Prize Winning Festive Phyllo Tarts Recipes

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit/200 degrees Celsius.
• Brush one of the phyllo sheets lightly with melted butter and place, butter side-up, in a 9-inch/25-centimeter round tart pan. Press the pastry into the corners and then brush another sheet of phyllo in the same way, pressing it into the pan at a 45-degree angle to the first sheet. Continue twice more (using 4 sheets total), covering the base and sides of the pan with a uniformly thick layer of phyllo. Trim the overhanging pastry, but not completely, leaving 1/2-inch/1 centimeter of phyllo over the edges of the tart. Set both the pan and pastry scraps aside.
• Take another sheet of phyllo (unbuttered this time) and position the long side in front of you. Fold the bottom edge up to form a fold 1 inch/3 centimeters wide. Continue folding the pastry in alternating directions (as if you were making a concertina fan) until you end up with 1 long pleated strip. Repeat with the remaining sheets of pastry in the same way. (If the pastry breaks or tears, pat it back into place and continue as if the torn pieces were still connected.)
• Starting from the middle of the tart tin, coil 1 folded strip from the middle outwards to start forming a rough snail, spreading the strips roughly 1/4 inch/1/2 to 1 centimeter apart. (You want visible gaps between the phyllo strips, so you can fill them with chunks of feta and the custard.) Meet the end of the pastry with the second strip and continue the snail in the same way until the 4 sheets have been used. You may still have some space around the edge, which you can fill with the scrap trimmings, folding them in the same way as best you can.
• Brush the pastry carefully with remaining butter and set any pastry coils upright if they've fallen over. Place tart pan on a baking sheet and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until the pastry is a dark golden brown. Remove from oven and set aside to cool for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix feta, pecorino and herbs until blended and set aside.
• In a separate medium bowl, whisk together eggs, cream and milk with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper.
• Gently press cheese and herbs in between the gaps of the phyllo pastry, being careful not to break the pastry base. Pour the custard over evenly, drizzling in just a little at a time and allowing it to soak evenly into all the gaps in the pastry. Bake for 25 to 28 minutes, until the custard has set and the cheese has browned. Remove from the oven and serve warm, cut into slices.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. On a work surface,stack the phyllo sheets and cut out four 7-inch squares (12 total), discarding the scraps. Stack the squares between 2 sheets of wax paper and cover with a kitchen towel.
• Spray the countertop and 4 individual ring molds with nonstick cooking spray. Lay a square of phyllo on the counter and sprinkle with some of the 2 teaspoons of sugar; lay a second square on top, brush with the melted butter, and sprinkle with sugar. Cover with a third layer and sprinkle with sugar.
• Work the phyllo into the ring mold as you would a handkerchief into a pocket, letting the edges overhang. Repeat with the remaining phyllo. Place the molds on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Carefully transfer the phyllo shells to a rack.
• Combine the apples, lemon juice, and apple juice and set aside. In a nonstick skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon sugar and caramelize for 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the heat, add the Cognac, and stir with a wooden spoon. Return the pan to the heat, add the spices and apple mixture, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender, about 5 minutes.
• Divide the apples among the shells and sprinkle with crystallized ginger.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In large bowl cream mayonnaise and cream cheese until smooth.
• Add remaining ingredients except shrimp.
• When well mixed add shrimp and mix together.
• Drop by scant tablespoonfuls into phyllo shells.
• Bake for 10 minutes or until heated through.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, cheddar cheese and wine or milk.
• Stir in the shrimp, onion powder, salt and thyme.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to blend.
• Spoon filling by heaping teaspoonfuls into tart shells. Place on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 8-12 minutes or until shells are lightly browned.
• Serve warm, refrigerate leftovers.

Steps:

• In paper towel lined sieve, drain the yogurt for 2 hours.
• Heat oven to 350°F and coat 8 x 11-inch tart pan with removable bottom with cooking spray. Press 1 sheet phyllo dough into pan and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of wheat germ; repeat four more times. Each time sprinkle with wheat germ, ruffle the remaining phyllo dough and place around edges of pan coat with cooking spray and sprinkle with remaining wheat germ.
• Bake 10 minutes or until golden brown; cool completely.
• While cooling, in bowl combine yogurt, sour cream, jam, sugar, and zest. Spoon the mixture into the cooled tart shell and top with grapes and blueberries. Dust with powdered sugar.
• OTHER COMBINATIONS FOR THE FILLING: seedless raspberry jam with orange zest and strawberries and kiwifruits, or ginger preserves with orange zest and pineapple and blueberries, or strawberry jam, lime zest with peaches and plums, or orange marmalade with ground cinnamon and cantaloupe and honeydew, or pineapple preserves with five spice powder and raspberries and blackberries, or peach preserves with pumpkin pie spice and mango and strawberries----you can use any of these combo just mix and match--whatever you think is good.

