Linda's Little Pastries

Our friend Linda is the most fabulous cook! She makes everything look so easy. While we were staying at her house recently (Feb. 2011), she made these little pastries. I snapped some photos while she made them so I will remember to make some of my own.


She told me you can use any kind of canned pie filling, for the centers. 

In this instance, she found some canned strawberry pie filling.  These are so yummy!  I can hardly wait to make some for Gene.  She said she usually uses a little egg white to "sew" the pastry together but didn't this time so they baked open.

Just use some phyllo dough, roll it out, and cut with a round glass. Add filling to the center and fold over and bake.  I think she heated the oven to 350 degrees. She never uses a timer so I'm guessing these baked about 15 minutes. I'll update this recipe once I try them myself.

Thank you, Linda & Mike, for being the most gracious friends and hosts for us weary road travelers.  We love you!

Cheese Hearts

I love my little heart cookie cutters. My favorite use is for making heart shaped cheese slices. 

You should try it!

Fudgy Cocoa Brownies

Fudgy Cocoa Brownies

1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter or marg.
1/2 cup Cocoa
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Gently mix all the above together but don't overmix.

Spread into an 8" x 8" pan sprayed with Pam. Bake at 350 degrees 20 to 25 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.


HOME-MADE ICING:  1 cup powdered sugar. Add milk a couple of tablespoons at a time until consistency you desire. Pour over cooled brownies and let icing stand. I like it really thick so my brownies are on the verge of being fudge!  Make sure you have ice cold milk in the fridge to wash these down.

Note: I prefer to make anything from scratch. There are so many things that are easy to make from scratch instead of opening a box and not knowing what they're putting in our packaged food these days.  Hope you'll try these brownies!

Mixture is thick.

Remember, these are "fudgy" brownies. Mixture will be thick.