Phyllo Cheese Straws With Pesto Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Combine the cream cheese, parmesan, egg and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl; mix well. Spoon into a resealable bag; snip off the corner to make a 1/4-inch-diameter opening.
• Unfold the stack of phyllo sheets on a clean surface. Working quickly to keep the dough from drying out, brush the top sheet all over with melted butter, then pipe the cheese filling along the long edge of the dough to within 1/2 inch of the ends. Fold the ends over the filling, then roll up the dough to make a straw. Place on a baking sheet; repeat with the remaining phyllo sheets and cheese mixture. Bake until golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve the cheese straws with pesto.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375º.
• In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, lightly beaten egg, parmesan, and salt. Stir to combine.
• Spoon mixture into a plastic zip-top bag. Set aside. To use as a pastry bag, cut corner off bag to make a 1/4-inch diameter opening.
• Lay out thawed phyllo dough.
• Working quickly to keep dough from drying out: brush top sheet with melted butter, pipe cheese filling along long edge of phyllo 1/2-inch from each end. Fold over ends to seal in filling and roll up straw. Repeat with remaining sheets of phyllo and place on a baking sheet.
• Bake until golden, about 10 minutes.
• Makes 20 straws.
• Serve warm with pesto for dipping.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Roll out each sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured board until it's 10 by 12 inches. Beat the egg with 1 tablespoon of water and brush the surface of the pastry. Sprinkle each sheet evenly with 1/4 cup of the parmesan, 1/2 cup of the gruyere, 1/2 teaspoon of the thyme, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and some pepper. With the rolling pin, lightly press the flavorings into the puff pastry. Cut each sheet crosswise with a floured knife or pizza wheel into 11 or 12 strips. Twist each strip and lay on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
• Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until lightly browned and puffed. Turn each straw and bake for another 2 minutes. Don't overbake or the cheese will burn. Cool and serve at room temperature.
• Let the puff pastry thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400. crumble the feta cheese and mix in the parsley, stir to combine and break feta into smaller chunks. Start with good fresh or frozen phyllo. the key is to purchase it at a place which sells a lot, so you know it is fresh. Take a sheet of dough and brush with butter. Place 2 tbsp of the cheese lixture along the bottom of one of the short sides. Don't pull the filling too close to the edges or it will seep out the sides. Fold the long edges of the dough in about 2 inches on each side. Flatten and dols the short end of the dough over the top of the fillinbg. Roll up to give a tube effect, then brush with butter and place on greased sheet. Continue using each sheet of dough and 2 tbsp filling. Bake for 10 minutes at 4oo. serve warm from the oven.
• TIP:.
• Feta is a salty hard cheese sold in many packs. My friend uses vacuum wrapped ones in a little brine, and sometimes chunks in a tube of brine.If you only see other types, you can soak it in a covered bowl of water to release some of the salt.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Cover baking sheets with parchment. Mix cream cheese and pesto sauce until blended.
• Unfold 1 pastry sheet on lightly floured surface. Roll out to 12x10-inch rectangle; cut in half to form 2 (12x5-inch) rectangles. Spread half the cream cheese mixture onto 1 cut pastry rectangle; cover with remaining cut pastry rectangle. Cut into 24 (1/2-inch-wide) strips. Twist each pastry strip, then place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining pastry sheet and remaining cream cheese mixture.
• Brush with egg; sprinkle with Parmesan.
• Bake 20 min. or until golden brown. Cool slightly.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375*F.
• On a cutting board, lay out one sheet of phyllo dough, brush with clarified butter and sprinkle evenly with Parmesan cheese (keep the remaining phyllo covered with a moistened tea towel).
• Place the other sheet of phyllo on top of the cheese and brush it with clarified butter.
• Using a sharp knife, cut the buttered phyllo sheets lengthwise into thirds (you will have three long srips, each about 3 inches wide and 18 inches long).
• Next, cut these strips crosswise into 1 1/2 inch rectangles.
• Wrap each rectangle lengthwise around a pencil or wooden skewer.
• Remove the pencil or skewer and place the rolls on a greased baking sheet.
• Continue this process until all of the phyllo has been rolled.
• Refrigerate the phyllo straws on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes, or until they are firm.
• Bake about 9 minutes, until golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and, using a spatula, slip the straws onto paper towels to cool.
• The straws can be kept in a sealed tin for several days.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Place 1 phyllo sheet on work surface. (Keep remaining phyllo covered with plastic wrap and damp towel.) Brush phyllo lightly with butter. Top with second phyllo sheet. Brush lightly with butter. Spread 2 tablespoons pesto in 4x8-inch rectangle along 1 short side of phyllo sheet, 1 inch in from edge. Place 1 cheese slice atop pesto. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon Parmesan. Fold in long sides, then, beginning at cheese end, roll up phyllo jelly roll style. Place seam side down on cookie sheet. Lightly brush top with butter. Repeat with remaining phyllo, butter, pesto and cheese. Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes.
• Slice rolls into 1-inch lengths. Arrange decoratively on platter. Garnish rolls with fresh basil sprigs if desired and serve immediately.