Cranberry Apricot Pecan Strudel Recipes

PEAR-CRANBERRY STRUDEL

Steps:

• 1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Toss pears with the lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of the granulated sugar. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Set aside to cool, then skim the white foam off the surface and discard. Spoon the melted butter into a bowl, leaving behind the solids at the bottom of the saucepan.
• 2. Heat 2 tablespoons of the reserved butter in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pear mixture and cook until pears start to give off juices. Add cranberries, cover, and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook until pears are crisp-tender, about 7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 2 tablespoons of the bread crumbs; cool the mixture slightly.
• 3. Combine remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar with allspice and ginger in a small bowl. Cut a piece of parchment paper slightly longer than the phyllo sheets and lay it with a long edge parallel to you. Set the stack of phyllo sheets beside it and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Transfer one sheet of phyllo to the parchment with a long edge facing you. Brush with some reserved butter and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon each of the nuts and sugar mixture. Repeat with each remaining phyllo, replacing the towel as you work. Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons bread crumbs over top sheet of phyllo.
• 4. Spoon the pear mixture across the phyllo about 1 inch from the edge closest to you to make a mound, with a 2-inch border at each end. Using the parchment to help you get started, roll the phyllo tightly over the filling to make a log, seam-side down. Lift the parchment with the strudel onto a baking sheet.
• 5. Bake until golden, about 30 minutes. Transfer on the baking sheet to a rack to cool. Trim ends with a serrated knife. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve warm or at room temperature with creme fraiche or whipped cream, if desired.

CRANBERRY APRICOT PECAN STRUDEL

Steps:

• In a large heavy skillet melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over moderately high heat until the foam subsides and in it sauté the apples, peeled and grated coarse, stirring, for 5 minutes. Stir in the cranberries and the sugar and cook the mixture over moderate heat, stirring, for 5 minutes, or until the cranberries burst. Stir in the apricots, the pecans, and the cinnamon and let the filling cool. The filling may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered and chilled.
• Preheat oven to 425°F. In a small saucepan melt the remaining 6 tablespoon butter. On a work surface arrange two 20-inch-long sheets of wax paper with the long sides overlapping slightly and facing you. Put 1 sheet of the phyllo on the wax paper, brush it with some of the butter, and sprinkle it with 2 teaspoons of the bread crumbs. On this, layer, brush, and sprinkle 4 more sheets of the phyllo in the same manner and lay the sixth sheet of phyllo on top.
• Spread the filling in a 3-inch-wide strip, mounding it on the phyllo 4 inches above the near long side, leaving in a 2-inch border at each end. Using the wax paper as a guide, lift the bottom 4 inches of the pastry over the filling, fold in the ends, and roll up the strudel tightly. Transfer the strudel carefully, seam side down, to a lightly buttered baking sheet, brush it with remaining butter, and bake it in the lower third of the oven for 25 minutes, or until it is golden. Let the strudel cool to warm on the baking sheet on a rack. The strudel may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered loosely and chilled. Reheat the strudel in a preheated 400°F. oven for 15 minutes. Serve strudel warm, cut into 1-inch slices with a serrated knife, with the ice cream.

APRICOT/CRANBERRY CHUTNEY

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix together the apricots, cranberries, raisins, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves.
• In a medium saucepan, boil water and sugar, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Add the dried fruit mixture and vinegar. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Serve immediately, or refrigerate in a covered container.

CRANBERRY SAUCE WITH APRICOTS, RAISINS, AND ORANGE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over medium heat, mix the orange juice, water, cranberries, sugar, apricots, raisins, and orange zest. Stir constantly until sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes. Bring to a boil, and cook 10 minutes, or until cranberries have burst. Remove from heat, and chill at least 8 hours, or overnight, before serving cold.

BUTTERED PECAN, CRANBERRY AND APRICOT SAUSAGE STUFFING LOAF

Steps:

• For the topping: butter a 1kg (2 lb) loaf tin and line the base with greaseproof paper. Lay the four pecan halves and the bay leaves alternately in a line along the bottom of the tin. Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/gas 5.
• For the stuffing: heat 50g of the butter for the stuffing in a large frying pan with the oil until the butter has melted. Add the onions and fry for 8-10 minutes until softened and starting to turn golden, stirring occasionally. Stir in the ground coriander and the rest of the butter and fry for another 3-4 minutes to soften and to caramelise the onions a bit more. Tip in the nuts and stir them around until they start to look toasty.
• Remove the pan from the heat and mix in the breadcrumbs, sausage meat, apricots, cranberries, orange zest, sage leaves, egg and some salt and pepper to season. When combined, spoon the stuffing into the tin and pack it down lightly. Cover with a piece of buttered greaseproof paper.
• Bake for 30 minutes, then remove the paper and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and leave to stand for a few minutes.
• Discard the paper, loosen the sides with a round-bladed knife and turn out the stuffing so the pecans and bay leaves are on the top. Slice to serve.

CRANBERRY APRICOT CHUTNEY

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, combine white sugar and water.
• Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved; bring to a boil without stirring.
• Stir in cranberries, apricots, brown sugar, vinegar, and ginger; reduce heat.
• Simmer, uncovered, for about 5 minutes or until the berries have popped and mixture starts to thicken, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat and allow to cool if serving that day.
• Can be covered and refrigerated for up to four days.
• Makes 3 1/2 cups.

CRANBERRY-APRICOT PORK TENDERLOINS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the first six ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until fruit is softened, about 10 minutes. Cool., Preheat oven to 400°. Cut a lengthwise slit down the center of each tenderloin to within 1/2 in. of bottom. Open tenderloins so they lie flat; cover with plastic wrap. Flatten to 3/4-in. thickness; remove plastic. Spread with fruit mixture to within 3/4 in. of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; tie with kitchen string at 1-1/2-in. intervals., Line a shallow pan with heavy-duty foil. Place meat on a rack in prepared pan. Bake, uncovered, until a thermometer reads 145°, 30-35 minutes. Let stand 5-10 minutes before slicing.

APRICOT STRUDEL STICKS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt; cut in butter until crumble. Add ice cream, tossing with a fork until a ball forms. Refrigerate overnight., Shape dough into six balls. Lightly sprinkle work surface with confectioners' sugar; roll out each ball into a 13-in. x 8-in. rectangle. Spread apricot filling evenly over dough to within 1/2 in. of edges. Top with raisins and pecans; sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar. Roll up jelly-roll style into a tight roll, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal., Carefully place on three greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Cut each roll into 12 slices; sprinkle cut sides with confectioners' sugar.