Apple crunch!

This little filo pastry parcel is some thing I make when I want a small, but not overly sweet dessert. The apples and golden raisins (currants or sultanas work also) are poached in honey and spice for a few minutes. 

For four rolls :

2 apples (I like to use a Granny Smith - an acidic apple but any will work)

80 g/ 1/2 cup of golden raisins - soaked  for a few hours in a 4 tablespoons of Calvados, brandy or fruit juice (or as I do a mix. Also you can use any dried fruits of choice - fig is good also)

1 tablespoon of honey + 1 tablespoon of butter

1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves

4 sheets of filo

4 teaspoons of brown sugar (more if wanted)

extra olive oil or butter to cover the filo pastry

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Peel, core and cut the apples (1/4 the apples and cut into six). I soak the fruit for a few hours if I have time, so it is soft. Put the tablespoon honey and another of butter with any soaking liquid, 3 tablespoons worth (or water) in a small pan and mix in the apples, the soaked fruits and spices (experiment with these as lots of other spices work also:  ginger, fennel seed, cardamom seeds etc.). Put on a low heat (you could flame the alcohol off, but be careful of the flames jumping up!).  Cook this for about 3 minutes just to infuse and stop the apples oxidising. Put this to one side to cool, but I like to keep turning the fruit to take on the spice taste. 

The filo must be kept covered to stop it drying. Take one sheet and 'paint' it with melted butter or as I like to use olive oil, place the cooled fruit (1/4 of the mix) at on end in the middle. Sprinkle a teaspoon of brown sugar over the whole sheet evenly and fold a third over (as below) and the other side the same way. 

 Paint a little more butter or oil and roll up firmly as below.

Bake for about 12 -14 minutes in an oven of 180° c  /  350° f  until it is golden the butter will colour quicker so keep watching!!  I like to serve them warm.  If you want a bigger dessert, they go very well with ice cream or an apple sorbet... 

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I was so happy to see the first tree in blossom this week, when I was in the city of Caen, Thursday afternoon.  I am smiling every year when I see the first tree exploding with flowers... as my spring is here (almost!!)

Cooking to, amongst other songs ...
 'Landscape with figure (1922)' by Max Richter from the Memoryhouse album.