Pecan and Chocloate Pastries

I know, I know its been ages since i last updated. I finally got around to uploading the pictures on my laptop. Right now, im jamming to some Demi Lovato music so, im in the mood to put pictures up and write about the pecan and chocolate cigars.

I really wanted to try and make these, because i have never really worked with fillo pastry, but after my trusty google searching, i found out the secrets to getting your fillo pastry perfect. I found that you had to cover the pastry sheets with damp tea towels.. that way it stays moist and it doesnt dry out!
Right, lets get to it. Oh.. and by the way, did i not mention how delicious sweet and crispy they tasted?


So first up, I started with my pecan nuts and blended them in my mini food processor, until they were relativley blended and fine.

Cute food processor, huh?

After i had processed the pecans, i just combined them with cinnamon and brown sugar and threw them in a large bowl

then i measured some butter, and some olive oil


then i simply just put both of them into a small saucepan and melted them

then i got my yummy little chocolate chip morsles

i grinded them in a nut grinder, dont grind them in a food processor! you dont want chocolate dust, more like chocolate rubble, some buts chunky some bits tiny like this:

so, i had the butter and olive oil mixture, my pecan nut mixture, and my chocolate mixture.
they all remained seperate in their own bowls. and i got to work with brushing the pastry, filling, folding, filling then rolling! I dont actually have any pictures of me doing this (maybe because i was in a rush because i was scared that the pastry could dry out!)i have only one picture:

Underneath those chocolate chips, is the pecan and cinnamon mixture. after these chocolate chips went on i tucked in the longer sides about 1/2 a centimetre and then i carefully rolled it up so it looked like a pretty cigar

lightly brush over the top with the olive oil mixture so you get a shiny glaze after it's baked, i kind of went over the top with this.. but use in moderation!!

put them in to the oven, for about 15-20 mins and they will turn out like this

Scrumptious!



Perfect Pecan and Chocolate Cigars
- 100g pecan nuts

- 2 tsps ground cinnamon

- 1 tsp brown sugar

- 125g butter

- 1/4 olive oil

- 250g choppped milk/dark chocolate


Method
Preheat oven to 180c degrees
Ground pecan nuts in a mini food processor, and combine with cinnamon and brown sugar. Set aside.
Melt butter and olive oil in a small saucepan over low heat until melted. Set aside.
Chop milk or dark chocolate and place in a small bowl.
Cover fillo pastry with a wet tea towel, to prevent it from drying out. Working with about 3 sheets at a time, cut in half so you are left with a long rectangle. Brush half of the rectangle and place in 2 tsps of pecan mixture. Fold ver, so you have a square. Brush the square with olive oil mixture again, and place 2 tsps of chocolate chips. Roll the vertical longer sides in 1cm and starting from the chocolate end, roll into a cigar shape. Place on lined tray and gaze the tops again, with olive oil mixture. Bake in the oven for about 15-20 mins or until pastry is a pale gold.

EAT.