Pastry Christmas Tree Food

NUTELLA® PASTRY CHRISTMAS TREE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Roll out one puff pastry sheet into a large rectangle on a lightly floured surface and place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Lightly score puff pastry into the shape of a Christmas tree (triangle) with a wide base. Spread chocolate-hazelnut spread over the triangle in a thin layer with the back of a spoon.
• Roll out the second sheet of puff pastry to a large rectangle and place on top of the first one. Carefully trace the shape of the chocolate covered triangle underneath and cut out the Christmas tree shape and the trunk. Pull away excess pastry.
• Lightly score 2 lines down the middle of the triangle to form a tree trunk that is narrower at the top and gets wider towards the base. Using the trunk as a guide, cut branches into the sides of the triangle.
• Twist the branches away from you, trying to get in 2 turns on the lower branches. Continue moving up the tree, twisting away from you as you go.
• Cut a small star out of the excess pastry; place on top of the tree. Brush the star and tree with beaten egg.
• Bake in the preheated oven until puffy and golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Slide onto a serving plate, using a piece of parchment paper if needed.

SAVORY PUFF PASTRY CHRISTMAS TREE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine sun-dried tomato pesto and goat cheese in a small bowl and stir well.
• Unroll 1 puff pastry sheet onto the prepared baking sheet. Cut away 2 strips at the bottom of the sheet to form a tree trunk, about 1 inch wide and tall. Cut diagonally to the top of the puff pastry sheet to create a long triangular shape, removing excess pastry on either side.
• Spread a thin layer of the pesto mixture over the pastry, all the way to the sides. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon Pecorino-Romano cheese on top.
• Roll up the second puff pastry sheet and place at the tip of the triangle. Unroll carefully towards the bottom. Press down lightly and carefully cut away the sides to match the first triangle. Remove excess pastry.
• Cut 2/3-inch thick branches into the sides of the triangle from both sides, leaving a space lengthwise in the center all the way from the trunk to the tip. Twist the branches away from you, trying to get in 2 turns on the lower branches. Continue moving up the tree, twisting away from you as you go.
• Brush the entire tree with beaten egg. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon of Pecorino-Romano cheese and dried oregano.
• Bake in the preheated oven until deep golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet slightly.

PASTRY CHRISTMAS TREE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350. Line a large baking tray with aluminium foil and grease with butter or coconut oil.
• Roll out two sheets of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface to 11x13 in each. Lay the first sheet out on the prepared baking tray.
• Very gently, score a rough shape of a Christmas tree (triangle) with a knife, just so that when you spread over the Nutella®, you have a guide for where the tree will be. Try to maximise the space and make the base of the triangle as wide as the width of the puff pastry sheet. Leave about 2 in at the bottom of the puff pastry sheet for a tree trunk.
• With the back of a spoon, spread the Nutella® thinly in the triangle area.
• You should end up with a chocolate triangle.
• Roll the second sheet of puff pastry up then line it up with the top of the bottom sheet, then roll it down towards you.
• Gently with your fingers try to feel the outline of where the chocolate is underneath. Score along the lines of the triangle first with a knife then begin cutting carefully. I pressed the blade into the pastry rather than sliced so that I did not tear the foil underneath. Remove the excess pastry.
• At the base of the tree carefully cut away two strips either side to form the base of the tree trunk.
• Very lightly, score where the trunk of the tree will be as a guide, wider at the base, getting thinner at the top. Pressing the knife blade rather than slicing, begin cutting the pastry to form the branches, following the line of the trunk and getting narrower the further up they go.
• Finally the tree will be ready for twisting.
• Beginning at the base, twist the pastry away from you, trying to get in two turns on the lower branches.
• Continue moving up the tree, twisting away from you as you go.
• At the top of the tree you may only get a single twist in the top branches. If desired, cut out a star with the pastry trimmings and place on the baking tray.
• Brush the entire tree with lightly beaten egg.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until risen and golden brown. Let cool slightly before enjoying.

