Sour Cream Pastry Food

SOUR CREAM PASTRY

Steps:

• Put the flour and salt in a 3 qt bowl, stir to blend.
• Scatter butter slices over flour and cut in with a pastry blender until the mixture consists of particles that vary in size from small peas to bread crumbs (you can use a food processor for this step).
• Stir in the sour cream with a fork.
• The pastry will appear dry because the sour cream is thick and does not disburse easily.
• With your hands, manipulate the dough into a ball.
• Divide in half, wrap in plastic and refrigerate until cold and firm- at least 4 hours, and up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.

SOUR CREAM APPLE STRUDEL

Steps:

• For pastry, cut chilled butter into flour until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; add sour cream and salt, mixing well.
• Shape dough into ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.
• For filling, combine breadcrumbs and melted butter; add apples, sugar, and cinnamon, mixing well.
• Divide chilled dough into thirds and turn onto floured surface; roll each portion into 15x12 inch rectangle.
• Spoon filling evenly onto each piece of dough and spread to within 1 inch of edges.
• Roll dough up from one long side, and pinch seams and ends to seal.
• Place the three strudels seam side down on a baking sheet or in a large baking dish.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes, or until light brown.

SOUR CREAM PASTRY

Steps:

• Pulse flour, salt and baking powder in food processor.
• Add shortening. Pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal.
• Stir together sour cream and egg; pour all at once into flour and pulse until it just comes together.
• Dump out onto wax paper. Gather into a disk, wrap in the wax paper and chill at least 20 minutes.
• Cut into two pieces, rewrap one and return it to the refrigerator.
• Roll on a lightly floured surface.
• Fill and bake according to filling recipe.

SOUR CREAM PASTRY DOUGH

Steps:

• Cut butter into 1/2-inch cubes.
• To blend by hand:
• In a bowl with your fingertips or a pastry blender blend together flour, butter, and salt until most of mixture resembles coarse meal with remainder in small (roughly pea-size) lumps. Stir in sour cream with a fork just until incorporated. Drizzle 4 tablespoons ice water over mixture and gently stir just until incorporated. Test mixture by gently squeezing a small handful: When it has proper texture it should hold together without crumbling apart. If necessary, add enough remaining water, 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring until incorporated and testing, to give mixture proper texture. (If you overwork mixture or add too much water, pastry will be tough.)
• To blend in a food processor:
• In a food processor pulse together flour, butter, and salt until most of mixture resembles coarse meal with remainder in small (roughly pea-size) lumps. Add sour cream and pulse just until incorporated. Drizzle 4 tablespoons water over mixture and pulse just until incorporated. Test mixture by gently squeezing a small handful: When it has proper texture it should hold together without crumbling apart. If necessary, add enough remaining water, 1 tablespoon at a time, pulsing until incorporated and testing, to give mixture proper texture. (If you overwork mixture or add too much water, pastry will be tough.)
• To form dough after blending by either method:
• Turn mixture out onto a work surface and divide into 4 portions. With heel of hand smear each portion once in a forward motion to help distribute fat. Gather dough together and form it, rotating it on work surface, into a disk. Chill dough, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 1 hour, and up to 1 day.

SOUR CREAM PASTRY

Steps:

• Combine the flour and salt in a food processor and pulse once or twice to mix. Cut the butter into chunks and add it to the processor. Process until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Add the sour cream and pulse until the dough forms a ball. Remove the dough and knead it a few times. Wrap the dough in waxed paper and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. The dough can be frozen for up to 1 month; allow it to thaw partially before rolling.

MAGGIE BEER'S SOUR CREAM SHORTCRUST PASTRY

Steps:

• Chop the cold butter and put it in a food processor bowl with the flour. Pulse this mixture until the butter resembles chunks the size of olives.
• Add the sour cream and pulse again until 'just' incorporated. The mixture does not have to be perfectly smooth and uniform.
• Turn onto a well-floured, cool surface and roll the dough into a rectangle. cover and leave to rest in the fridge for 20 minutes.
• Roll into the desired shape.
• Rest again in the fridge.
• Bake.