Bloody Mary Rugelach Food

RUGELACH

Steps:

• Cream the cheese and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light. Add 1/4 cup granulated sugar, the salt, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour and mix until just combined. Dump the dough out onto a well-floured board and roll it into a ball. Cut the ball in quarters, wrap each piece in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• To make the filling, combine 6 tablespoons of granulated sugar, the brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, the raisins, and walnuts.
• On a well-floured board, roll each ball of dough into a 9-inch circle. Spread the dough with 2 tablespoons apricot preserves and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the filling. Press the filling lightly into the dough. Cut the circle into 12 equal wedges?cutting the whole circle in quarters, then each quarter into thirds. Starting with the wide edge, roll up each wedge. Place the cookies, points tucked under, on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Chill for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Brush each cookie with the egg wash. Combine 3 tablespoons granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle on the cookies. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove to a wire rack and let cool.

BEST-EVER RUGELACH

Steps:

• For the dough: Combine the melted butter, sugar, salt, baking powder, sour cream and flour in the bowl of a stand mixer or hand-held electric mixer; beat on low speed until a ball forms. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and roll in a bit of additional flour, as necessary, to make a soft but manageable dough. Divide into 4 portions, press each into a flattened disk and wrap in wax paper. Place them in a large resealable plastic food storage bag; seal and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Stack 2 large baking sheets together and line the top sheet with parchment paper. You will need to repeat this procedure for each batch.
• For the filling: Roll out each portion of dough into a 12-inch circle on a well-floured work surface. Smear on the jam, covering the surface of the dough, and then evenly sprinkle on the brown sugar, cinnamon, nuts, if using, and raisins. (TIP: I CUT THE PIECES FIRST AND THEN SPREAD THE FILLING INGREDIENTS ON THEM INDIVIDUALLY, WHICH I FOUND REDUCES MESSINESS. EITHER METHOD WORKS, THOUGH.) Use a pastry or pizza wheel to cut the dough into 12 wedges. Roll up each wedge snugly and place on the lined baking sheet.
• For assembly: Whisk together the egg and sugar in a small bowl; brush the rugelach with the egg wash. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the pastries are nicely browned. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, then dust with confectioners' sugar, if desired.

EVERYTHING BAGEL RUGELACH

Steps:

• In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add cream cheese and continue mixing, 2 minutes more, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Reduce speed to low and add flour, salt, and pepper. Mix until just incorporated.
• Divide dough in half and form into two discs. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and chill, at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl stir together poppy seeds, sesame seeds, onion flakes, garlic flakes, and salt and set aside. In a medium bowl, stir together cream cheese, egg, and 1⁄2 sliced scallions and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove chilled dough from refrigerator and allow to temper, 15-30 minutes. Unwrap first disc and transfer to a lightly floured work surface. Lightly flour surface of dough and, using a floured rolling pin, roll out dough to an approximately 14" diameter circle. Using a 12" round cake pan or large bowl as a guide, trim edges of dough to form a neat circle. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Divide cream cheese mixture between the two circles and spread into a thin layer over each. Sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning and scatter remaining scallions on top. Using a pizza cutter, divide each circle into 16 wedges. Starting with the wide edge, roll each wedge into a crescent shape and transfer to two parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing about 2" apart. Transfer cookies to refrigerator and chill, 45 minutes to an hour.
• In a small bowl, whisk together egg and 1 t. water. Remove cookies from refrigerator and brush lightly with egg wash. Sprinkle with additional everything bagel seasoning and bake, rotating once halfway through, until golden, 25-30 minutes. Allow to cool slightly on baking sheets, 10 minutes, before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

BLOODY MARY

Steps:

• Cut the celery in large dice, including the leaves, and puree in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Process until finely minced. In a large pitcher, combine the rest of the ingredients except the vodka. With the food processor running, pour 1/4 of the tomato juice mixture into the food processor through the feed tube. Then pour the contents of the food processor into the pitcher with the remaining tomato juice mixture. Add the vodka and chill. Serve in tall glasses over ice with a stick of celery.

BLOODY MARY RUGELACH

Steps:

• In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add cream cheese and continue mixing, 2 minutes more, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Reduce speed to low and add flour, salt, and pepper. Mix until just incorporated.
• Divide dough in half and form into two discs. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and chill, at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir together cocktail sauce, horseradish, lemon zest, and vodka and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove chilled dough from refrigerator and allow to temper, 15-30 minutes. Unwrap first disc and transfer to a lightly floured work surface. Lightly flour surface of dough and, using a floured rolling pin, roll out dough to an approximately 14" diameter circle. Using a 12" round cake pan or large bowl as a guide, trim edges of dough to form a neat circle. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Divide cocktail sauce mixture between the two circles and spread into a thin layer over each. Scatter chopped parsley and celery leaves over each and sprinkle with celery salt. Using a pizza cutter, divide each circle into 16 wedges. Starting with the wide edge, roll each wedge into a crescent shape and transfer to two parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing about 2" apart. Transfer cookies to refrigerator and chill, 45 minutes to an hour.
• In a small bowl, whisk together egg and 1 t. water. Remove cookies from refrigerator and brush lightly with egg wash. Sprinkle with additional celery salt and bake, rotating once halfway through, until golden, 25-30 minutes. Allow to cool slightly on baking sheets, 10 minutes, before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

