Individual Danish Assortment Food

INDIVIDUAL DANISH ASSORTMENT

Steps:

• REMONCE: Cream the butter, sugar (and cinnamon, if added). Keep refrigerated till ready to use. Let soften at room temperature to spreadable consistency before using. (makes 1/2 cup ).
• STREUSEL FILLING: Whisk together the flour and sugar. Drizzle in the melted butter as you mix.(Makes 3/4 cups).
• CHEESE FILLING: Blend the sugar with the softened cream cheese until thoroughly combined. Don't over-beat or aerate. Mix in the yolk and chill until firm.
• GLAZE: Whisk a very small amount of milk into the sugar until all the lumps are gone. Continue to add milk, a few drops at a time, until it ribbons off the whisk (Makes 1/2 cup).
• TO ASSEMBLE PASTRIES: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. On a lightly floured surface, roll each sheet of puff pastry out to a rectangle measuring a little larger than 20x10". Cut into 20 (5-inch) squares.
• TURNOVERS: Spread each with filling of your choice. Using egg wash, brush two edges of each square.Fold over to make triangle shapes.Place on a sheet tray lined with parchment paper. Cut three small diagonal slits in the top of the turnovers.
• Brush lightly with more egg wash and sprinkle with some cinnamon sugar. Bake about 20 minutes or until golden brown.
• DANISH: While still warm, brush lightly with warmed apricot jam. Sprinkle with sliced almonds and then drizzle with glaze.
• PINWHEELS: Sprinkle some cinnamon sugar onto squares. Brush two edges of the square with egg wash. Cut a slit from each corner almost into the center, stopping just short of the center. Fold every other tip into the center, overlapping them, and press firmly.
• Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Press the center down with your finger where the tips overlap. Fill with 1/2 rounded teaspoon jam or filling.
• Brush with egg wash, then sprinkle with some coarse sugar,.Bake about 20 minutes, or until nicely colored.
• ENVELOPES: Turn the square so that a point is at the top. Put and elongated mound of about 2 tablespoons of cheese filling from top to bottom. Egg wash the side corners. Fold one corner over the filling and press firmly. Fold the other end over the top and press very firmly to seal.
• Place on lined baking sheet. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar and some chopped chocolate. Bake about 20 minutes, or until nicely browned (Or spread with lemon curd and then cheese filling and garnish before baking with toasted sliced almonds.).
• CHEESE POCKETS: Place a rounded tablespoon of cheese filling in the middle of the square. Brush the corners with egg wash. Fold two opposite sides up and press firmly, as in the envelopes above. Bring the bottom corner up and press firmly over the fold. Lastly, bring the top corner up and across the fold and pinch it to seal.
• Egg wash and sprinkle the top with streusel. Bake about 25 minutes, until nicely browned.

