My Pirukadpirukas Stuffed Pastries Food

PUFF PASTRY SPANAKOPITA

Steps:

• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and heat the oven to 375°F.
• Heat 2 tsp. of the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add a batch of spinach and toss with tongs until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Transfer with tongs to a colander set over a bowl, and let drain. Repeat with the remaining spinach (don't add more oil).
• Wipe the pan dry, reduce the heat to medium, and add the remaining 2 Tbs. oil. Add the onion and scallions and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute more. Remove from the heat and let cool.
• In a large bowl, lightly beat the 3 whole eggs. Season with 1/2 tsp. salt, a generous grind of black pepper, and the nutmeg. Stir in the dill, parsley, and pecorino. Gently stir in the feta.
• Squeeze handfuls of the spinach to release as much liquid as possible; then pull apart the clumps with your fingers. Add the spinach and the onion mixture to the eggs and stir gently to combine.
• Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment. Without unfolding, cut one pastry sheet crosswise into thirds (refrigerate the other sheet). On a lightly floured work surface, unfold a third of the pastry, cut it into thirds, and roll each piece into a 4-inch square. Transfer the squares to the baking sheets. Repeat with the 2 remaining thirds to yield 9 squares. Spread about 1/2 cup of the filling over each square in an even layer, leaving a 3/4-inch border on all sides.
• In a small bowl, whisk the 2 egg yolks and 2 tsp. water. Lightly brush the egg wash over the pastry borders. Cut the other pastry sheet as above, but roll each piece into a 5-inch square. Place the squares over the filling and press the top and bottom edges of the pastries together to seal.
• Brush the top of each with the remaining egg wash and cut a small vent to allow steam to escape. Bake, swapping and rotating the baking sheets' positions halfway through baking, until a knife inserted into the filling comes out clean and the pastry is puffed and deep golden, about 20 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet for 15 minutes, cut each square in half on the diagonal, and serve.

PUFF PASTRY PIZZA

Steps:

• For the crust: Slice the 2 pastry sheets in half down the middle. Place the halves on 2 baking sheets lined with parchment or baking mats.
• Preheat the oven to 415 degrees F, then start on the pizza toppings.
• For the toppings: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter and saute the mushrooms and garlic for 2 minutes. Pour in the wine and season with salt and pepper. Continue cooking until the mushrooms are cooked down and the liquid is mostly gone, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• To build the pizzas: brush a thin layer of olive oil in the center of each puff pastry half, leaving a 1/2-inch border. On each piece of pastry, sprinkle on 1/4 cup of the mozzarella, again so that it covers all but a 1/2-inch border around the pastry. Sprinkle the cooked mushrooms on one piece of pastry. On the second, sprinkle on the halved tomatoes and black olives. On the third, lay the pepperoni slices and sliced pepperoncini. Press the toppings lightly into the cheese. Leave the fourth piece of pastry plain (just cheese).
• Bake for 15 minutes; the pastry could go crazy and puff up in areas here and there, but don't worry! It'll be fine.
• Remove from the oven and sprinkle the goat cheese crumbles and half the basil over the mushroom pizza. Sprinkle the remaining basil over the tomato pizza. Top the pepperoni pizza with the fresh oregano. Top the plain pizza with the prosciutto, arugula and Parmesan shards
• Slice each into smaller pieces and serve!

PUFF PASTRY PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place both sheets of puff pastry on a large baking sheet, and pinch together in the center to make one large sheet. Bake for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat oil over medium heat in a small skillet. Cook green onion, onion, garlic, tomatoes, and rosemary in oil until the onions are soft, about 5 minutes.
• Remove puff pastry from oven, and top with mozzarella and Gorgonzola cheeses and onion and garlic mixture. Return to the oven, and bake until cheese is melted, about 10 minutes. Cut into 2 inch squares to serve.

SPINACH PIE IN PUFF PASTRY (SPANAKOPITA)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375. Line a baking sheet with parchment (preferable) but you can use aluminum foil with a light spray of cooking oil.
• Melt butter and cook onions for a few minutes, until soft. Add garlic and cook for another minute.
• Beat eggs in medium bowl. Add cooked onion, spinach, feta, parmesan, bread crumbs. Add salt, pepper, & nutmeg. Mix well with fork.
• Place one unfolded sheet of puff pastry on the parchment or sprayed aluminum foil. Spread the spinach mixture over the pastry, leaving a border of one inch all around the edges. Keep the spinach flat; do not pile high.
• Brush the edges with the egg wash made with the last egg. Cover with the second sheet of pastry that has been slightly flattened with a rolling pin to one inch bigger than the first sheet. (This ensures all the spinach will be covered). Press edges together with fingertips or fork, making sure mixture is sealed well. Brush just the top with egg wash, careful not to drip any down the sides. Cut a few slits in the top with a sharp knife to allow steam to escape.
• Bake 30-40 minutes, until golden brown. Can be served hot or at room temperature.

