Mary Perpichs Apple Strudel Recipes

MAMO'S APPLE STRUDEL

Steps:

• As you peel and dice the apples, sprinkle with lemon juice and mix frequently to prevent browning, or toss in iced water with some lemon juice.
• Place the apples into a large pot on the stove over medium-high heat. Add the pineapple, sugar, 1 cup water and salt. Cook until the moisture evaporates and consistency of the remaining fruit is thicker than preserves, 30 to 35 minutes. Stir often to prevent burning on the bottom. Cool, then stir in nuts.
• Refrigerate the apple filling at least overnight. Filling will last in the refrigerator for up to a week in an airtight container.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a pot, melt the butter over very low heat. A white foam will form as the top layer. Skim off the foam with a spoon. Once the foam is removed, add the oil. Stir and remove from the heat.
• On a sheet of waxed paper, lay out the first layer of phyllo dough. (Dough dries out quickly, so keep other layers not in use covered with a damp cloth over a sheet of waxed paper.) Using a pastry brush, gently brush the butter/oil mixture onto the entire sheet of dough. Sprinkle with the breadcrumb mixture over the entire surface. Repeat for an additional 4 layers so each roll has a total of 5 layers of phyllo dough.
• Using a spoon, add a row of the apple filling an inch or two from the bottom of the dough. Do not overstuff or the strudel will burst when baking. Lift the bottom edge of the waxed paper with both hands, each about a third of the way in from the outer edges to support the phyllo as you roll up the dough, jellyroll style. As you roll, fold the sides inwards to form sealed edges as you continue to the end. End with the seam-side down.
• Coat a baking pan with the butter/oil mixture and place the first rolled dough onto the pan with the seam facing down. Then brush the roll all over with the butter/oil mixture.
• Repeat the steps above until you have filled the cookie pan with the rolls but keep at least a roll's width between each. Keep at least 2 to 3 inches between the rolls on the baking sheet to ensure even browning.
• Bake until golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes, depending on your oven. During baking, baste 4 to 5 times with the butter/oil mixture.
• Cut into pieces while still hot so the crust won't break.

APPLE STRUDEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl; set aside 3 tablespoons mixture. Peel and core apples; cut into quarters, then cut crosswise into 1/4-inch pieces. Toss with lemon juice; stir into sugar mixture with apricots and breadcrumbs.
• Brush 1 sheet phyllo with butter, and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon reserved sugar mixture. Top with remaining 5 sheets phyllo, layering with butter and sugar mixture. Scatter filling on phyllo, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Starting with a long end, roll up to enclose filling; place strudel, seam side down, on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush top with remaining butter; sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake until golden brown and cooked through, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Cut into slices; serve warm with whipped cream.

MARY PERPICH'S APPLE STRUDEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 150 degrees or to its lowest setting.
• Combine 3 cups of the flour and the salt. Make a well in the flour, and into the well add the 1/2 cup of the oil, the eggs and water. Mix with a fork, and then knead well with your hands, about 20 minutes. Add more flour -enough to make a soft but not sticky dough. Put the dough in a ceramic bowl, cover with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil, and place in the oven until the dough is warm and easy to pull, about 20 minutes.
• On a table or other flat surface that is at least 3 feet by 5 feet, spread a clean sheet so that the edges hang slightly over the sides. Sprinkle the sheet with flour, and roll out the dough to form a 9-by-13-inch rectangle.
• The novice may want to ask a friend to help stretch the dough. Using your hands, start stretching and lifting the dough with your fingertips until you can see through it. When you are finished, the dough should cover the table's surface. Try to minimize the number of holes, but a few won't matter.
• Scatter the apples over the dough. Sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon and bread crumbs. Dribble about three-fourths of the melted butter over the mixture. Taking hold of the sheet on the longer (5-foot) side, lift the sheet up and over the apples to start rolling up the dough jellyroll-style. Place the strudel in a greased jellyroll or baking pan, large enough to hold the pastry comfortably. You will probably have to form the pastry into a large crescent to fit. If desired, freeze the strudel and bake later, or pour the remaining butter on top of the strudel and bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes or until golden. If the strudel begins to brown too quickly, cover with foil.

APPLE AND PECAN STRUDELS

Steps:

• In a small saute pan over medium heat, toast the pecans until golden in color, about 3 to 4 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the raisins and the apple filling. Reserve.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the butter and the sage. When the butter has melted, remove the sage. In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon and set aside.
• Unwrap the phyllo sheets and cover with a moist towel. Put 1 sheet on a cutting board and brush with the melted butter, put another sheet on top and brush with butter, then put a third sheet on top and brush with butter. *Cook's Note: Set the phyllo aside, covered with a moist towel until ready to use again.
• Cut the phyllo stacks into thirds. Put approximately 1 to 2 tablespoons of apple filling at the tip of the strip closest to you. Fold the phyllo into triangles by repeatedly folding to the right, then up to the left, and repeat until you reach the end of the strip, making sure to keep the shape of a triangle. Repeat with remaining 2 strips of phyllo. Brush the last triangle fold with butter to seal. Brush the tops of triangles with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Repeat the process until all the filling has been used. Arrange the phyllo triangles on a sheet pan that has been lined with parchment paper, and bake until well browned, about 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the strudels to a serving platter and serve.