Apricot Cream Cheese Braid Food

APRICOT BRAIDS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, bring apricots and 1/2 cup water to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until water is absorbed and fruit is tender, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a food processor; add brown sugar. Cover and process until smooth., In a bowl, combine 2 cups of flour, sugar, yeast and salt. In a saucepan, heat butter and remaining water to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat just until moistened. Add eggs; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 40-45 minutes., Punch dough down; divide into thirds. On greased baking sheets, roll out each portion into a 12x8-in. rectangle. Spread filling down the center of each rectangle. On each long side, cut 1-in.-wide strips about 2 in. into center. Starting at one end, fold alternating strips at an angle across filling. Pinch ends to seal. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes., Preheat oven to 375°. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over braids.

APRICOT CHEESE LOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.
• Pour boiling water over apricot pieces in a small bowl. Cool.
• In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, soda, salt, and dates.
• In a large bowl, cream butter or margarine, cream cheese, and sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until smooth. Stir in cooled apricots and water. Pour in flour mixture, and stir until moistened. Turn batter into greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour, or until it tests done. Let stand 10 minutes. Remove from pan to rack. Cool.

APRICOT-CREAM CHEESE BRAID

Steps:

• To prepare dough, combine the first 4 ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat; cool. Dissolve yeast in warm water in a large bowl, let stand 5 minutes. Stir in sour cream mixture and 2 eggs. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Gradually stir flour into sour cream mixture (dough will be soft and sticky). Cover dough; chill 8 hours or overnight.
• To prepare filling; combine preserves and next 4 ingredients (preserves through 1 egg) in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended.
• Divide dough into 4 equal portions. Turn each portion out onto a lightly floured surface; knead lightly 4 or 5 times. Roll each portion into a 12x8 inch rectangle. Spread one-fourth of filling over each portion, leaving a 1/2 inch border. Starting at a long side, carefully roll up each portion "jellyroll fashion"; pinch seam and ends to seal.
• Place 2 loaves on each of 2 baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Cut 4 (1/4-inch deep) "X"s in top of each loaf with scissors. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85 degrees), free from drafts, 25 minutes or until doubled in size.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place 1 baking sheet in oven (cover remaining loaves to keep from drying). Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until lightly browned Repeat procedure for remaining loaves. Cool loaves slightly.
• To prepare glaze, combine powdered sugar , milk and 1tsp. vanilla extract, stirring with a whisk. Drizzle warm loaves with glaze.

WINE-BRAISED CHICKEN WITH APRICOTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Add the olive oil to a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. When the oil is hot, place the chicken pieces skin-side down in a single layer in the pot. Cook on both sides, turning several times, until the skin is browned, about 4 minutes. Remove to a plate and set aside.
• Add the garlic, carrot chunks and onion quarters, followed by the wine, stock, apricots and rosemary. Stir together, then return the chicken to the pot. Bring to the boil, cover and braise in the oven until the chicken and vegetables are tender, about 2 1/2 hours.
• Serve the chicken over Cheese Grits with the onions, carrots, garlic and apricots, making sure to get a spoonful or two of the cooking liquid. Garnish with parsley and serve.
• Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Slowly stir in the grits, then return to a boil and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Turn down the heat to low and stir in the Cheddar and cream cheese. Cook until the Cheddar is melted and the cream cheese is incorporated into the mixture, another 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the butter and keep warm until ready to serve.

CREAM CHEESE BRAIDS

Steps:

• For the dough, dissolve the yeast in the water in a small bowl.
• In large mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar, salt and eggs until well combined.
• Add the yeast mixture to the bowl and mix well.
• Add half of the sour cream and 1/2 of the flour at a time to the mixer.
• Cover dough and refrigerate overnight.
• For the filling, combine all ingredients until smooth.
• Divide the dough into 6 even balls.
• Roll out each ball into about an 8x12 inch rectangle on lightly floured surface.
• Spread one-sixth of the filling among the six dough rectangles, down the center of the roll.
• Roll the rectangles jelly roll style beginning at the long side.
• Pinch edges together and fold ends under slightly.
• Place the rolls seam side down on greased baking sheets.
• I can fit two rolls on each cookie sheet.
• Slit each roll at 2-inch intervals to resemble braid.
• Cover and let rise for 1 hour in a warm area.
• The dough should double.
• Bake at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare glaze by combing all ingredients.
• While warm, spread the braids with the glaze.

