PRETTY KNIFE RECIPES

Steps:

• Make dough: in a large bowl, whisk to combine flour, baking powder, and salt. In a medium bowl or measuring cup, combine vegetable oil or schmaltz with warm water, egg, and white vinegar. Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour liquid ingredients into the center. Stir to combine until a ball of dough forms. Transfer dough to a clean work surface and knead to ensure all flour is evenly incorporated, 1 to 2 minutes.  Return dough to bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rest for 30 minutes to 1 hour at room temperature. (Refrigerate dough if not using within the hour. Dough can be left in the fridge up to 3 days, bring up to room temperature before using.) Caramelize onions: In a large skillet over medium heat, combine butter or schmaltz and olive oil. When butter has melted, add onion and thyme if using. Season with salt and pepper and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are caramelized and golden, 45 to 50 minutes.  Steam potatoes: Fill a large pot with 1" of water and place a steamer basket inside. Bring water to a boil, then add potatoes and cover with a lid. Cook until potatoes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. (We like to insert a paring knife into the thickest part of a piece of potato. If the potato slides off when the knife is lifted, they're good to go!) Carefully remove steamer basket and drain water from pot. Transfer potatoes to pot, add sour cream and season with salt. Mash until mostly smooth (some lumps are OK!) and taste for seasoning.  When onions are done, remove thyme stems if used, then transfer onions to bowl with potatoes and stir to combine. Taste for seasoning and add more salt and/or pepper if needed. Assemble knish: line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat oven to 375°. Split dough in half, placing one half back under plastic wrap. (It’s normal for some oil to sweat out of the dough while it’s resting. Knead it a couple times in the bowl to reincorporate oil if needed.) Using your hands, shape dough into a rectangle, then roll out into a large rectangle that is about 1/8” thick and between 12” and 15” on the long side. (This dough is very forgiving and doesn’t easily stick to surfaces, so don’t worry about being too rough with it!) Transfer half your potato mixture to the dough, and create a 2” wide log parallel to the 12”-15” edge of dough closest to you, 1”-2” from the bottom edge. Lift the 1”-2” of excess dough over the potato mixture, then carefully roll potato mixture away from you until you reach the other end of the dough, like rolling a cigarette. Arrange so the seam is on the bottom, and adjust roll if needed so that potato filling is evenly distributed. Trim ends of dough so it is even with the potato filling. Using the dull side of a dinner knife, make light indentations every 2”-2 ½” so that your cylinder is divided into 6 equally sized pieces. Use the sharp side of your dinner knife to cut through each knish. To shape your knishes: to make the bottom, use your finger to gently press the filling inward, then stretch the dough over the filling and pinch to seal. Flip the knish over so that the bottom is touching a clean work surface. For the top, use your thumbs and pointer fingers to press the cut dough in towards the center, so there is a slight indent and some filling showing. Repeat with remaining knishes, then repeat entire process with second piece of dough. Place knishes on prepared baking sheet and brush with egg and water mixture. Bake, turning pan halfway through, until golden, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool at least half an hour before serving. Steam potatoes: Fill a large pot with 1" of water and place a steamer basket inside. Bring water to a boil, then add potatoes and cover with a lid. Cook until potatoes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. (We like to insert a paring knife into the thickest part of a piece of potato. If the potato slides off when the knife is lifted, they're good to go!) Carefully remove steamer basket and drain water from pot. Transfer potatoes to pot, add butter and season with salt. Mash until mostly smooth (some lumps are OK!) and taste for seasoning. Heat vegetable oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add coriander and cumin seeds and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Next, add peas, chaat masala, and turmeric. Cook until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute more, then add mixture to pot with mashed potatoes and stir to incorporate. Fold in cilantro. Assemble knish: line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat oven to 375°. Split dough in half, placing one half back under plastic wrap. (It’s normal for some oil to sweat out of the dough while it’s resting. Knead it a couple times in the bowl to reincorporate oil if needed.) Using your hands, shape dough into a rectangle, then roll out into a large rectangle that is about 1/8” thick and between 12” and 15” on the long side. (This dough is very forgiving and doesn’t easily stick to surfaces, so don’t worry about being too rough with it!) Transfer half your potato mixture to the dough, and create a 2” wide log parallel to the 12”-15” edge of dough closest to you, 1”-2” from the bottom edge. Lift the 1”-2” of excess dough over the potato mixture, then carefully roll potato mixture away from you until you reach the other end of the dough, like rolling a cigarette. Arrange so the seam is on the bottom, and adjust roll if needed so that potato filling is evenly distributed. Trim ends of dough so it is even with the potato filling. Using the dull side of a dinner knife, make light indentations every 2”-2 ½” so that your cylinder is divided into 6 equally sized pieces. Use the sharp side of your dinner knife to cut through each knish. To shape your knishes: to make the bottom, use your finger to gently press the filling inward, then stretch the dough over the filling and pinch to seal. Flip the knish over so that the bottom is touching a clean work surface. For the top, use your thumbs and pointer fingers to press the cut dough in towards the center, so there is a slight indent and some filling showing. Repeat with remaining knishes, then repeat entire process with second piece of dough. Place knishes on prepared baking sheet and brush with egg and water mixture. Bake, turning pan halfway through, until golden, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool at least half an hour before serving. Steam potatoes: Fill a large pot with 1" of water and place a steamer basket inside. Bring water to a boil, then add potatoes and cover with a lid. Cook until potatoes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. (We like to insert a paring knife into the thickest part of a piece of potato. If the potato slides off when the knife is lifted, they're good to go!) Carefully remove steamer basket and drain water from pot. Transfer potatoes to pot, add sour cream and season with salt. Mash until mostly smooth (some lumps are OK!) and taste for seasoning. Using a clean kitchen towel, squeeze all excess moisture out of spinach, then transfer to pot with potatoes. