Tomorrow is New Years Eve!
A special time for all to ring in the new year. I'm off to do some girly stuff today like get a mani/pedi, and some light shopping. Celebration time! Some sparkly is in order don't you think?
But before I go I wanted to show you these wonderful appetizers. A friend of mine brought these to a function at work and I decided to try my hand and make my version of Spinach and Feta Mini Turnovers.
The Greek flavors inside a nicely browned and flaky pie dough is just the right combination for a small appetizer to serve anytime...but especially on new years eve. What a great New Year's Eve appetizer!!
I bought this handy turnover mold (filled pastry press) at Williams-Sonoma a couple of weeks ago and was so eager to try it out. It's really easy to use and it gives me a reason to make all types of appetizers or desserts using this gadget, where as I might now want to fuss with otherwise. How does apple, pear, and raisin turnovers sounds? How about mushroom turnovers? Limitless variations await you! Here is the item I used, and you can find it here.
It made making the appetizers really easy, and you can imagine the endless variations you could come up with. A simple ready made pie dough is all you need. If you wants puff pastry works really well as well.
Using a store bought dough I made about 10 appetizers with the 2 rolls. Perfect for a small intimate party or a piece of a larger arrange of appetizers.
If you don't want to purchase the mold then you can make these the old fashioned way by cutting squares, adding the filling, and then creating triangles to enclose the filling. Works as well, but is a little more work and effort than this mold.
So while I'm out doing my pampering, take a look at this recipe and try these delicious bites!
Happy New Year's Eve!
Spinach and Feta Mini Turnovers
Serves 10
Ingredients:
1 package of ready- made pie crust (2 crusts)
1 pkg. (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
½ tsp onion powder
¼ tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1 egg beaten for an egg wash
DIRECTIONS:
Heat the oven to 400°F.
Drain thawed spinach really well getting out all water. Place in a medium bowl. Add cheese, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper. Stir to combine.
Unroll the pie crust lightly floured surface. Place over the bottom of a floured pastry mold, and gently press down dough in triangles to mold. Brush edges of the triangles with an egg wash. Place about 1 tablespoon spinach mixture in the center of each triangle mold.
Unroll the other pie crust on the floured surface. Place the pie crust over the top of the filling. Take the top pastry mold and place upside down over the pastries. Press down tightly to score the dough and assist with sealing the dough. Take off the top mold. Turn the bottom mold over to release the pastries.
Using a knife or pastry cuter trim each pastry along the edges using the scoring as a guideline. Remove any excess pie crust dough. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Brush the tops with an egg wash.
Bake for 15 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown. Remove the pastries from the baking sheet and let cool on wire racks for 10 minutes.
Unroll the pie crust lightly floured surface. Place over the bottom of a floured pastry mold, and gently press down dough in triangles to mold. Brush edges of the triangles with an egg wash. Place about 1 tablespoon spinach mixture in the center of each triangle mold.
Unroll the other pie crust on the floured surface. Place the pie crust over the top of the filling. Take the top pastry mold and place upside down over the pastries. Press down tightly to score the dough and assist with sealing the dough. Take off the top mold. Turn the bottom mold over to release the pastries.
Using a knife or pastry cuter trim each pastry along the edges using the scoring as a guideline. Remove any excess pie crust dough. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Brush the tops with an egg wash.
Bake for 15 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown. Remove the pastries from the baking sheet and let cool on wire racks for 10 minutes.
