Jack never forgets our wedding anniversary because it's on Valentine's Day. Every year since we were married, I try to come up with red or heart-shaped foods for a Valentine dinner celebration, and here is the perfect appetizer. Lest you think I've forgotten about the important football game this weekend, you can cover this wrapped brie with little footballs of dough instead of hearts.
Cut an 8-ounce round of brie cheese horzontally into two layers. Pat some of the filling between the layers and on the top.
Roll out the dough on a cookie sheet.
Cut a 9-inch circle in the dough, cutting around a cake pan with a pairing knife.
Place filled cheese in center of dough circle.
Wrap cheese with dough.
Pinch top of dough to seal.
Cut hearts in dough scraps to use for decorations.
Place heats on dough-wrapped cheese; brush with beaten egg. Bake; serve warm with heart-shaped (of course!) crackers.
Brie in Pastry with Dried Cherries and Almonds
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Start to Finish: 1 hour
1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
½ cup chopped dried cherries
3 tablespoons apricot preserves
2 tablespoons slivered almonds, coarsely chopped
1 round (8 oz) Brie cheese, about 4 inches in diameter
1 egg, beaten
Crackers
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. Unroll dough onto cookie sheet; pat dough and firmly press perforations to seal. Roll into 10x12-inch rectangle with rolling pin. Cut into 9-inch circle; reserve dough scraps.
2. In small bowl, mix cherries, preserves and almonds
3. Cut cheese horizontally into 2 equal layers. Place bottom half of cheese on center of dough circle. Spread half of cherry mixture (about ¼ cup) over cheese. Top with remaining cheese half. Spoon remaining cherry mixture over top of cheese.
4. Bring dough up over cheese, stretching if necessary to cover top and making pleats to fit. Pinch top of dough seams with fingers to seal securely. Brush dough with beaten egg.
5. Cut small heart shapes from dough scraps with heart-shaped cookie cutters. Apply cutouts, pressing into surface Brush cutouts with egg.
6. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
7. To serve, place warm pastry-wrapped Brie on plate. Arrange crackers around Brie.
12 servings
Tips:
We traced around a 9-inch cake pan to make a perfect 9-inch dough circle.
Dried figs can be substituted for the dried cherries.
