APFELSTRUDEL

Apples. Apfelstrudel is a kind of apple pie from Austria. You can find apple pies everywhere. Many countries have their own recipes. I tried this Apfelstrudel and I found it really good. If you like apples and if you like apple pies, believe me, you will love it.

Ingredients:

2 apples
1 puff pastry sheet
Some flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ cup raisins
2-3 ounces unsalted butter
Some lemon juice
Some breadcrumbs
Some milk
Some confectioner’s sugar

First we will start preparing the apples. We will peel them and then we will cut them in little slices. Then we will put the apple slices in a sieve that will be inside a big bowl. We will add the granulated sugar and mix well. Leave the apples there for an hour. This will make the apples lose some of their juice.
Once the apples have been there for an hour, remove the juice from the bowl and put the apple slices in the same bowl. Now we will add the vanilla extract, the cinnamon and the raisins. Mix well and reserve.
And now we will prepare the puff pastry. I use frozen puff pastry because it is very useful. You have to thaw it first and then extend it with a rolling pin. It is a good idea to use some flour to make this.
Once the puff pastry is ready, we will put the sheet in a greased oven tray. On top of the sheet we will put the apple mixture. Add some breadcrumbs now. We will add the butter and the lemon juice. The butter will be spread over the apples. Then we will close the puff pastry with the apples inside. Brush the pastry with some milk and take it to the preheated oven to 350ºF for 30-35 minutes. Once again, when using your oven, you have to be careful. Check it because every oven is different. Once it is done, let it cool for a while and dust it with some confectioner’s sugar and serve. And enjoy it! You will love it.

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CHICKEN IN PUFF PASTRY

I remember that when I was a kid I didn’t like puff pastry. That changed when I started using it to cook stuffing it with different ingredients. This recipe is very easy to make. In this recipe I stuff the puff pastry with chicken but you can do it with all kind of meat. I also do it with ground beef, and it is delicious. And, of course, you can use just vegetables.

Ingredients:

1 small chicken breast
1 ready-to-bake puff pastry sheet
1 small chopped tomato
1 small chopped carrot
½ chopped onion
1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
2 tablespoons chopped frozen spinach
1 cup cubed yellow squash
½ cup frozen corn
2 tablespoons roasted chopped red pepper
¾ cup ricotta cheese
3 tablespoons tomato sauce
Some spices (thyme, oregano, rosemary, black pepper, salt)
Some vegetable oil
Some flour
Some milk or one beaten egg

Thaw the puff pastry sheet following the instructions of the package. Prepare the vegetables and heat a frying-pan with some oil. First put the carrots and the onion in the pan. A bit later add the garlic, the ginger and the chicken, cut in small pieces. Later add the squash, tomato, spinach, corn, red pepper, tomato sauce and spices. When everything is ready, specially the chicken, add the ricotta cheese and mix well. Set aside.
We will prepare the puff pastry now. With the help of a rolling pin we will extend the puff pastry on a floury surface, just to make it a bit thinner and softer. Then we will stuff it. Put the pastry on a greased tray and stuff it with the mixture. Close the pastry and brush it with some milk or some beaten egg. Put the tray on a preheated oven to 400ºF for 30 minutes. While the pastry is in the oven, shake the tray a couple of times so that it does not stick to the tray, but do not open the oven much. The pastry will be done when it has a wonderful golden brown colour. Let it cool for some minutes and serve.

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