Raspberry Strudel Croissants Food

BLUEBERRY STRUDELS

Steps:

• In a 4-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, bring the blueberries, 1/4 cup sugar, cornstarch and a pinch of salt to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a medium bowl and let cool completely.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter a sheet pan.
• Cover the phyllo sheets with a piece of plastic wrap and a damp paper towel.
• Arrange 1 sheet of phyllo on a work surface with the short side nearest you (keep the remaining sheets covered) and brush with some butter. Top with 2 more phyllo sheets, brushing each sheet with butter. Place a heaping 1/4 cup blueberry mixture over the lower third of the buttered phyllo, leaving a 2-inch border along the bottom and sides. Fold the bottom edge of the phyllo up over the blueberry mixture and fold in the sides to enclose the filling completely. Roll up the phyllo to form a strudel, about 4 by 2 inches. Transfer, seam-side down, to the prepared sheet pan. Brush the top with some butter and sprinkle with sugar. Using a paring knife, cut 2 vents across the top of the strudel. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
• Bake until golden brown and crisp, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack and cool 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

RASPBERRY STRUDEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Blend the tofu in a food processor until smooth. Add the confectioners' sugar, cream cheese, flour and vanilla and puree until combined.
• Stack the phyllo sheets on a flat surface and cover with a slightly damp kitchen towel. Cut a piece of parchment paper slightly longer than the phyllo. Lay 1 sheet phyllo on the parchment with a long side facing you (keep the remaining phyllo covered). Brush with 1 tablespoon butter and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon graham cracker crumbs. Top with another sheet of phyllo, then more butter and crumbs. Repeat with the remaining phyllo sheets, topping each with butter and crumbs. Reserve the remaining butter and crumbs for topping.
• Spoon the tofu mixture across the length of the phyllo, leaving a 1-inch border at the long edge closest to you and a 2-inch border at the short ends. Sprinkle the raspberries on top of the tofu mixture. Starting with the long edge, use the parchment to roll the phyllo tightly over the filling to make a log; turn seam-side down on the parchment. Brush with the remaining butter and sprinkle with the remaining crumbs.
• Transfer the parchment and strudel to a baking sheet. Bake until golden, about 18 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through. Slide the strudel onto a cutting board and let cool completely, about 1 hour. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

PEACH RASPBERRY STRUDEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375ºF.
• Chop the almonds in a food processor.
• Add the oatmeal and process until the texture resembles coarse cornmeal.
• Add sugars and 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon.
• Process just combine the ingredients.
• Set aside.
• Combine diced peaches, raspberries, remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon and vanilla extract, and toss to mix well.
• Place one sheet of phyllo on a clean counter.
• Brush lightly with melted butter to cover the entire sheet.
• Top with a second sheet of phyllo and brush with melted butter.
• Sprinkle about one-fifth of the pecan mixture generously over the top.
• Add another sheet of phyllo, butter it, and top with the pecan mixture, and keep the layers going to the last sheet of phyllo is used.
• Sprinkle the remaining pecan mixture over the top of the filo dough.
• Spread the fruit mixture in a log down one of the long sides of the phyllo sheets, leaving a 1-inch border on each end.
• Starting with the long end, roll the phyllo and fruit into a log, tucking the ends under so that the fruit is completely enclosed.
• Cut a piece of baking parchment big enough to fit the strudel.
• Place the strudel seam side down on a baking pan lined with the parchment.
• Brush the tops and sides of strudel with remaining melted butter.
• Make shallow cuts with a serrated knife along the top of the strudel, where you'll want to cut it after it is baked.
• Bake in a preheated 375ºF oven for 25 to 30 minutes.
• Serve warm or cold, dusted with powdered sugar and topped with ice cream or whipped cream.

PEAR AND RASPBERRY STRUDEL

Steps:

• Heat oven to to 375ºF.
• In a large bowl, combine pears, raspberries, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup bread crumbs, ginger, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, lemon peel and nutmeg.
• In a small bowl combine the remaining sugar, breadcrumbs and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
• On a piece of waxed paper, place one sheet of phyllo.
• Brush with butter, sprinkle with sugar mixture.
• Repeat with remaining sheets.
• Spread fruit mixture on phyllo lengthwise leaving 1" border on all sides.
• Fold in sides and roll jelly roll fashion.
• Place on cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray.
• Brush strudel with butter.
• Optional: for a garnish, take one sheet of phyllo and cut sheet into 2" wide strips.
• Fold each strip lengthwise in half.
• Gather and roll each strip to make rosettes.
• Arrange on top of strudel.
• Bake for 50 minutes or until top is golden and fruit is tender.
• Watch it so it doesn't get too brown.
• Shield with foil if necessary, but don't tuck the foil down around the sides, just lay it on top.
• Otherwise it will get soggy.

CROISSANTS

Steps:

• Put the flour, salt and sugar in a mixing bowl. Measure 300ml cold water into a jug, add the yeast and stir. Make a well in the flour and pour in the liquid. Mix, then knead on your work surface for 10 mins. Shape into a ball, put in a lightly oiled bowl, cover and chill for at least 2 hrs.
• Put the butter between 2 sheets of baking parchment. Using a rolling pin, bash and roll it into a rectangle about 20 x 15cm. Leave wrapped in the baking parchment and chill.
• Transfer the chilled dough to a floured surface and roll into a 40 x 20cm rectangle. Place the unwrapped slab of butter in the centre of the dough, so that it covers the middle third.
• Fold one side of the dough up and halfway over the butter.
• Fold the other side of the dough up and over the butter in the same way, so that the two edges of the dough meet in the centre of the butter.
• Fold the dough in half so that the point where the ends of the dough meet becomes the seam. Wrap in cling film and chill for 30 mins.
• Repeat the rolling, folding and chilling process (steps 3-6) twice more in exactly the same way - rolling the pastry while it's still folded - without adding more butter. Wrap and chill overnight.
• The next day, roll the dough out on a floured surface into a large rectangle, measuring about 60 x 30cm. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, trim the edges to neaten.
• Cut the dough in half lengthways so that you have 2 long strips, then cut each strip into 6 or 7 triangles with 2 equal sides.
• Take each triangle in turn and pull the two corners at the base to stretch and widen it.
• Starting at the base of each triangle, begin to gently roll into a croissant, being careful not to crush the dough.
• Continue rolling, making sure the tip of each triangle ends up tucked under the croissant to hold in place. If adding any fillings (see tips, below), place across the widest part of the triangle before rolling up.
• Bend the ends of the croissants inwards, then transfer to baking trays lined with baking parchment, spaced well apart. Cover with lightly oiled cling film and leave to rise for 2 hrs, or until doubled in size.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Mix the beaten egg with a pinch of salt and use to generously glaze the croissants. Bake for 15-18 mins until risen and golden brown, then cool on wire racks.