Steps:

• FOR TART SHELL Butter a 10 inch pie plate and each phyllo sheet.
• Place one sheet in pie dish with edges overlapping the plate.
• Place additional layers on top, fanning out into a full circle.
• Bring up the edges and"crinkle.
• "Cover dish with foil and secure with either dry beans or pie weights Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
• Then remove the weight and the foil and bake for 5 more minutes.
• FOR FILLING Saute onions and leeks in butter over medium heat, about 5 minutes.
• Add fresh spinach and cook until wilted.
• Add prosciutto and season with nutmeg, pepper, and salt.
• Cook for about one minute more.
• Remove from heat and let stand.
• In a bowl, beat eggs with additional nutmeg, cream, and half and half.
• In tart shell, spread onion and spinach mixture, sprinkle with cheese, then pour egg mixture over it all.
• Cover loosely with foil and back one hour at 350.
• Allow to cook for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Place tart shells on an ungreased baking sheet and sprinkle cheese into each shell.
• In a mixing bowl, combine remaining ingredients and spoon about a teaspoonful into each tart shell.
• Bake at 375 F for 18-20 minutes or until pastry is browned and serve warm!

Steps:

• Roll up phyllo dough and cut into 1/4-in.-wide strips. Place strips in a large bowl; toss with butter, sugar and orange zest until coated. Divide strips into six portions; shape into nests on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 5-7 minutes or until golden., In a small microwave-safe bowl, heat marmalade until melted. In a large bowl, combine the oranges and berries in a large bowl; drizzle with marmalade and juices. Sprinkle with lemon and lime zest; gently toss to coat. Just before serving, spoon into nests. Garnish with mint if desired.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350. Brush bottom and sides of 11x7 inch glass baking dish with butter. Cut piece of parchment paper to fit in bottom and up 2 ends of baking dish. Place in dish; brush generously with butter.
• Center 1 phyllo sheet in baking dish, forming about 1-inch border up sides of dish, turning over as necessary at ends; brush with butter. Repeat with remaining 5 phyllo sheets. Bake 6-8 minutes or untill sides begin to curl. If puffed in center, prick gently with knife tip; press down gently with back of spoon to deflate.
• Meanwhile beat cream cheese in large bowl at medium speed 1 minute or until fluffy. Beat in sugar 1-2 minutes until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, beating until just combined. Beat in vanilla. Pour into partially baked phyllo lined pan.
• Bake 20 minutes or until filling is set and phyllo is golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove tart, lifting with 2 extended ends of parchment; place on wire rack. Cool 45-50 minutes or until room temperature.
• Cover with strawberries; brush with jelly to glaze. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a small bowl, mix butter and oil. Brush a 15x10x1-in. baking pan with some of the butter mixture. Place 1 sheet of phyllo dough into prepared pan; brush with butter mixture. Layer with 7 additional phyllo sheets, brushing each layer. (Keep remaining phyllo covered with a damp towel to prevent it from drying out.) Bake 5-7 minutes or until golden brown (phyllo will puff up during baking). Cool completely., Finely grate enough zest from lemon to measure 1 tablespoon. Cut lemon crosswise in half; squeeze juice into a bowl. In a large bowl, toss peaches, strawberries, pineapple, brown sugar, salt, and lemon zest and juice. Remove strawberries; thread fruit onto 3 metal or soaked wooden skewers., Place fruit on oiled grill rack. Grill, covered, over medium heat until fruit is tender, turning once, 8-10 minutes for pineapple slices and peaches, 4-5 minutes for strawberries. Remove and set aside., In a small bowl, beat cream until soft peaks form. In another bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Fold in whipped cream. Spread over phyllo crust. Slice grilled fruit; arrange over filling. Sprinkle with mint; cut into pieces.