By: TENDER BRANSON in DESSERT, FRUIT, ICE CREAM, INDIAN, PIE on APR. 30, 2012
Anytime I go for Indian food I make it a point to get at least one samosa. I love those things. Stuffed with just the right amount of potato, onion and spice and wrapped in a nice crispy shell, I have yet to meet a samosa I didn’t like.
So I started thinking the other day (as I eyed an outgoing Caribbean woman who was toeing the line a little too closely) why not a samosa sandwich? One samosa to start the meal as an appetizer, one to finish it as dessert. I thought it an excellent idea. The only question that needed answered was what dessert should get the privilege of my samosa sandwich experiment?
I tossed that thought around in my head for a few moments before deciding to go with something that captures the essence of America. The apple pie. The apple pie with oval fruited kishmish (raisins) and cinnamon. That sounded about right.
Apple Pie Samosa
(printable version)
-1 Tbs. flour
-1 Tbs. butter + 1 Tbs butter, melted
-2 granny smith apples- peeled, cored and sliced small
-1/8 cup white sugar
-1/8 cup brown sugar, packed
-1/4 cup water
-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
-dash nutmeg
-1/2 Tbs. vanilla
-4 Tbs. raisins
-20 sheets phyllo dough
-Vanilla Bean Ice Cream (optional)
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. In a cast iron skillet, melt one tablespoon of butter. When the butter is melted, add the tablespoon of flour. Constantly stir to create a roux.
2. Add the water to the roux along with the white and brown sugar. Stir until the sugars, water and roux have all become one.
3. Gently spoon the apples into the mixture. Using a wooden spoon, constantly manipulate the apples until they have been covered by the sugar sauce. Heat for four minutes, stirring constantly.
4. Add the raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Continue to heat and stir for another 2 minutes (or until the apples are soft). Remove the filling from the heat and set aside to cool slightly.
5. Lay out four sheets of phyllo dough and cut in half (lengthwise). Place a spoonful of apple filling at the top of each strip. Fold over to form a triangle (or a square if you just can’t seem to fold phyllo right like me). Brush with melted butter. Fold again and brush with more butter. Place on a baking sheet. Repeat with the other phyllo half. Pull out four more sheets and follow the same steps. Continue to repeat until all the apple mixture and phyllo are gone.
6. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes. You want the phyllo crisp and golden. Top with vanilla ice cream. Remove your cap, warble the star spangled banner then make your momma proud by cleaning your plate.
*I think I’ll try these again using puff pastry to see which shell is better.
While the Star Spangled Banner is America in song form, the stuff that Horse Feathers does isn’t far behind. Blending backwoods banjo country with south side strings and lyrics that discuss turmoil in relationships and the nation as a whole, Horse Feathers does it all from that warm spot to the right of the campfire. “Fit Against the Country” is one of the stand out tracks on the band’s new album, Cynics New Year (out now via Kill Rock Stars).
Horse Feathers-Fit Against the Country (via Consequence of Sound)
Future History is an experimental alternative rock band from Toronto who will be releasing their first full length Loss:/self in the near future. The album explores human relationships, technology, anti-social media and the growth and dominance of false ego over the true self in a concept format. Taking cues from Pink Floyd, Radiohead and psychedelia the album is, as the band puts it, special. It uses 40 different instruments, at least 35 different people lending stomps/vocals/drum circle sounds and an ostracized whale. But none of this matters if the songs don’t go down sweet and rustic like an apple pie. They do. Especially “Surrounded by Faces” (which is being offered as part of a pair of free downloads for the month of April and May).