes

Steps:

• In a medium mixing bowl combine the goat cheese with the lemon juice, salt, pepper, and basil; mix together well and set aside. Cut the phyllo pastry in half lengthwise so that you have 2 (5 1/2-inch) wide pieces of dough. Keeping the piles of dough covered with a damp tea towel, lay one sheet of phyllo out on a lightly floured surface, brush it with a little melted butter, and place another sheet on top of it, staggered bu 1/2-inch to the left. Repeat until you have 4 layers of phyllo, staggering each by 1/2-inch, and then repeat the process to make a second identical pile. Spread half the goat cheese mixture in a line 1/2-inch in from one long inner edge of each phyllo pile. Next to the strip on the inside, make a long line of half the shredded crab meat. Distribute half the grilled onions and asparagus next to the crab, brush the long edge and the 2 short edges of the phyllo with meted butter and roll up the strudels tightly from left to right, squeezing the edges to seal them. Place the 2 strudels seam-side down on a baking sheet and brush the outside of each strudel with more melted butter. Sprinkle with the bread crumbs and, if desired, refrigerate for up to 2 hours.
• Roast the bell peppers over a gas flame, or on a tray under a hot broiler, turning so that the skin is evenly charred without burning and drying out the flesh. transfer the charred peppers to a plastic bag, tie the top closed and let steam until cool to the touch, about 15 minutes. The easiest way to peel them is to pull off the charred skin by hand and then dip the peppers briefly in water to remove any blackened bits. Do not peel them under running water since that will wash away flavorful juices. Once peeled, cut away stems, seeds, and veins. In a blender, process the flesh to a smooth puree. You should have about 1 cup of puree.
• In a medium mixing bowl, combine red pepper puree with the lime juice, sour cream, paprika, salt, and pepper to taste. Blend together well and refrigerate, covered, until needed.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and bring the sauce to room temperature. Bake the strudels in the hot oven for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until they are crisp and golden. Remove them to a cutting board, rest for 5 minutes, and slice off and discard or eat the very ends of the strudels. Slice each strudel into 3 equal lengths and slice each length into 3 spirals. Make a little pool of the red pepper sauce on each of 6 plates and place 3 spirals, cut side up, on the sauce. Garnish with a leaf of lettuce and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Put the flour in the bowl of an electric mixer. On slow, mix in the butter until it looks like very coarse meal. Mix in the sour cream until it masses together to form a dough. Pat into a rectangle, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour or overnight.
• Filling:
• Coarsely chop the prunes. In a small saucepan, cover the prunes with the prune juice and sugar. Bring to a simmer for 3 minutes. Place in a food processor with the vanilla and puree to a paste. Mix in the raisins, cherries and walnuts. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out into a square 16 by16 inches. Place the filling in a log running along the bottom and roll up. Pinch the ends closed. Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet, seam side down. Mix the egg and water together to form a wash and paint the strudel. Bake for 30 minutes until crisp and golden. Let cool on a rack, then slice into 1 inch pieces.
• This was my Grandma Bessie's baking specialty. I haven't had this since she died but my brothers and I talk of it often, trying to re-construct what was in it. I re-discovered it at the Golden Key in Brighton Beach. Can be made on a rainy day with items in the pantry

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.
• Toss pears with the lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of the granulated sugar. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Set aside to cool, then skim the white foam off the surface and discard. Spoon the melted butter into a bowl, leaving behind the solids at the bottom of the saucepan.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the reserved butter in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pear mixture and cook until pears start to give off juices. Add cranberries, cover, and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook until pears are crisp-tender, about 7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 2 tablespoons of the bread crumbs; cool the mixture slightly.
• Combine remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar with allspice and ginger in a small bowl. Cut a piece of parchment paper slightly longer than the phyllo sheets and lay it with a long edge parallel to you. Set the stack of phyllo sheets beside it and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Transfer one sheet of phyllo to the parchment with a long edge facing you. Brush with some reserved butter and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon each of the nuts and sugar mixture. Repeat with each remaining phyllo, replacing the towel as you work. Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons bread crumbs over top sheet of phyllo.
• Spoon the pear mixture across the phyllo about 1 inch from the edge closest to you to make a mound, with a 2-inch border at each end. Using the parchment to help you get started, roll the phyllo tightly over the filling to make a log, seam-side down. Lift the parchment with the strudel onto a baking sheet.
• Bake until golden, about 30 minutes. Transfer on the baking sheet to a rack to cool. Trim ends with a serrated knife. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve warm or at room temperature with creme fraiche or whipped cream, if desired.
• Style: Cut the strudel into thirds, then cut each one of the pieces in half on an angle. This way, you get beautiful portions that stand at attention, showing off the layers and the filling.

Steps:

• Make the Filling: Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the cabbage and cook, stirring, until tender. Add the sugar and salt and stir to dissolve. Add the raisins and cook, stirring, to reduce the juices and let them soak into the raisins, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the walnuts and spread on a baking sheet to cool.
• Make the Strudel: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Arrange a parchment-lined baking sheet on the counter, so it's horizontal to your body. Place 1 sheet of phyllo on the pan. Using a pastry brush, spatter the phyllo with some of the melted butter; then brush to cover with the butter. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the sugar and 1/3 of the chopped walnuts. Repeat with the 2 remaining sheets of phyllo. Reserve the remaining melted butter and sugar.
• Spoon the cooled cabbage filling 2 inches in from the bottom edge of the phyllo, working from left to right, leaving 2 inches bare at the left and right. Roll up the pastry, lifting the parchment paper, to encase the filling, forming a log. Move the log to the center of the sheet pan and tuck the ends under to keep the filling from oozing out. Brush the surface with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar. Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Let cool 10 to 15 minutes on the pan. Using a serrated knife, cut carefully into sections and serve warm.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut plums in half, and remove pits. Cut halves into 1-inch pieces. In a medium bowl, combine plums, lemon juice, sugar, and cinnamon, and toss well.
• Divide plum mixture in half, and arrange in two 9-by-13-inch glass baking dishes. Roast, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, 25 to 30 minutes. Plum juices will reduce to a glaze during roasting. Remove plums from oven, and cool completely. Recipe can be prepared to this point 1 day ahead.
• Unroll phyllo; cover unused portion with a damp kitchen towel as you work to prevent it from drying out. Cover work surface with parchment paper. Place a sheet of phyllo on parchment; brush evenly and lightly with melted butter. Cover with another sheet of phyllo, and brush again with butter. Sprinkle half the pistachios over this layer. Repeat process with two more layers of phyllo and remaining pistachios, then top with two more layers of buttered phyllo.
• With the long side of the pastry toward you, spoon cooled plums along its length, 1 inch from the edge nearest you. Using the parchment to help you, gently roll up dough to encase the plums. Don't roll the pastry too tightly.
• Brush strudel lightly with butter, and carefully lift it onto a large baking sheet. Bake until pastry is golden brown and fruit is bubbling, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool on pan for at least 20 minutes; use two spatulas to transfer to a serving platter. Serve warm or at room temperature, cut into slices.