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add green onions and cook until softened and translucent, 2 to 4 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes if using, and season with salt and pepper. Cook until fragrant, 1 minute more, then transfer mixture to bowl with potatoes. Add dill and lemon zest to bowl with potatoes and stir until all ingredients are evenly mixed. Gently fold in cubed feta and season to taste with salt and pepper if needed. Carefully pour sesame seeds onto a small shallow plate. Assemble knish: line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat oven to 375°. Split dough in half, placing one half back under plastic wrap. (It’s normal for some oil to sweat out of the dough while it’s resting. Knead it a couple times in the bowl to reincorporate oil if needed.) Using your hands, shape dough into a rectangle, then roll out into a large rectangle that is about 1/8” thick and between 12” and 15” on the long side. (This dough is very forgiving and doesn’t easily stick to surfaces, so don’t worry about being too rough with it!) Transfer half your potato mixture to the dough, and create a 2” wide log parallel to the 12”-15” edge of dough closest to you, 1”-2” from the bottom edge. Lift the 1”-2” of excess dough over the potato mixture, then carefully roll potato mixture away from you until you reach the other end of the dough, like rolling a cigarette. Arrange so the seam is on the bottom, and adjust roll if needed so that potato filling is evenly distributed. Trim ends of dough so it is even with the potato filling. Using the dull side of a dinner knife, make light indentations every 2”-2 ½” so that your cylinder is divided into 6 equally sized pieces. Use the sharp side of your dinner knife to cut through each knish. To shape your knishes: to make the bottom, use your finger to gently press the filling inward, then stretch the dough over the filling and pinch to seal. Flip the knish over so that the bottom is touching a clean work surface. For the top, use your thumbs and pointer fingers to press the cut dough in towards the center, so there is a slight indent and some filling showing. Repeat with remaining knishes, then repeat entire process with second piece of dough. Dip the bottoms of each knish into sesame seeds, then place on prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops with egg and water mixture and sprinkle with remaining sesame seeds. Bake, turning pan halfway through, until golden, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool at least half an hour before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350.
• Spray a 8” cake pan with non stick spray and line with a round of parchment paper.
• Make the Apple Topping:.
• Peel, core and cut it into quarters. Slice each quarter into very thin (1/16”) slices. Melt the butter in the microwave. In a bowl, toss the butter, brown sugar and apples together. Spread the apple mixture into a thin layer in the bottom of the prepared cake pan and bake in the oven for 10 minutes; The sugar and butter should be melted and the apples should start to soften. There may be a little liquid that has seeped out of the apples, that is fine.
• Let the pan cool while you make the cake.
• Make the Spice Cake:.
• Put the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices in a medium bowl and whisk until blended together. In a large mixing bowl whisk the oil and sugar together, it’s actually easier to do this by hand than with an electric mixer. If you really like the mixer, use it. Add both of the eggs and whisk until smooth, you don’t have to spend a lot of time on this, just whisk it together. Add the buttermilk and vanilla and whisk until incorporated. Add the dry ingredients in two installments, whisking until blended.
• Carefully pour the batter over the apple layer. If you dump it on top, you run the risk of displacing the apples and ruining the pretty apple design! (it will still taste good).
• Return the pan to the oven and bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes until the center of the cake is fully cooked. Once the cake has cooled for 20 minutes, flip it out of the cake pan and onto a cooling rack. Remove the parchment. Let cool fully while you make the frosting.
• Make the Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting:.
• Find a pot that will fit the bottom of the bowl of a KitchenAid, fill it with three inches of water and bring to a simmer. Place the egg whites and the sugar in the mixer bowl and place over the simmering pot of water. Stir the mixture until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is warm, about 4 minutes.
• Place the bowl on the mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on medium high until cool (about 8 to 10 minutes). Cut the butter into 1 inch cubes and gradually add to the mixer. Mix until the butter has incorporated and the frosting is light and fluffy (about 5 minutes). Add the salt, vanilla and cinnamon and whisk until combined.
• Assemble the PieCaken:.
• It is easier to assemble the PieCaken if the pies are chilled.
• With a small knife, cut the outer crust off the pies, leaving only the filling and the bottom crust. With a serrated knife, cut off what was the top of the cake, which is now on the bottom. Do this by cutting straight through the cake horizontally about a half inch up the side of the cake. Reserve the scraps for snacking.
• On an 8 inch cake board or serving plate, place the pecan pie. Spread a ½ inch layer of frosting over the top of the pie. Place the pumpkin pie on top and spread a ½ inch of frosting on top. Place the cake, apple side up, on top of the frosting. With a serrated knife, trim the sides of the cake to be flush with the pies.
• Eat the scraps.
• Using an offset spatula, spread a ½ inch layer of frosting around the cake, covering the sides. Using a piping bag with whatever tip you want, pipe a pretty border around the top of the cake. I like to leave the top of the cake unfrosted so you can see the apples.
• Refrigerate the PieCaken for at least an hour or tightly wrapped for up to 5 days.
• Let sit at room temperature for an hour before serving so the buttercream softens.
• Cut the PieCaken into 8 to 12 slices using a sharp knife dipped in hot water.
• Serve with whipped cream or ice cream!