CREAM CHEESE BRAIDS

Steps:

• For BREAD: Heat sour cream over low heat.
• Stir in sugar, salt and butter; cool to lukewarm.
• Sprinkle yeast over warm water in large bowl until dissolved.
• Add sour cream mixture, eggs, flour, and mix well.
• Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight.
• For FILLING: Mix well.
• Divide dough from the day before into 4 equal parts.
• Roll each part on a floured surface to an 8x12 inch rectangle.
• Spread one quarter of the filling on each rectangle, and roll jelly roll style beginning at the long side.
• Pinch edges together and fold ends under slightly.
• Place rolls seam side down on greased baking sheets.
• Slit each roll at 2-inch intervals to resemble braid.
• Cover and let rise 1 hour, in a warm place until dough doubles in bulk.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.
• Spread with glaze while warm.

APRICOTS AND CREAM CHEESE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 3 (8- or 9-inch) round pans with shortening. Line pan bottoms with waxed paper or cooking parchment paper; grease again and lightly flour. In food processor bowl with metal blade, place canned apricots. Process 30 seconds or until smooth, scraping bowl after 15 seconds; set aside.
• In large bowl, beat 1 cup butter and 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; beat on low speed until mixed. Measure 1/4 cup apricot puree; set aside. Add remaining apricot puree and apricot nectar to batter; beat on low speed until mixed. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes. Spread about 2 cups batter in each pan.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 40 minutes.
• In large bowl, beat cream cheese and 1 cup butter with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla and reserved puree. Beat on low speed until mixed. Beat on medium speed until creamy. Spoon about 1 1/2 cups frosting into decorating bag fitted with medium star tip.
• Place one cake layer on cake plate, top side down. Spread about 3/4 cup frosting over top. With decorating bag, pipe a wavy ring of frosting around outside top edge of cake, extending slightly over edge. Top with second layer, top side down. Repeat frosting and piping. Top with third layer, top side up. Frost top with remaining frosting; pipe edge. (Side of cake is not frosted.)
• For garnish, separate 2 dried apricots into 4 halves. With rolling pin, roll each apricot half between 2 pieces of plastic wrap to 1 1/2-inch diameter. Set aside. Roll remaining 3 apricots between plastic wrap to about 2-inch diameters. To form rose, roll one of the apricot halves into a tight roll (center of rose). Place remaining 3 apricot halves around roll to form petals, pinching at bottom to secure. Place larger apricot circles around smaller ones, pinching together at bottom to complete rose. Sprinkle lightly with 1/4 teaspoon sugar. Place in center of cake. Place lemon leaves next to rose. Store in refrigerator.

APRICOT CREAM CHEESE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Prepare 9x11 glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Next mix rolled oats with margarine, flour, baking soda, salt, and brown sugar, using your hands. Mixture should be loose but not dry. You should be able to make a ball and have it stick without it falling apart. Press half of this mixture into the bottom of the pan. Set side the other half for topping.
• Now mix together apricots, water, white sugar, and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla. Place in saucepan on the stove on medum-high for 30 minutes until the apricots are soft and mushy.
• Next mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar, egg and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla in small mixing bowl. Mix it well. Pour it over the base.
• Pour the apricot mixture over the cream cheese mixture. Finally, crumble remaining oat mixture on top.
• Bake at 350F for 30 minutes or until top is golden brown.
• Store in airtight container in refrigerator.