MY PIRUKAD/PIRUKAS STUFFED PASTRIES

Steps:

• 1. I am getting lazy in my old age. It's hard to get good help now days..lol So there are times I use Bridgeford frozen white bread. For every pound of ham you will need 4 hard boiled eggs. DO NOT CUT ALL THE FAT OFF THE HAM TRIMMINGS..it adds moisture to the hard boiled eggs and ham. plus it adds flavor.
• 2. When I bake my ham for the holidays or anytime. I NEVER put any kind of sweetner or cloves on it. It's not the way Europeans make ham. First boil the eggs and set aside to cool. Cut your ham in chucks and place in food processor. Pulse till you have made the ham look like coarse corn meal. Peel the boiled egg and chopped the eggs. Add them to the ham and stir to combine evenly. Set cover and aside in the refrig.
• 3. To make bread dough. Scalded the milk, add the butter and salt. Cool to 120* Desolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water 120* with the sugar. **Hot tap water has the perfect temp.** Set aside till it foams. Add Yeast to the warm scaled milk, add a cup of flour and stir. Keep adding and stirring until you can't stir anymore flour in. Flour a cutting board or your clean counter. Place the dough on and knead as much flour in until it is just sightly sticky and smooth. Place dough in a greased bowl and turn. Cover let rise in a warm place until double. (I usually use my oven that has a pilot light) Turn out on floured surface and knead again until you hear popping sounds.
• 4. Cut dough in half. Use 1/2 the dough at a time, turn out on a floured surface and roll out to 1/4 inch. Cut with a large round cookie cutter or jelly glass, dipped in flour. Yes I really do have an old Jelly drinking glass from Welchs. Take each round and place a heaping tsp. of ham and egg mix in the center of dough. Fold the dough over, it will look like a half circle. Some may have a crescent shape. Moisten your fingers tips with little water..moisten the edges. Pinch the edges closed. Set aside till you have used all the dough.
• 5. In a 4 quart pan, heat the crisco to 350*. You will need enough crisco melted so it fills the 4 quart pan half full. Carefully with a slotted spoon place as many Pirrukad in the hot oil. Turn them as they brown. When they are brown on both sides they are finished. Left out with a slotted spoon and place on a brown bag or paper towels. Serve hot or cold. They go excellently with pea soup and crowders. My kids use loved it when I would pack them in their lunch pails.
• 6. Notes: These can me bake in a 350* oven. And instead of using crisco you can use oil or lard. If you have any filling left..freeze it.

PIROSHKI (A SAVOURY, FILLED PASTRY)

Steps:

• For pastry: Cut butter into pieces.
• Combine flour, butter, and salt using a knife or pastry blender.
• Sprinkle with 4 tablespoons ice water.
• Form into ball as you would pie dough.
• May need to add remaining 2 tablespoons water.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Place pastry dough on floured board; roll out into rectangle.
• Fold over into thirds.
• Roll out again into rectangle.
• Continue rolling and folding five times.
• Rewrap in plastic; return to refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Grease baking sheet.
• Roll dough out to 1/8-inch thickness.
• Cut dough using 3 ½-inch round cutter.
• Place about 1 tablespoon of filling on each pastry circle.
• Fold dough over making half moons; press together edges together using ice water to seal.
• Place pies on baking sheet.
• Whisk together egg yolk and 2 tblsps water; brush pies with egg wash.
• Bake about 30-40 minutes or until golden brown.
• For Meat Filling: sauté onion in 2 tablespoons butter until soft.
• Add ground beef and sear until light gravy forms.
• Let cool.
• Mix in egg, dill, salt and pepper.
• For Potato Filling: Fry the onions in the butter until soft and golden-brown.
• Boil the potatoes in their jackets, then peel and mash them.
• Let cool slightly.
• Season with plenty of salt and pepper and mix in the onions and egg.
• For Mushroom Filling: In a pan or skillet, saute the mushrooms, onion, and shallots in the butter until the onion is translucent.
• Add the lemon juice, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
• Continue to cook, stirring until nearly all the moisture is evaporated.
• Cool mixture slightly and mix in cream cheese or mashed potato.
• I like to sprinkle poppy seeds over the egg washed pastries filled with the mushroom filling.
• Note: these pastries are very good made with phyllo pastry, too.