I have fresh but sad strawberries, frozen phyllo dough and cream cheese

[Viva_La_Revolution]

I'll cook the berries into sauce, and I think I want to make some sort of cream cheese tart or strudelish something..

I've never used phyllo dough before, so it could be an adventure. Any hints or recipes before I take this on?

[kestrel91316]

1. Make a danish-y strudel-y thing, cream cheese (w/ some sugar) down the middle.

Macerate cut up strawberries with sugar. Spread over cream cheese. Fold sides over, bake, cool, drizzle icing over.

I made some cream cheese danish recently with some raspberry jam in one roll and lemon curd in another. Yum. I used the refrigerated crescent roll dough in the can.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. that sounds too easy

just straight cream cheese, mix a little sugar in or sprinkle on? maybe a little vanilla and lemon in the strawberries...

[HappyMe]

3. I would get the cream cheese to room temp.

Whip it with some confectioners sugar & maybe some vanilla.

You could bake the dough first, and make the cream cheese mixture and strawberries into a Napoleon of sorts.

[freshwest]

10. I think you answered my question below here. Bake the phyllo before creating the danish?

[freshwest]

9. Sounds great, but wouldn't the cream cheese make the phyllo fall apart? What am I missing?

[kestrel91316]

14. A little flour mixed in the cream cheese helps it bind I think.

Can't remember if there's an egg, too - don't think so. Can't locate my recipe now.

[The empressof all]

4. Make sure you cover your phyllo while you are working

Also don't skimp on putting butter between the layers. That will insure a flaky crust.

Also make sure you use quite a few layers on the bottom of what ever you are going to build or roll. Phyllo is more fragile when it bakes and you need to have the bottom layer thicker to support the weight of the other layers.

It's fun...It will be good!~

[NRaleighLiberal]

5. You are reminding me that it is time to make a nice Spanikopita...one of our favorite things!

not that it has anything to do with strawberries (sad or otherwise) or cream cheese....but definitely phyllo and butter!

[The empressof all]

6. Or better yet do my version

I layer it with creamed spinach and shredded Swiss Cheese. Certainly not traditional but so yummy and fattening. I only make it once a year.

[NRaleighLiberal]

7. my go-to version is from the Moosewood cookbook - Feta, Ricotta, spinach, eggs, salt, pepper and

oregano. And lots of butter! We don't make it often either (now that I am down 60 lbs, I want to stay there for awhile!)

[freshwest]

8. An eggless quiche? Phyllo, cream cheese, spinach and Swiss? Um, sounds good.

[The empressof all]

13. My spinach pie is more like a lasagna

Layers of Phyllo, Spinach and onions in Bechemel and then a layer of shredded swiss. It's usually 3 or 4 layers deep and I end with the Phyllo so it looks like a "pie". I do it in my deep lasagna pan.

It's always a hit with a crowd but it is full of fat and takes time to make.

[freshwest]

11. Um, what do the Cherokee Purple Tomatoes taste like? Extra sweet?

[NRaleighLiberal]

12. They taste...complete! great balance of sweet and tart, and very, very full flavored.

[Gormy Cuss]

15. IMHO Cherokee purples are the best 'black' tomato variety.

My tomato patch would be incomplete without a few Cherokee plants.

[HopeHoops]

16. Just fake it. It will come out fine.