Rwop Finalist Asparagus And Parmesan Cream Pastry Food

ASPARAGUS, HORSERADISH AND PARMESAN TART

Steps:

• Clean and trim tough ends on asparagus.
• Take pastry from fridge 10 minutes before using.
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Unroll Pastry and place on baking sheet.
• With a sharp knife point score a line around the pastry about a half inch from the edge. Do not cut all the way through.
• Lightly prick inside the rectangle with a fork and brush the edges with a little beaten egg.
• Lay the Asparagus in a neat line with all the tips facing the same way, inside the border of the pastry.
• Mix together creme fraiche, egg yolks, chives, horseradish and cream.
• Season with salt & pepper and spread over the the asparagus.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan.
• Bake 30 - 40 minutes in preheated oven or until golden. If it starts to brown too much, turn oven down to 375°F.
• Serve with a tomato, basil, and dark green salad.

ASPARAGUS WITH PARMESAN CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven broiler.
• With a vegetable peeler, scrape the asparagus to within one inch of the top. Cut off and discard the bottom part of the spears to make them of uniform length.
• Place the stalks in a skillet, add cold water to cover, and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer about 2 to 3 minutes until tender yet firm.
• Drain the asparagus and arrange in a round or oval heatproof dish. Arrange neatly in one layer with the tip ends slightly staggered.
• Brush with the olive oil and sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese and freshly ground pepper.
• Place under the broiler for about 2 or 3 minutes until the cheese is golden brown.

ASPARAGUS AND CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with ice water. Bring about 1 inch of water to a boil in a large skillet. Add the asparagus; cook until bright green and crisp-tender, 2 to 5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the asparagus. Drain and transfer to the ice water to stop the cooking; drain and pat dry. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Roll out the puff pastry into a 10-by-16-inch rectangle on a floured surface. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and prick all over with a fork. Bake until light golden brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool slightly on the baking sheet.
• Meanwhile, mix the fontina, comte, shallot, egg yolks, milk, nutmeg and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a bowl until combined. Spread the cheese mixture evenly over the puff pastry, leaving a 1-inch border on all sides. Toss the asparagus with the olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste. Arrange the asparagus on the tart and bake until the cheese mixture is slightly puffy, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with the lemon zest. Serve warm or at room temperature.

DELICIOUS ASPARAGUS ROLL UPS

Steps:

• Set oven to 400°F.
• Grease a baking sheet.
• Flatten bread with a rolling pin.
• In a bowl combine the cream cheese with blue cheese, garlic and green onions.
• Spread about 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture on each slice of bread.
• Top with asparagus spear then roll up tightly.
• Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet.
• Brush with butter and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
• Cut roll-ups in half.
• Bake at 400°F for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Delicious!

ASPARAGUS PASTRY PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a large skillet, bring 1-1/2 in. of water to a boil. Add asparagus; cook, uncovered, 1-3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove asparagus and immediately drop into ice water. Drain and pat dry., In a small bowl, mix cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, mustard, lemon juice, salt and pepper until blended. Unfold puff pastry sheets; cut each sheet in half to make a total of four rectangles. Spread each rectangle with a fourth of the cream cheese mixture to within 1/4 in. of edges. Arrange asparagus over top, allowing tips to show at each end; roll up jelly-roll style. Using a serrated knife, cut each roll crosswise into four sections., Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, seam side down. In a small bowl, whisk egg with water until blended; brush lightly over tops., Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to a wire rack; serve warm.

ASPARAGUS, HERB AND GOAT CHEESE PUFF PASTRY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Add the goat cheese, ricotta and 2 eggs to the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Pulse until the mixture is evenly combined. Next, add the Parmesan, parsley, chives, dill, lemon zest, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Pulse once again to combine all the ingredients. The mixture may look slightly liquidy, but once it bakes the egg will help stabilize the cheese mixture. Set aside.
• On a separate rimmed baking sheet, toss the asparagus with the olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Set aside.
• Unroll the puff pastry on a lightly floured work space and dust a rolling pin lightly with flour. Roll the puff pastry out to a 13-by-11-inch rectangle. Add the goat cheese-herb mixture to the puff pastry and spread it out into an even layer, leaving a 1-inch border all the way around the puff pastry. Nestle in the asparagus into the cheese mixture, alternating directions.
• To make the egg wash, whisk the remaining egg with a splash of water. Use a pastry brush to brush the exposed crust all the way around the edges.
• Transfer the tart to the oven and bake until the crust is golden and the cheese mixture is set, 25 to 30 minutes

ASPARAGUS WITH GORGONZOLA CHEESE WRAPPED IN PUFF PASTRY

Steps:

• Take 3 sheets and butter the first then lay the 2nd on top, then butter the 2nd sheet, and then lay the 3rd sheet on top Now slice the sheet in 2 1/2 inch strips, cut each strip 4 inches. Each strip should be 4 inches long by 2 1/2 inches wide.
• Take the asparagus that has been trimmed and steamed, al dente, and place on the cut puff pastry, now brush with a little melted butter and then put a teaspoon full of cheese on it.
• Now wrap the pastry over the asparagus as in a roll. It's ok if the tip and end sticks out; seal the pastry with melted butter and put in a plastic container till ready to use and freeze.
• When ready to use, put on a greased cookie sheet and put in the oven on the middle rack or in a toaster oven. Bake in the oven on high heat till the pastry turns golden color and the cheese starts to ooze out the ends. Don't over bake or they will burn.
• Note: The reason I have put the ingredients at one each is so you can make as little or as much as you want, just follow the amount for each item how many you want to make.

ASPARAGUS IN PUFF PASTRY

Steps:

• In a large nonstick skillet, bring water to a boil. Add asparagus; cover and cook for 3 minutes. Drain asparagus and immediately place in ice water; drain and pat dry. In a bowl, beat cream cheese and salt until smooth; set aside., Unfold the dough on a lightly floured surface. Cut each sheet in half widthwise. For each rectangle, spread cream cheese mixture lengthwise over half of the dough to within 1/2 in. of edges. Arrange two rows of three asparagus spears lengthwise in a single layer over cream cheese., Brush edges of dough with some of the egg substitute; fold dough over filling and press edges together to seal. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour., Cut widthwise into 1-1/4-in. pieces. Place 1 in. apart on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Brush with remaining egg substitute. Bake at 425° for 8-12 minutes or until golden. Serve warm.