Purim Hamantaschen Food

PURIM HAMANTASCHEN

Steps:

• Cream the butter and sugar together in the large bowl.
• Add the egg yolks and continue to mix well.
• Add the ice water.
• Gradually stir in flour until a ball of dough is formed.
• Place the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for several hours or overnight.
• When ready to continue, take dough out of refrigerator.
• Turn on the oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease the cookie sheet with the butter.
• Divide the dough in half.
• Wrap the extra half in the plastic and put back in the refrigerator.
• Roll out the dough on a clean, lightly floured surface to a 1/4" thickness.
• Cut it into 2" circles (use the top of a glass to"press out" the circles).
• Place 1 teaspoon of the jam in the center of each circle and fold into three-cornered cookies.
• Start by pressing two sides together, then fold the third side over and press the ends together.
• Place the Hamantaschen about an inch apart on the greased cookie sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until lightly browned along the edges.
• You don't have to limit yourself to jam, I have used chocolate, peanute butter, a combo of peanut butter and chocolate, date spread, etc.

PURIM HAMANTASCHEN (STUFFED PASTRY DOUGH WITH FILLING)

Steps:

• COOKIE DOUGH:.
• Sift the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large bowl.
• Work in butter using a pastry blender or two forks, one held in each hand.
• Add the eggs, mixing in with the pastry blender.
• Add the lemon peel.
• Form the dough into a ball and wrap in wax paper, and refrigerate for atleast 1 hour.
• YEAST DOUGH:.
• Sprinkle the yeast over 1/4 cup lukewarm water (105°F); add a pinch of sugar, and set aside until foamy.
• Put 2 cups flour in a large bowl and add the yeast, milk, salt, and remaining sugar.
• Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
• Add the butter and enough flour to produce a dough that is moist and pliable.
• Knead for 5 minutes.
• Form the dough into a ball and place in a large greased bowl.
• Cover with a dish towel and set aside to rise, 1-1 1/2 hours until doubled in bulk.
• MOHN FILLING:.
• Combine the poppy seeds, honey, and milk in a small saucepan. Simmer for about 10minutes, stirring constantly; the mixture should thicken.
• Stir in lemon juice, lemon peel, and raisins.
• Set aside to cool.
• PRUNE FILLING.
• Cover the prunes with 1 cup water in a small saucepan.
• Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes -1 hour, until tender.
• Add the lemon juice and honey, and simmer slowly for about 10 minutes.
• Stir in the nuts (if using) and let the filling cool.
• LEKVAR FILLING:.
• Combine all ingredients.
• NOTE:.
• All fillings can be made in advance and stored (covered) in the refrigerator.
• ASSEMBLY:.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F You will need 1 recipe dough, 1 recipe filling, and 1 egg, beaten with 1 tbsp water.
• Divide whichever dough you choose into portions you can easily roll out.
• On a floured board, roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch. The cookie dough rolls out best if rolled out between two sheets of wax paper.
• Cut the dough into 3-4 inch circles, using the top of a glass or cookie cutter. Fill each circle with a heaping teaspoon of filling and pinch the dough around it into a triangular shape.
• Brush the dough with the egg wash and bake on a greased cookie sheet for 20-30minutes (the cookie dough will bake faster than the yeast dough).
• When the cookies are done, they will look appealingly brown. Taste one if in doubt!