Apple Honey Drumsticks Food

APPLE-HONEY BAKLAVA

Steps:

• Make the honey syrup: Combine the sugar, honey, orange zest, orange juice and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a rapid simmer over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Reduce the heat and slowly simmer until thick enough to coat a spoon, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Let cool slightly. Remove the orange zest and reserve for the filling. Refrigerate the syrup until cold, at least 1 hour.
• Make the baklava: Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 375˚ F. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the apples and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the honey, cinnamon, salt and cloves; cook until the skillet is dry and the apples are sticky, 3 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Pulse the nuts in a food processor until finely chopped; transfer to a large bowl. Finely chop the reserved orange zest and add to the nuts. Add the apples and 1/4 cup breadcrumbs and stir to combine.
• Melt the remaining 1 3/4 sticks butter in a saucepan over low heat. Brush the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with some of the melted butter. Unroll the phyllo dough onto a flat surface and cover with a damp towel. Lay 1 sheet of dough in the baking dish and lightly brush with some of the butter. (If there is a little excess phyllo just fold it over and brush lightly with more butter. If the sheet hangs out of the dish, trim to fit.) Sprinkle with some of the remaining 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs. Repeat the layering 5 more times (phyllo, butter, breadcrumbs). Scatter one-quarter of the apple-nut mixture on top.
• Layer 4 more sheets of phyllo on top, brushing with butter in between each; top with another one-quarter of the apple-nut mixture. Repeat this layering 2 more times (4 sheets of buttered phyllo, then one-quarter of the apple-nut mixture). Layer the remaining 6 sheets of phyllo on top, lightly brushing with butter in between each.
• Cut the baklava in half crosswise and lengthwise in the pan with a paring knife to make 4 quarters, cutting all the way through. Halve each quarter crosswise to make 8 rectangles. Cut each rectangle into 4 triangles. (You will end up with a total of 32 pieces.)
• Bake the baklava until golden and crisp, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven; immediately pour the honey syrup over the top. Let the syrup soak in completely while the baklava cools, at least 3 hours.

APPLE-HONEY PIE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Whisk the flour, sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Add the butter and work it into the flour with your fingers until it is in small bean-size pieces. Drizzle in 3 tablespoons ice water and the vinegar and stir to moisten. Gradually add up to 2 more tablespoons ice water until the dough holds together when squeezed. Transfer to a sheet of plastic wrap, gather into a disk and wrap tightly. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Meanwhile, prepare the filling: Peel and chop the apples. Put half of the apples in a blender with 1 cup water and puree until smooth. Gradually add the remaining apples and blend until smooth, adding more water 1/4 cup at a time as needed.
• Pour the apple mixture into a large nonstick skillet and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer, stirring, until very thick and reduced to about 1 1/2 cups, 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 1/2 hours. Let cool.
• Preheat the oven to 400˚ F. Roll out the pie dough on a lightly floured surface into a 12-inch round. Ease into a 9-inch pie plate. Fold the overhanging dough under itself and crimp the edge. Prick the bottom and sides of the crust with a fork and refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes. Line the crust with parchment paper or foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until the edges of the crust are dry and lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes. Carefully remove the weights and paper and continue to bake until the bottom of the crust is dry and just starting to brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool. Reduce the oven temperature to 350˚ F.
• Return the apple mixture to the blender along with 1/2 cup honey and the sugar; puree until combined. Add 3/4 cup heavy cream, the eggs, vanilla and salt and pulse until just combined.
• Pour the mixture into the crust and bake until the filling is puffed and dry to the touch, 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes (tent the crust with foil if it is getting too dark). Turn off the oven and let the pie sit inside with the door cracked open, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• Make the topping: Beat the remaining 3/4 cup heavy cream and 2 teaspoons honey in a large bowl with a mixer until medium peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Spread on the pie.

PUFF PASTRY APPLE TURNOVERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour and cinnamon; add apples and toss to coat. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each pastry sheet into a 12-in. square. Cut each into four squares. , Spoon 1/2 cup apple mixture into the center of each square; fold diagonally in half and press edges to seal. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet., In a small bowl, combine the butter, sugar and cinnamon; brush over pastry. Bake at 400° for 12-16 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm with ice cream if desired.