NUTELLA CREAM CHEESE RUGELACH

Steps:

• Cream the sugar with the butter and cream cheese.
• Blend in the flour, cocoa powder, salt and vanilla extract.
• Stir to make a soft dough, adding a little flour as necessary if dough is too sticky.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board and pat into a flattened disk.
• Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 to 60 minutes or overnight.
• (Food processor method: Use the steel knife and place the flour, salt, cocoa and sugar in the work bowl. Drop in the butter and cream cheese in chunks. Process until ingredients blend and dough forms a mass or ball (this may take a minute or two). Remove from processor and sprinkle on a little flour to keep dough from being too sticky. Wrap in plastic and chill 30 to 60 minutes or overnight.).
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Divide dough in half. Roll each portion into a 10-inch circle on a well-floured board.
• Be careful as dough is delicate.
• Spread chocolate filling on dough, then sprinkle on sugar, cinnamon and nuts.
• Roll up each edge into a miniature crescent. If using jam, spread on jam, then sprinkle on sugar, cinnamon and nuts.
• Brush with beaten egg white.
• Bake until done - about 25 minutes.
• Dust with confectioners' sugar if desired.

EASY CUT RUGELACH

Steps:

• Whisk together flour and salt in a bowl. Beat together butter and cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer until combined well. Add flour mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until a soft dough forms. Gather dough into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap, then flatten (in wrap) into a roughly 7- by 5- inch rectangle. Chill until firm, 8 to 24 hours.
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F Line bottom of a 1- to 1 1/2-inch-deep large shallow baking pan with parchment paper.
• Cut dough into 4 pieces. Chill 3 pieces, wrapped in plastic wrap, and roll out remaining piece into a 12- by 8-inch rectangle on a well-floured surface with a floured rolling pin. Transfer dough to a sheet of parchment, then transfer to a tray and chill while rolling out remaining dough in same manner, transferring each to another sheet of parchment and stacking on tray.
• Whisk 1/2 cup sugar with cinnamon.
• Arrange 1 dough rectangle on work surface with long side nearest you. Spread 1/4 cup preserves evenly over dough with offset spatula. Sprinkle 1/4 cup raising and a rounded 1/4 cup walnuts over jam, then sprinkle with 2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar.
• Using parchment as an aid, roll up dough tightly into a log. Place, seam side down, in lined baking pan, then pinch ends closed and tuck underneath. Make 3 more logs in same manner and arrange 1 inch apart in pan. Brush logs with milk and sprinkle each with 1 teaspoon of remaining granulated sugar. With a sharp large knife, make 3/4-inch-deep cuts crosswise in dough (not all the way through) at 1-inch-intervals. (If dough is too soft to cut, chill until firmer, 20 to 30 minutes.).
• Bake until golden, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool to warm in pan on a rack, about 30 minutes, then transfer logs to a cutting board and slice cookies all the way through.

BEST EVER BLOODY MARY

Steps:

• In a blender combine the tomato juice, lemon juice, lime juice, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, pickle juice, and hot sauce and process until smooth. Transfer to a nonreactive container and add celery salt and black pepper, to taste. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• When ready to serve, fill each glass with ice.
• Add 1 ounce of vodka to each glass, then fill the glass with the bloody mary mix. Stir well, and garnish each glass with your favorite veggie, pickle, celery, pickled green bean, or a pickled okra.

PUMPKIN RUGELACH

Steps:

• Prepare the dough. Cut the butter and cream cheese into tablespoon-sized pats and let soften for 10-15 minutes. Pulse the flour and salt in the food processor, and then add the semi-softened butter and cream cheese and pulse several times, until the mixture has formed large crumbly chunks (this can also be done very easily with a pastry knife, if you've got a sleeping baby and don't want to use the food processor). Gather the dough together into two large balls, flatten into disks and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for two hours or up to overnight. While the dough is chilling, prepare the filling. Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmery. Toss in the chopped shallots, sage, and aleppo and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the pumpkin puree and cook for 5 minutes more, to help evaporate some of the water in the pumpkin. Season with two healthy pinches of kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Remove from the heat to cool down (the filling should not be hot when you spread it on the dough). Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. When the dough has chilled, roll each disk into a 12" circle on a well-floured board. Make sure you flour the underside of the dough often, so that it doesn't stick. Spread half of the cooled pumpkin filling onto each disk, and then distribute half of the finely chopped walnuts over each disk. Using a bench scraper (or knife, or pizza cutter), cut the dough into 16 triangles. Roll up each triangle, starting from the base, to form a crescent, and place on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Beat the egg with a teaspoon of water and brush lightly onto the rugelach. Top each rugelach with flaky sea salt or finely grated parmesan (I prefer the sea salt, my husband prefers parmesan, so I make half of each kind). Bake for 25 minute.