Recipe: Croustade with apples and prunes in Armagnac

Total time: 1 hour, 30 minutes, plus overnight soaking time for the prunes

Servings: 8 to 10

Note: Adapted from “The Cooking of Southwest France� by Paula Wolfert. Use filo sheets measuring 13 by 18 inches; measurements should be stated on the box.

2 chamomile tea bags

25 pitted prunes

3/4 cup plus 2/3 cup sugar, divided

2/3 cup plus 2 teaspoons Armagnac, divided

2 pounds Granny Smith or Pippin apples, peeled, cored and thickly sliced

2 strips orange zest

1 moist, plump vanilla bean, split

1/3 cup butter, melted

11 or 12 sheets of filo dough

Powdered sugar for garnish

1. Brew 2 cups of chamomile tea. Put the prunes in a small heat-proof bowl, pour the tea over, and let them soak for about 2 hours, until soft.

2. Drain the prunes, dry them with paper towels, and place them in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, combine one-half cup of the sugar with one-fourth cup water. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Boil undisturbed for 2 minutes, then cool slightly. Pour the syrup over the prunes, then add two-thirds cup Armagnac to cover. Stir to combine, and push the prunes down so they’re submerged. (Add a little more Armagnac, if necessary.) Let the prunes soak, unrefrigerated, overnight.

3. Place the apples in a large saucepan, add two-thirds cup sugar and the orange zest. Use the tip of a small knife to scrape the seeds of the vanilla bean onto the apples, then drop in the pod. Stir carefully to combine. Cover and cook over low heat until the apples are soft (but not mushy), about 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool.

4. Drain the prunes, reserving the liquid. Cut them into quarters, place in a bowl and pour one-fourth cup of the liquid over them.

5. Mix 2 tablespoons of the melted butter with 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 tablespoon of the remaining Armagnac-prune syrup and 2 teaspoons Armagnac. Set aside.

6. Two to 3 hours before serving, place a baking sheet on the lowest oven rack and heat the oven to 400 degrees. Lightly brush a 13- to 15-inch round pan (such as a pizza pan) with 1 tablespoon of melted butter.

7. Unroll the sheets of filo in front of you and cover with a damp towel. Working quickly so the pastry doesn’t dry out, brush the top leaf lightly with melted butter. Fold it in half lengthwise, and brush each side lightly with butter. Place one short end of the folded sheet in the center of the pan, letting the sheet hang over the side of the pan. Repeat with the remaining leaves, arranging them so that they look like the spokes of a wheel (with the inner ends stacked in a hub and the outer ends barely touching).

8. Very lightly sprinkle some of the butter-Armagnac mixture over the dough that extends over the edge of the pan. Place the prunes in a 6 1/2 -inch circle in the center of the pastry. Drain the apples, remove the vanilla pod and orange zest and place the apples on top of the prunes.

9. To enclose the filling, start with the last sheet placed on the pan. Lift up the outer end and bring it toward the center, twisting the piece once so that the underside faces you. Roll up the end of the strip loosely to form a cup-shaped “rose� and set it flat on the filling, pressing lightly so it adheres. Repeat with the remaining leaves, placing the flowers close together to cover the top of the cake. (Don’t worry if a little filling shows through.) Sprinkle the top very lightly with the remaining butter-Armagnac mixture, drizzle with the remaining butter and dust with 1 tablespoon sugar.

10. Place the pan in the oven on the hot baking sheet and bake for 12 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 20 to 25 minutes longer, or until the croustade is golden and crisp. Slide it onto a wire rack. Sprinkle the final 2 tablespoons of sugar over the top and let it cool to lukewarm. Just before serving, dust it with powdered sugar. Serve the same day it is made.

Each of 10 servings: 358 calories; 2 grams protein; 65 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams fiber; 7 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 16 mg. cholesterol; 112 mg. sodium.