Sunday Supper! It’s a tradition in so many families, including our good friendVicky Akins. When we found outthis week the#SundaySupper theme wasAll Things Orangewe knew this we just had to share Vicky’s family recipe for Hungarian Apricot Walnut Pastries. This recipe has been passed down from generation to generation and is as rich in memories as it is ingredients.
Ingredients:
4 c. & 6 Tbsp of all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking powder
1-2 Tbsp vinegar 1 ¼ lb. butter (5 sticks)
1 c. water 2 egg yolks (reserve whites for walnut filling)
- Mix 4 cups of flour & 3 sticks of butter (Set aside remaining sticks of butter and 6 Tbsp of flour, combined).
- Mix together 2 egg yolks, water, vinegar & baking powder. Combine with 4 c flour mixture. Use a paddle attachment or dough hook if using stand-mixer. Stir until dough forms.
- Roll out dough to approximately ¼ or ½ inch thick (a pastry roller or wooden rolling pin works best) and spread with ½ of butter/flour mixture. In thirds, fold dough inward (you’ll have a layer of dough-butter-dough-butter-dough etc.) Refrigerate for at least 3-4 hrs. Repeat this step.
- *This step can be repeated as often as you’d like. I’ve done it as many as 4 times but you’ll need to add another stick of butter & 3 Tbsp of flour for each time beyond the two listed in this recipe.
- Roll out finished dough to 1/8-1/4 inch thickness. Cut into squares approximately 3 in. x 3 in.
- In thecenter of square, place 1-1 ½ tsp. of apricot or walnut filling. Do not overfill as the preserves expand when baked.(For variety, I’ve also used pecan, raspberry, and other fruit fillings.) Either fruit preserves can be used, or tubes of fruit fillings are usually available at most cake/candy decorating supply stores & online) Walnut filling recipe is listed below.
- Pinch two opposing corners together (with fingers slightly moistened with water) and seal together.
- Bake in 325-degree oven for 15-18 minutes. You do NOT want them to brown. They should raise and become flaky. The pastry will have a dry appearance. Cool on awire rack. When completely cooled, sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Walnut filling
2 c. finely chopped walnuts 2 egg whites
Cinnamon/Sugar mixture to taste. Milk
Combine ingredients, sweetening to taste. Add a few teaspoons of milk if mixture is dry
THE STORY: When I was younger, Christmas seemed three months long. Shortly before Thanksgiving, we’d begin looking forward to the arrival of the one thing that signaled the beginning of the holiday season. It wasn’t the lights, or the music & decorations; no, not back then. Way back before home computers, the Internet, overstocked stores or crazy Black Friday shoppers there were two books that every kid in my neighborhood waited forThe Sears Wish Book and the JCPenney’s catalog.
When it arrived, my brother and I would fight until blood was spilled, to see who got first dibs with a marker at this bringer of the magical toys we discovered within its cover. Page after page revealed something wonderful that we’d ‘ooh & ahh’ over as we carefully circled the objects we desired. (I should’ve been as smart as my grandson who saves time by circling an entire page in the ads.)
Once that book arrived, the trips to the stores began. My mother was a woman on a mission with my brother and me in tow while she steered with remarkable agility through crowds of shoppers. Yes, it was madness, but it was civil madness. There was no pushing, shoving or pepper spray; no waiting in long lines for deals. People shopped and chatted and hugged and wished each other Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah. Sales clerks were friendly and helpful, and everyone you met just had a special sparkle about them. It was truly a magical time that focused on family and treating others the way you would want to be treated. It really felt like a season of miracles.
Thinking back to all the Christmas celebrations growing up, I can’t tell you one gift I received; not because I didn’t get any but because the things I DO remember are far more important. We went to my Hungarian grandparents’ house every Christmas eve, where a troupe from their church would show up, in full costume & act out, in Hungarian, a portion of the Christmas story. It was fascinating and always followed by a visit from the big guy in a red suit bearing presents.
What stands out most from the past are the food and the festivities surrounding it. The table was always filled with typical American food as well as specialties from their native Hungary. Poppy seed potatoes were present to bring luck for the coming New Year. Cookies, cakes, and sweets of all kinds filled the kitchen counters. But the most popular of all were the delicate, flaky apricot or walnut pastries that Grandma only made a few times a year. A labor of love, their preparation was best stretched out for at least two days. A velvety dough is coated with a mixture of flour & butter, and then re-rolled to let the two blend in the refrigerator. Only when the two have merged, is the dough again rolled out and the process repeated. The more often this is donethe flakier the pastry. My Grandma did it with perfect precision, just as her mother had taught her in the Old country.
When I was a teenager, I asked to be taught the recipe. I was shocked to learn that she used no standard measurements for anything, as everything was “a pinch of this” or a “handful of that”, so I had to estimate the amount of the ingredients. But I watched in awe as she carefully explained every step, including the smallest of details. It is a memory I’ll never forget, because most days, she and I had little in common and therefore weren’t very close. But on that day, a love for cooking & the continuation of traditions passed on through generations brought us together for a common goal. To this day, a Christmas does not pass without the apricot pastries being made in my kitchen, where I’m sure my Grandma’s spirit is watching me as I’ve begun teaching MY granddaughter to make them. So much better than toys or gifts under the tree; these are the important memories of the Holidays; the love passed down from generation to generation.
Please check out all the delicious recipes on the blogs below created just for this week’s #SundaySupper Theme!
Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner and Dessert, they’ve got you covered!
