Stuffed Phyllo Baked Pastry Pouches Recipes

Steps:

• Peel the pears and, using a melon baller or paring knife, core from the bottom, leaving the stems intact. Combine the wine, 3 cups water, the sugar, dried cherries, cinnamon stick and cardamom in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Reduce the heat to medium low and add the pears (add more water to submerge the pears, if necessary). Poach until tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat; let the pears cool in the liquid. (To make a day ahead, transfer the pears and liquid to a container, cover and refrigerate.)
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Mix the chocolate, walnuts, 1 tablespoon melted butter and a pinch each of sugar and salt in a bowl. Remove the pears from the liquid and stuff with some of the chocolate mixture. Simmer the poaching liquid over medium-high heat until syrupy, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Lay out 1 sheet of phyllo, brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar. Repeat the layering 2 more times. Cut the dough in half crosswise. Spoon the remaining chocolate mixture in the center of each piece and top with the pears, stem-side up. Pull up the corners of the phyllo to meet at the pear stem; pinch and twist the excess phyllo. Brush with butter and sprinkle with sugar. Transfer the pouches to a baking sheet and bake until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve with the cherry syrup.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a medium mixing bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Stir in 1/4 cup butter, tossing with a fork until crumbly texture achieved.
• Place one phyllo leaf on a dry kitchen towel and lightly brush with butter, using remaining 1/4 cup of melted butter. Place a second leaf on top of first phyllo leaf and brush with butter. Repeat until four leaves have been used.
• Place peeled and cored (whole) apple in center of layered phyllo. Gently pick up sides of phyllo and gather evenly around apple. Do not enclose apple. Leave the top of the apple exposed and the phyllo edges open. Brush butter lightly around exterior of apple. Repeat process with remaining three apples.
• Pack oat stuffing mixture into cored center of each apple. Mound remaining stuffing atop exposed portion of apple.
• Place each wrapped and stuffed apple in a baking dish, leaving space between so they do not touch.
• Bake for 40-45 minutes or until phyllo and topping are golden brown and crisp, and apple is tender.
• Serve warm.

Steps:

• 1. Brush each phyllo sheet generously with butter and stack one on top of the other on a cutting board. With a sharp knife, cut the sheets in half, crosswise, to make a total of 24 pieces. Stack once again, and cover with a damp (not wet) clean cotton kitchen towel.2. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a mini-muffin pan or a baking sheet. Working with each piece separately, fold in half and then in half again to make an approximately 6-by4-inch rectangle. Place about 1 tablespoon of the filling in the center, then pick up the phyllo by the four corners and pinch them together just above the filling to seal, making a little pouch. Alternately, tie each one lightly with chives, scallion greens, or thin strips of carrots, or any other greens or vegetables. Repeat with all the pieces.3. Brush all the pouches with the butter, and place each in one cup of the muffin pan or all of them on a baking sheet and bake until crispy and golden, about 25 minutes. Transfer to cooling racks. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.From "1,000 Indian Recipes." Copyright 2002 by Neelam Batra. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.