Creamy Custard Phyllo Pastry Food

BOUGATSA (GREEK CREAM-FILLED PHYLLO PASTRIES)

Steps:

• Beat eggs until frothy; beat in sugar until thick and foamy, about 4 minutes. Set aside.
• Heat milk in medium pot until hot but not boiling.
• Remove from heat and whisk into egg mixture in a thin stream until all the milk mixture is used up - never stop whisking.
• Pour custard mixture back into pot and set on medium-low heat; cook, stirring constantly, about 3-4 minutes.
• Gradually sprinkle in semolina, letting it flow out of your hand in a thin stream; add a pinch of salt.
• Reduce heat to very low, cook, stirring constantly, until thick and smooth, about 5-6 minutes. Whisk in pieces of cut up butter, incorporating completely into the semolina custard.
• Remove, place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the custard and cool completely.
• When cool, stir in juice, lemon zest and vanilla.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Unroll one sheet of phyllo, keeping remainder covered with dampened kitchen towel.
• Place on a work surface, with narrow end facing you.
• Brush lightly with melted butter.
• Place 3 tbsp of custard on lower 1/3 of phyllo.
• Using a thin, flexible spatula, spread custard into a wide rectangle, approximately 10x5 inches, nearly covering lower third of phyllo.
• Fold right and left sides of phyllo towards center so that edges just meet; lightly brush folded sides with butter.
• Fold lower third up and brush with butter.
• Fold upper third down and brush with butter.
• It should now look like an envelope.
• Place on a lightly buttered baking sheet and repeat envelope-making procedure 7-9 more times (depending on how many bougatsa you are making).
• Brush tops of bougatsa with any remaining butter and bake until golden-brown, about 15-18 minutes.
• Let cool 20 minutes before serving.
• Serve warm, dusted with icing sugar (you should see a coating of the icing sugar) and cinnamon.

GREEK CUSTARD WITH PHYLLO PASTRY

Steps:

• Scald milk in a large saucepan; stir in 4 tablespoons butter and sugar. Gradually add farina, stirring constantly, and bring mixture slowly to a boil.
• Remove from heat.
• Beat eggs in a bowl until they are fluffy and a light yellow. Slowly stir hot farina mixture into egg mixture. Add vanilla extract. Set aside to cool.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Line a 9 x 12-inch baking pan with 1 sheet of phyllo with some of it hanging over the edge of the pan. Brush with butter. Be sure to keep unused phyllo pastry covered with plastic wrap or a damp towel. Layer 5 more sheets of buttered phyllo in the pan so that bottom and sides are completely covered.
• Pour in cooled custard.
• Cover with 1 sheet of phyllo; brush with butter. Layer 5 more individually buttered sheets of phyllo on top, and fold in overhang.
• With a sharp knife, score through top layers of phyllo, marking off 2 1/4-inch squares or diamond shapes. Bake for 10 minutes; reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 45 minutes, or until golden.

HONEY CUSTARD IN PHYLLO PASTRY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese, 3 tablespoons honey and 1 tablespoon sugar in medium bowl until smooth. Mix in cream, egg, vanilla and orange peel. Spoon mixture into 9-inch glass pie dish. Bake until mixture is set, about 20 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool custard completely.
• Combine 3 tablespoons water, 2 tablespoon honey and 1 tablespoon sugar in small saucepan. Boil until syrup thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Brush large baking sheet with 1 tablespoon melted butter. Combine 1/2 cup pistachios and 1 tablespoon sugar in small bowl. Arrange 1 phyllo sheet on work surface with long side parallel to edge of surface (cover remainder with plastic). Brush lower half of phyllo lengthwise with melted butter. Fold phyllo lengthwise in half. Brush phyllo with melted butter; sprinkle with about 1 tablespoon pistachio mixture. Divide custard into 8 equal portions. Spoon 1 portion custard onto phyllo near 1 short edge. Fold 1 corner of phyllo over custard; continue folding as for flag, forming triangle and enclosing filling completely. Repeat with remaining phyllo, butter, pistachio mixture and custard.
• Transfer pastries to prepared baking sheet. Brush with butter. Bake until golden, about 18 minutes. Brush with syrup. Sprinkle with additional chopped nuts. Serve warm or at room temperature.