Sunrise (Breakfast and Brunch)
Paula fromVintage Kitchen Notesis bringing her Orange Ricotta Pancakes
Kris fromIn The Kitchen with Audrey and Maureenis making her Sweet Potato Pancakes
Erin fromDinners Dishes and Dessertsis baking up some Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Heather fromGirlichefis bringing Pumpkin Doughnuts with Spiced Buttermilk Glaze
Nicole fromDaily Dish Recipesis making Pumpkin Donut Puffs
Patti fromComfy Cuisineis bringing Classic Orange Marmalade
Claire fromThe Realisticnu*tritionistis baking up some Spiced Low-Fat Pumpkin Biscuits
Sunithi fromSue’s Nutrition Buzzis making Spice Pumpkin Ricotta Muffins with Craisinsand Walnuts
Wendy fromThe Weekend Gourmet is cooking up some Pumpkin Maple Oatmeal
Jamie fromMama Mommy Momis bringing Butternut Squash Butter
Chelsea fromChelsea’s Culinary Indulgenceis bringing Pumpkin Spiced Donuts with Chai Icing
High Noon(Soups, Salads and Sandwiches)
Renee fromMagnolia Daysis serving up some Butternut Squash Soup
Beate fromGalactopdxis bringing her Carrot Ginger Soup
Jen fromJuanita’s Cocinais making some Sweet Potato Salad
Megan fromI Run For Wineis making Roasted Butternut Squash and ItalianSausageSoup With Adult Grilled Cheese
Sarah fromWhat Smells So Goodis filling our bowls with some Spicy Sweet Potato and Coconut Soup
Alice fromHip Foodie Momis coming with her Roasted Carrot and Quinoa Salad
Susan fromThe Wimpy Vegetarianis making Spiced Sweet Potato Cider Soup
Tora fromTora’s Real Foodis bringing Butternut Squash and Tomato Soup
Melanie fromFrom Fast Food to Fresh Foodis making Monty’s Pumpkin Soup
Lyn fromThe Lovely Pantryis bringing Pumpkin Coconut Soup
Kim fromCravings of a Lunaticis whipping up some Mandarin Chicken Salad
Sunset(Dinner and Main Dishes)
Amber fromMama’s Blissful Bitesis bringing Rice and Fig Stuffed Mini Pumpkins
Sarah fromCrispy Bits & Burnt Endsis offering up some Pumpkin Ravioli in Sage Butter Sauce
Pam fromThe Meltawaysis making some Spooky Stuffed Peppers
Shelia fromPippis In The Kitchen Againis serving her Roasted Squash and Ricotta with Honey
Patsy fromFamfriendsfoodis bringing her Carrot Souffle
Elizabeth fromThe Hand That Rocks The Ladleis making Baked Sweet Potatoes with Maple Pecan Shallot Butter
Laura fromSmall Wallet Big Appetiteis bringing Chicken and Sweet Potato Fritters
Mehereen fromChattering Kitchenis making Sichuan Orange Glazed Chicken with ToastedSesameSeeds
Tammi fromMomma’s Mealsis making Hearty Pork Stew
Kristin fromKwistin’s Favoritesis making Orange Chicken
Soni fromSoni’s Food For Thoughtis cooking up some Rigatoni with Pumpkin Ricotta Sauce
Shelby fromDiabetic Foodieis cooking up some Moroccan Vegetable Stew
Dara fromGeneration Y FoodieisbringingButternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Brandie fromHome Cooking Memoriesis sharing a DIY Baked Sweet Potato Bar
By The Bonfire(Sweets, Snacks and Sips)
Carla fromChocolate Mooseyis making Pumpkin Tiramisu with Pumpkin Butter Caramel Sauce
Heather fromHezzi D’s Books and Cooksis offering up some Pumpkin Cake Truffles
Shelia fromCooking Underwriteris bringing Sweet Potato Bacon Beet Salsa
Anne fromWebicureanis making some Drunken Pumpkin Bread
Karen fromIn The Kitchen With KPis making Oven Baked Sweet Potato Chips
LeslieLa Cocina De Leslieis making Sweet Potato Atole
Seet Fei fromMy Trials in The Kitchenis bringing Sweet Potatoes Mini Balls
Bree fromBree’s Bitesis bringing Peanut Butter Pumpkin Bites
Tara fromNoshing With The Nolandsis bringing Oranges En Suprise
Susan fromThe Girl in The Red Kitchenis making Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Scone with Pumpkin Glaze
Conni fromMrs. Mama Henis making Orange Glazed Poundcake
Isabel fromFamily Foodieis baking up Moist Pumpkin Bread Reisipe
Cindy fromCindy’s Recipes and Writingsis baking up a Vegan Pumpkin Orange Cake
Brenda fromMeal Planning Magicis whipping up some Pumpkin Cream Cheese Fruit Dip
Laura fromFamily Spiceis making some Gluten Free and Unprocessed Pumpkin Bread
Kathya fromBasic and Deliciousis baking up Butternut Squash and Carrot Bread
Liz fromThat Skinny Chick Can Bakeis serving up Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Filling
Stephanie fromThe Cookie A Day Challengeis whipping up some Pumpkin Ice Cream Sandwiches
Katie fromShe Like Ruffles, He Likes Trufflesis bringing Pumpkin Harvest Cookies
Nancy fromGotta Get Bakedis baking up some Orange Macadamia Dark Chocolate Cookies
Angie fromBig Bear’s Wifeis bringing Orange Soda Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes
Katy fromHappy Baking Daysis bringing Carrot Cake with Orange Glaze
Midlife Road Tripis bringingOrange ya glad it’s fall! Hungarian Apricot/Walnut pastries
Please be sure you join us on Twitter at 7:00 pm(Eastern)for the weekly #SundaySupper live chat where we’ll talk about our favorite recipes featuring our favorite fall color.
Simply follow the#SundaySupper hashtag, or you can follow onTweetChat.
Come hungry!