1.19.2013

Apricot Fold-Ups

My mother-in-law gave me this recipe after I raved over them at Christmas... You can use any kind of jam or preserves, I will eventually be experimenting with different flavors but the apricot ones were sooo good I stuck with the original :) 

Also, some sanding sugar may be yummy sprinkled on top of the glaze... Just an idea. More pictures to come once I get my old digital Casio up and running again (it needs a charge).

Jane's Apricot Fold-Ups
for dough:
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
8 oz cream cheese, barely softened (just enough to cut into dough)
1 cup unsalted butter, chilled
1 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp white vinegar
few drops (seriously!) almond extract

 filling: your choice of preserves (apricot) or spreadable fruit, at least 8 oz.
(I used St. Dalfour's Thick Apricot Spread, 10 oz.)

for glaze:
3/4 cups powdered sugar
approximately 1 Tbsp water



In a large bowl, combine flour and salt with a whisk. Cut in cream cheese and butter with a pastry blender until the dough resembles coarse meal. (*Note: I used a food processor; the pastry blender is the method my mother-in-law uses). Add milk, vinegar, & almond extract and mix until just combined, then turn out dough onto Silpat or floured surface. Work dough with hands until the dough holds together. Cut into four equal balls, then wrap individually in waxed paper. Chill for at least 3 hours.

Preheat oven to 400 deg. F. When dough is chilled, take out one ball at a time and roll into a rectangle on a Silpat or floured surface. Cut into 1 1/2 - 2 inch squares (this is really just personal preference, the bigger the square the more filling each can hold). Drop a tiny amount (1-2 tsp, depending on the size of the squares) of your chosen filling in the center of each square, then pull the corners of the square together in the middle and lightly push down.

Bake on ungreased cookie sheets lined with parchment paper for 15 minutes, or until tops of the fold-ups are golden brown. While waiting for them to bake, place parchment paper under cooling racks and prepare glaze. Once they're done, place fold-ups on cooling racks. Drizzle with glaze while they're still warm! Enjoy :)


We're Back!! (For real this time)

I can't believe it has been a year since my last post... I'm so sorry! After the wedding festivities, I started nursing school and have been going full-speed ever since. That's not to say that I haven't had SOME free time, but... Just wanted to let y'all know that, while I am already back in school for the spring, I need some sort of outlet for "non-school" activities. So I made updating the blog an unofficial New Year's resolution... I haven't broadcast this fact, as I've been trying to feel out what my schedule will be like during school. As of now, I have committed to posting at least once a month, if not more. And... *drumroll*... I have a recipe I will be uploading now! With the weather so cold, I have to bake in my spare time... My mother-in-law made some incredible treats over the holidays, so I will be trying out some recipes she gave me. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did/do/will!!

So, without further ado, we are transitioning our wedding blog into a Johnston family/baking/foodie blog. Thanks for stopping by!