ASSORTED INDIVIDUAL DANISH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to a rectangle measuring a little larger than 20 x 10 inches when relaxed. Brush off any excess flour. Square off the edges with a pizza cutter. Cut the rectangle into 10 (5 inch) squares. Spread each with remonce and/or the filling. Form the pastries. Place on a sheet tray lined with parchment paper. Proof, in a warm draft free place, covered with a dish towel, until they are a little puffy and a finger pressed lightly into the dough leaves a slight indentation. Brush lightly with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar or topping. Bake about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a rack. While still warm, brush lightly with warm apricot glaze or drizzle with icing.
• Pinwheels: Spread with remonce. Sprinkle on some extra cinnamon sugar. Brush the of the square with egg wash. Cut a slit from each corner almost into the center, stopping just short of the center. Fold every other tip into the center, overlapping them, and press firmly. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Proof, covered, about 1/2 hour. Press the center down with your finger where the tips overlap and fill with 1/2 rounded teaspoon jam or filling.
• Eggwash, sprinkle with coarse sugar, and bake about 20 minutes, or until nicely colored.
• Envelopes: Spread square with remonce. Sprinkle with finely chopped chocolate mixed with sugar. Turn the square so that a point is at the top. Put and elongated mound of about 2 tablespoons of cheese filling from top to bottom. Egg wash the side corners. Fold one corner over the filling and press firmly. Fold the other end over the top and press very firmly to seal. Place on lined baking sheet and proof, covered, about 1/2 hour. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar and chopped chocolate. Bake about 20 minutes, or until nicely browned. (Or spread with lemon curd and then cheese filling and garnish before baking with toasted sliced almonds.)
• Cheese pockets: Spread the square with remonce. Place a rounded tablespoon of cheese filling in the middle of the square. Brush the corners with egg wash. Fold two opposite sides up and press firmly, as in the envelopes above. Bring the bottom corner up and press firmly over the fold. Lastly, bring the top corner up and across the fold and pinch it to seal. Proof, covered, as above. Egg wash and sprinkle the top with streusel. Bake about 25 minutes, until nicely browned.
• Turnovers: Spread with remonce. Place a big dollop of chunky homemade applesauce or pear sauce on one side of the square. Egg wash the edges and fold over into a triangle. Press around the edge with a fork to seal. Proof, etc. Before baking, egg wash and sprinkle with coarse or pearl sugar.
• Whisk together the flour and sugar. Drizzle in the melted butter as you mix with your fingertips or a rubber spatula.
• Blend the sugar with the softened cream cheese until thoroughly combined. Don't overbeat or aerate. Mix in the yolk. Chill until firm.
• Mix to combine. You can use any spice or combination of spices.
• Place the apricot jam and water in a small saucepot and warm over medium high heat until it dissolves. Just before boiling, remove from heat. Dilute with a little more water if necessary until it is thin enough to brush evenly. Apply immediately with a soft, flat pastry brush.
• Whisk a very small amount of milk into the sugar until all the lumps are gone. Continue to add milk, a few drops at a time, until it ribbons off the whisk. Drizzle it over the warm pastry using your fingertips, a fork, or the whisk.
• Yield: 1/2 cup
• Cream the butter, sugar (and cinnamon, if added). Keep refrigerated. Let soften at room temperature to spreadable consistency before using.

GOOP

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients together until blended.
• Goop should harden when squeezed in your hand. (sometime it needs a little extra water)
• I recommend strong, bright colored kool-aid to give it color and smell!

PUFF PASTRY (DANISH PASTRY DOUGH)

Steps:

• In a large bowl sprinkle the yeast over the milk. Let sit for about 5 minutes. Add the egg, sugar, and vanilla. Whisk gently to combine. Set aside.
• Toss the diced butter and flour together in a medium bowl. If there are any larger pieces, break them with your fingers. Add the flour and butter mixture to the wet ingredients and fold with a rubber spatula until the flour is completely moistened. Transfer the dough to a smaller bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator. On a heavily floured surface, pat it into a rectangle about 8 x 6 inches, and then roll it into a larger rectangle about 14 x 24 inches. Brush off any excess flour and fold both edges in so that they meet in the center. If the dough is sticking underneath, release it with a long flexible metal palate knife.This is called a "book fold".
• Rotate the rectangle of dough 1/4 turn on the table.This is called a "turn". Roll into a rectangle measuring about 24 x 12 inches, loosening the dough underneath with a the metal spatula, reflouring as necessary.
• Brush off any excess flour and give it another book fold. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Remove the dough from the fridge and repeat this process two more times, rolling the dough out each time to 12 x 24 inches.
• There are 4 book folds in all. After the final turn, shape the package into a rectangle measuring about 9 x 6 inches.
• Brush off any excess flour, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to one month.

EDIBLE JEWELRY

Steps:

• Use the licorice as your"string" and thread the other ingredients onto it.
• Use various lengths to create necklaces, bracelets,& rings.
• Wear your creations with pride, then eat them when the mood strikes.