Dried Fruit Strudel With Apricot Preserves Food

APRICOT STRUDEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degree celcius (180 degree for fan-forced).
• Grease oven tray.
• Combine apricots, sugar, cinnamon, sultanas and nuts in medium bowl.
• Stack pastry sheets, brushing each lightly with milk as you layer them.
• Spread apricot mix over pastry, leaving a 5cm space at edge of both short sides and 2cm at edge of one long side.
• Fold short sides over; starting from filled long side edge, roll strudel to enclose filling.
• Place seam side down on prepared tray.
• Bush strudel with remaining milk.
• Bake uncovered for about 25 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Dust strudel with icing sugar before serving, warm or cold, with icecream if desired.

HAZELNUT APRICOT STRUDEL

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the apricots, sugar and peel. Stir in orange juice and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until juice is absorbed, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature. Set aside 1 tablespoon nuts; toast remaining nuts. Stir into apricot mixture., Place one sheet of phyllo dough on a work surface; brush with butter and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of crumbs. Repeat with 5 more sheets of phyllo; brushing each layer with butter and sprinkling with crumbs. (Keep remaining phyllo covered with plastic wrap and a damp towel to prevent it from drying out.) , Carefully spread filling along one long edge to within 2 in. of edges. Fold the two short sides over filling. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side. , Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet. Brush top with butter and score top lightly every 1-1/2 in. Sprinkle with reserved nuts. , Bake at 375° for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Slice at scored marks.

RUSSIAN STYLE MIXED/DRIED FRUIT STRUDEL

Steps:

• Put the flour in the bowl of an electric mixer. On slow, mix in the butter until it looks like very coarse meal. Mix in the sour cream until it masses together to form a dough. Pat into a rectangle, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour or overnight.
• Filling:
• Coarsely chop the prunes. In a small saucepan, cover the prunes with the prune juice and sugar. Bring to a simmer for 3 minutes. Place in a food processor with the vanilla and puree to a paste. Mix in the raisins, cherries and walnuts. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out into a square 16 by16 inches. Place the filling in a log running along the bottom and roll up. Pinch the ends closed. Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet, seam side down. Mix the egg and water together to form a wash and paint the strudel. Bake for 30 minutes until crisp and golden. Let cool on a rack, then slice into 1 inch pieces.
• This was my Grandma Bessie's baking specialty. I haven't had this since she died but my brothers and I talk of it often, trying to re-construct what was in it. I re-discovered it at the Golden Key in Brighton Beach. Can be made on a rainy day with items in the pantry

DRIED-FRUIT STRUDEL WITH APRICOT PRESERVES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Butter rimmed baking sheet. Roll out crust on floured surface to thin 16-inch square. Spread all of preserves over pastry, leaving 1-inch plain border. Sprinkle dried fruit and nuts evenly over preserves. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Fold about 1 inch of each pastry side over filling. Starting at bottom, roll up pastry jelly-roll style, enclosing filling. Using large spatula, transfer strudel to prepared baking sheet, seam side down. Bake strudel until golden, about 35 minutes. Cool completely. Cut strudel into 1-inch slices.