SPINACH AND RICOTTA PUFF PASTRY CHRISTMAS TREE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat and saute onions until soft and translucent. Add spinach, salt, and pepper and briefly saute while stirring constantly, 2 to 3 minutes.. Cover and cook until spinach is wilted, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove lid after 5 minutes and allow cooking liquid to evaporate. Remove from stove and cool completely.
• Chop spinach mixture and combine with ricotta and Parmesan cheese in a bowl. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
• Roll out puff pastry sheet and evenly cover with spinach-cheese mixture to within 1/2 inch of the edges. Tightly roll up sheet lengthwise and press edges tightly together. Wrap in plastic wrap and cool in refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Slice pastry log into 3/4-inch slices so you have 16 to 22 pinwheels. Lay puff pastry pinwheels in the shape of a Christmas tree. The lowest row should consist of 6 pinwheels the second row 5 pinwheels, etc. If you end up with 16 pinwheels, start with 5 pinwheels in the lowest row. Place the last wheel on the bottom to make the stem. Brush with egg.
• Bake in preheated oven until wheels are lightly browned and puffed up, 20 to 25 minutes. Decorate with cherry tomatoes for Christmas tree ornaments.

PUFF PASTRY CHRISTMAS TREES

Steps:

• Thaw pastry sheets at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400º F.
• Unfold 1 pastry sheet on lightly floured surface.
• Cut 4 stars (or any shape appropriate for the occasion)of each size.
• Use 3 star cookie cutters in graduated sizes (2-inch, 2½-inch, and 3-inch cookie cutters or Cardboard patterns).
• Repeat with remaining pastry sheet.
• Place stars on baking sheets.
• Bake 10 minutes or until golden.
• Remove from baking sheets and cool on wire rack.
• To assemble trees:.
• Top large star pastry with 1 teaspoon pudding/curd.
• NOTE:.
• If using pudding you might want to use pistachio, or tint vanilla or cheesecake flavor green.
• Top with medium star pastry, turning star so points do not line up.
• Top with 1 teaspoon pudding/curd and place small star pastry on top, turning so points do not line up.
• Repeat with remaining star pastries, making 8 trees.
• Drizzle trees with honey.
• Sprinkle with green sugar (or color of your choice) and top each with a raspberry or cherry half.
• NOTE: Obviously there are many variations of this, fitting many occasions. Change the jelly; pudding for lemon curd; etc.

CHRISTMAS TREE "FOOD"

Steps:

• DISCLAIMER: This should go without saying, but - DO NOT DRINK THIS. THIS MIXTURE IS NOT MEANT TO BE CONSUMED BY HUMANS OR ANIMALS. IT SHOULD ONLY BE USED TO WATER YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE.
• IMPORTANT: DO NOT MIX VINEGAR AND BLEACH TOGETHER DIRECTLY - IF YOU MIX THEM DIRECTLY THE MIXTURE WILL PRODUCE TOXIC VAPORS. MIX THE VINEGAR WITH THE WATER FIRST, THEN PROCEED WITH THE REST OF THE RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS.
• In a large bowl, mix together the water and the vinegar.
• Add the corn syrup or the sugar, and stir well until all is combined or the sugar is dissolved. If you are using sugar, it may help to use half hot water first to dissolve the sugar, then add the second half, using cold water.
• Add the bleach, if using, and mix well to combine.
• Place your Christmas tree securely in the Christmas tree stand.
• Place a penny in the reservoir of the Christmas tree stand, then fill it with the water mixture.
• Store the remainder of the mixture in a gallon jug, and check the tree every day to see if it needs more of the mixture. Christmas trees which are not watered and which dry out become fire hazards, so make sure your tree is kept watered. If you have used bleach in the mixture label the container appropriately so that no one will drink from it.

PESTO-STUFFED CHRISTMAS TREE

Steps:

• Roll out 2 sheets of puff pastry.
• Cut into the shape of a Christmas Tree.
• Spread basil pesto on bottom layer of pastry sheet.
• Sprinkle parmesan cheese.
• Place top layer of tree-shaped pastry sheet down.
• Make horizontal tree branch slices.
• Twist the tree branches.
• Brush egg wash (egg with water) along the tree trunk and base.
• Lightly run a fork over tree trunk and base.
• Bake according to the boxed direction of the puff pastry.
• Decorate the tree with sliced cherry tomatoes, whipped ricotta cheese.
• Using star-shaped cookie cutter, make a cheddar cheese star and set on top of the tree.