Pesto Cheese Straw Christmas Tree Food

PESTO CREAM CHEESE TREE

Steps:

• Mix cream cheese, shredded cheese and pesto until blended.
• Refrigerate 1 hour.
• Shape cream cheese mixture into 1-inch-high Christmas tree-shape on serving plate.
• Reserve 5 nuts for later use. Press remaining nuts onto sides of tree.
• Decorate with reserved nuts and remaining ingredients as shown in photo.

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.

CHRISTMAS TREE PESTO BREADSTICKS

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Line an upside-down baking sheet with parchment and set aside.
• Add the basil, pine nuts, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. With the motor running, drizzle in 1/4 cup of the olive oil until incorporated. The pesto should be slightly chunky, not smooth.
• Combine the mozzarella, ricotta, pecorino, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Add the pesto to the cheese mixture and stir to combine.
• Roll out the pizza dough into a 12-by-15-inch rectangle. Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into 1 large and 2 small triangles; one of the 12-inch sides will be the base of the large triangle with the 2 small triangles on either side. Combine the 15-inch sides of the 2 small triangles to create a large triangle on the prepared baking sheet, tugging and pressing down on the dough as needed to shape it. This will be the base of the tree.
• Leaving a 1/4-inch border around the perimeter of the triangle, spread the pesto and cheese mixture evenly to cover the base. Cover it with the remaining large triangle, tugging the dough as needed to fit over the base. Seal the 1/4-inch border by firmly pressing the top edge down onto the bottom.
• Leaving a 1-inch "trunk" down the middle of the tree intact, use a sharp knife to cut horizontal lines, about 1 1/2 inches apart, from the middle "trunk" to each edge, making "branches." Twist each "branch" to reveal the layers of cheese and pesto. The shorter ones will twist once or twice. The longer ones will twist three or four times.
• Bake until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Lightly brush with the remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil. Serve warm.

PESTO CHEESE STRAWS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Cover baking sheets with parchment. Mix cream cheese and pesto sauce until blended.
• Unfold 1 pastry sheet on lightly floured surface. Roll out to 12x10-inch rectangle; cut in half to form 2 (12x5-inch) rectangles. Spread half the cream cheese mixture onto 1 cut pastry rectangle; cover with remaining cut pastry rectangle. Cut into 24 (1/2-inch-wide) strips. Twist each pastry strip, then place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining pastry sheet and remaining cream cheese mixture.
• Brush with egg; sprinkle with Parmesan.
• Bake 20 min. or until golden brown. Cool slightly.

TWISTY CHEESE STRAWS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Tip the cream cheese and pesto into a bowl and mix well.
• Unroll the pastry on a lightly floured surface and cut in half lengthways. Spread the pesto mix over one half, pop the other piece of pastry on top to create a sandwich, then cut in half lengthways to create 2 long rectangles. Divide each rectangle into short strips, about 1cm thick. Twist each pastry strip and place on a baking tray lined with parchment.
• Brush with egg and bake for 20-25 mins until risen and golden brown.

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.

CHEESE STRAWS IN PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Combine the cream cheese, parmesan, egg and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl; mix well. Spoon into a resealable bag; snip off the corner to make a 1/4-inch-diameter opening.
• Unfold the stack of phyllo sheets on a clean surface. Working quickly to keep the dough from drying out, brush the top sheet all over with melted butter, then pipe the cheese filling along the long edge of the dough to within 1/2 inch of the ends. Fold the ends over the filling, then roll up the dough to make a straw. Place on a baking sheet; repeat with the remaining phyllo sheets and cheese mixture. Bake until golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve the cheese straws with pesto.

CHEESE TWIST CHRISTMAS TREE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with a silicone liner (such as Silpat®).
• Roll pastry into a 14-inch square, sprinkling with flour if necessary.
• Cut from the bottom corners up to the center top to make a triangle. Place the triangle on a prepared baking sheet and place in the refrigerator.
• Overlap the long edges of the 2 remaining pieces of pastry by about ½ inch to form a second triangle. Roll to flatten slightly. Place on the second prepared baking sheet and chill until needed.
• Remove the first triangle from the refrigerator. Lift the silicone liner and pastry off the pan and onto the counter. Trim about 1 ½ inches off the bottom of the triangle and cut a 2-inch piece from that strip. Tuck that piece under the triangle to make a trunk.
• Spread all but 1 to 2 tablespoons pesto sauce over the entire triangle, leaving ¼ inch exposed at the edges. Grate most of the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese over the pesto. Place the second pastry triangle over top; stretch and pull it to fit, and trim off any extra dough as needed. Lightly press the edges together to seal and pat over the whole surface of the dough.
• Use a pizza wheel to cut ¾-inch horizontal strips on one side of the tree going from the outside edge in to about ¼ to ½ inch from the center; leave the center part connected to form the trunk. As you move up the tree, it may be easier to place the pizza wheel at the trunk and cut out to the edge. Repeat on the other side, lining up the cuts with the first side.
• Lift up each strip and twist 3 to 4 times. As you get up to the shorter pieces near the top, twist as many times as you can, but don't worry if you can't twist the strips at the very top.
• Brush remaining pesto over the center of the tree and any other spots you feel need it. Transfer the silicone liner back onto a baking sheet. Grate remaining cheese over top.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven until pastry is fully cooked and well browned, 30 to 35 minutes; do not undercook.
• Transfer to a wire rack and cool for 15 minutes before serving.