Cream Cheese, Chocolate and Jam Turnovers

Cream Cheese, Chocolate and Jam Turnovers

Dave DeWitt Recipes Leave a Comment

Here’s a simple, elegant dessert you’d never, ever think of cooking on a BBQ grill. Everyone loves turnovers, and these are so simple you can do them with your eyes closed. For variation use apricot and golden raspberry jam, thinly sliced kiwi and blueberries, thinly sliced peaches and crushed blackberries—let your imagination go wild. And, if you are daring, add a tablespoon of cognac, rum or fruit liqueur to the mix before placing into the filo dough.

By the way, filo dough can takes hours to make, so just pop into your local grocery store and buy a box of pre-made dough, thaw it slowly following the directions, then craft up a delicious dessert of browned and crisp turnovers with yummy fruit hidden inside. One caution: when these come out of the oven wait at least ten minutes before eating, as the fruit inside can scald and seriously burn you if you dig right in.

Ingredients

Barbecued turnovers2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed
3/4 cup cream cheese
1/2 cup apricot jam
1/4 cup orange marmalade
1 small bar of milk or semi-sweet chocolate
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1 teaspoon milk
1 1/2 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar, for sprinkling

Instructions

Pre-heat a BBQ to 425 degrees F., mounding the charcoal on one side only (or, if using propane, turn on the burners on one side of the BBQ only).

On a lightly floured surface, roll out each sheet of pastry into a 12-inch square and cut each square into 4 (6-inch) squares. In a small bowl mix the apricot jam and marmalade together.  You can also use fresh fruit and berries here, if sliced or chopped into small pieces.

Put one very full tablespoon of cream cheese in the center of each pastry square, add another very full tablespoon of the fruit jam mixture, then add one 2” x 2”-inch square of chocolate. Lightly brush all four of the edges of each pastry square with water.

Fold the pastry squares in half diagonally to form triangles, pressing the edges together firmly with the tines of a fork that you have dipped in milk. Seal the edges well.

Mix 1 egg with 1 tablespoon milk and brush the top of each turnover with the egg wash.  

Sprinkle a tablespoon of water on a baking sheet, and arrange the turnovers on the sheet. With a sharp knife cut several slits in the top of each turnover (for steam vents). Sprinkle the turnovers with the confectioner’s sugar and bake them on the unheated side of your BBQ for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are puffed and golden.  

Remove the baking sheet from the BBQ and sprinkle the turnovers with more confectioner’s sugar and serve them warm, with ice cream if you wish. Wait 10 minutes before eating, as the fruit filling can be dangerously hot.

Smoked Apples Over Ice Cream (275x183)

Smoked Apples Over Ice Cream

Dave DeWitt Leave a Comment

While you’ve got the smoker going, why not throw on dessert after the main course?  Apples smoke in 45-90 minutes.  They should be ready just about the time dinner has settled and guests are ready for the final round.

Ingredients

6 large tart apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
¼ cup sugar
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon
6 cups vanilla ice cream
6 wooden skewers

Instructions

Soak the skewers in water for 30 minutes.  Place the apple slices on the skewers and smoke for 45-60 minutes. I cold smoke them but you could hot smoke them for 30-45 minutes instead if you want the apples to be cooked.

Remove, then mix with the remaining ingredients (except for the ice cream).  Spoon the apple mixture over the vanilla ice cream scoops.

Shir Birinj (Rice Pudding)

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This is a favorite desert, using the ever-present rice. The vanilla essence is sometimes omitted in villages where it may not be available.

Ingredients

2 cups cooked rice
1 1/4 cups milk
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 Tablespoon butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup raisins
chopped pistachios for garnish

Instructions

Combine all ingredients except the pistachios and place in a greased baking dish.

Bake in a 300 degree F. oven for about 45 minutes until done. Garnish with pistachios and serve.

Chocolate-Orange Shells

Chocolate-Orange Shells

Dave DeWitt Leave a Comment

Next up, a very summery dessert that’s great for hot days when you want to cool down, but want a bit of a “Wow” factor for the guests you’re serving. You could also make this with orange, lemon or lime sherbet (or a combination).

Ingredients

4 large California oranges3 cups brown sugar
1 cup water
2 cups granulated sugar
4 egg whites
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
Chocolate ice cream
8” x 12” wooden board, 1/2” thick
Heavy duty aluminum foil

Cocoa powder (optional garnish)

Instructions

Fire up your barbecue to its highest temperature, 600-700 degrees F is best. Cover the wooden board with two layers of aluminum foil and set aside. Cut the oranges in half, horizontally, and then remove the juice and pulp and place the shells in a medium saucepan of simmering water for 5 minutes. Remove the orange shells and drain thoroughly.

In a large saucepan, pour 3 cups of brown sugar into 1 cup of boiling water. Bring the sugar water to a rolling boil, then turn to low and add the orange halves. Simmer them for about 30 minutes, turning each half over several times.

Using tongs, remove the shells from the syrup and cool them cut side down on aluminum foil or on waxed paper. Sprinkle granulated sugar over the shells while they cool. With a hand mixer whip the egg whites until they form stiff peaks, adding cream of tartar and confectioner’s sugar as you whip the egg whites.  

Fill the orange shells with chocolate ice cream (or your other favorite flavor) and cover with the meringue. Place the shells on the aluminum-covered board and place it in the center of the hot barbecue. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the meringue is just starting to brown. Remove the board from heat and serve immediately.

For garnish you may sprinkle the top of the meringue with cocoa powder.

Creamy Cheesecake with Pomegranate Topping

Creamy Cheesecake with Pomegranate Topping

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Cool the heat from your chile-spiked dish with a slice of this rich cheesecake. Fresh pomegranates in the topping make this a beautiful, unforgettable dessert. Recipe courtesy of Pomegranates.org, where you’ll find many more recipes featuring pomegranates.

Ingredients

Crust: 1 cup graham cracker crumbs (about 9, 5 X 2.5 crackers)
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened


Filling:

2 8-ounce containers whipped cream cheese
3 large eggs
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons Grand Marnier
1/2 teaspoon finely grated fresh orange zest

Topping:

Seeds from 2 pomegranates
1/4 cup water
1/3 cup pomegranate juice
1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
2 tablespoons sugar

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. In a 9-1/2 inch springform pan, place crust ingredients and with fingers, blend well. Press mixture evenly over bottom and 3/4 inch up side of pan.

In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat filling ingredients on high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Pour filling into crust and bake in middle of oven 20 minutes, or until cheesecake is just set in center. (Cake will continue to set as it cools.) Transfer cake in pan to a rack and cool, about 3 hours.

Place juice in a 1-cup liquid measure and add water. Sprinkle gelatin over pomegranate juice and let stand 1 minute to soften gelatin. Remove the seeds from the pomegranates.

Transfer gelatin mixture to a small saucepan. Add sugar and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Pour mixture into a bowl and set bowl in a larger bowl of ice and cold water, stirring mixture gently until it is cold and slightly thickened but not set. Stir in pomegranate seeds and spoon topping onto chilled cheesecake. Chill cake until topping is set, about 1 hour. Remove side of pan and serve chilled.

Heat scale: mild