11/4/08

TWD: Rugelach


Ok so let me tell you about something I really really hate: cream cheese. I hate cream cheese- I really really hate it- and I almost never use the word hate. I reserve it for things like cream cheese. I hate cheesecake, I hate cream cheese based dips, I hate cream cheese frosting on carrot cake (I love the cake part), and I really hate it on bagels (why ruin a perfectly good breakfast?). So this, my friends, is why I have never ever tasted rugelach before last night. I was so prejudiced against these beautiful cookies simply because the dough is made up of flour, butter, and you guessed it: cream cheese. But, I have great news! These cookies do not taste like cream cheese- even the cream cheese lovers in my life couldn't detect it's presence! Imagine all the years I've been missing out on these sweet little babies! The horror, the horror!


This week's Tuesdays with Dorie recipe was selected by Piggy of Piggy's Cooking Journal. Thank you piggy! You have allowed me to become a more accepting and loving individual! I can no longer say that I hate cream cheese (well at least not with the same passion that I used to). Dorie's recipe is very easy- it is a bit time consuming because you have to refrigerate the dough after you make it and then again after you form the cookies- but the effort is well worth results.


I went ahead and used almost the exact filling that Dorie recommends: bittersweet chocolate (I used dark chocolate), apricot jam, pecans, cinnamon sugar, and currants (I used golden raisins). I was a little unsure about combining the tartness of the apricot jam and currants with the sweetness of the cinnamon sugar and the chocolatiness of the chocolate- it seemed like a whole lot of flavors for one cookie- but my worries were unfounded. They turned out delicious! I think that I will expirement with the fillings the next time I make these, only because the chocolate overwhelmed the fruit a bit and completely covered up the cinnamon- so I might make some fruit, some cinnamon and pecan, and some chocolate and ground almond next time- just to be able to taste the flavors on their own. And now let me do a little shout out to my new best baking bud- SILICONE BAKING MAT!! How did I live without you for all of these years? You make baked on sugar and crystallized jam slide off a cookie sheet with a gentle nudge! Go out and buy one right now if you don't already have one!


And I leave you with this: All hail Queen Helen Mae! Baby who now awakens at 4:45 am each morning (thanks to Daylight Savings Time) and wishes to go down for a nap at approximately 6:00am!

15 comments:

Cristine said...

Your rugelach looks great!

I am not a plain cream cheese fan, either. I love cheesecake but can't understand why someone would, as you said, ruin a perfectly good bagel with cream cheese! :)

Melissa said...

Your rugelach looks fantastic! Love the pic of your daughter - very cute.

Wandering Coyote said...

I don't think I've ever met anyone who hates cream cheese! But, we all have our little idiosyncrasies. Your cookies look wonderful; I've never attempted these before, but they look really great!

Jodie said...

What a cute little gal! Hate cream cheese and cheesecake?!! Blasphemous! :)

spike. said...

I'm glad the cream cheese worked out for you!

Anonymous said...

OMG. I've never met anyone who hates cream cheese. I thought it was the universal food that makes anything taste better.

Your rugelach look gorgeous. Yum!

Anonymous said...

Looks very tasty! What a sweet baby.

Rebecca of "Ezra Pound Cake" said...

I just got a silicone baking mat, too! Can't believe I've been missing out on its goodness all this time.

Nancy said...

I'm so happy you broke through your cream cheese barrier to make these...they look fabulous!

Unknown said...

your baby's soooo cute... :)

Emily said...

Aha ha ha! Queen Helen Mae!

I LOVE rugelach! I tried it for the first time, last year, and it is so good.

My mom will make wraps, and she'll spread cream cheese onto the tortillas. *Shudders*

I like butter and peanut butter on my bagels...

Cannelle Et Vanille said...

adorable!!! and the rugelach look delicious!

Rosie said...

Your rugelach looks amazing and I'm so pleased you liked them!

Queen Helen Mae is so cute!! oh gosh 4:45 am wakings each morning poor you!

Rosie x

Adventures in Gluttony said...

*Gasp* What kind of weirdo doesn't like cream cheese?!!! ;-)Your rugelach looks amazing. You're daughter is cute and chubby!! Mine gets up before the sunrises too. Hang in there...just drink lots and lots of coffee. :-)

Leslie said...

Welcome to TWD! Your rugelach look fabulous (but they aren't as sweet as your baby!)