Bear Claws and Berry Wheels and Snyders, Oh My!
Seventeen Snyders is quite a bunch if you’re not well prepared. Our more-or-less annual family reunion was held on the North Coast this week. All four of my siblings and many of their issue (including Brother David’s three charming grandchildren) came to visit. While each of these Snyders is unique, we do have some things in common, one of which—surprise!—is a love of good food. And we were prepared!
The meals included pan fried local Petrale sole with Panzanella; homemade pastrami (thanks again for the recipe, Eric) on excellent sour rye (thanks, David) with a variation on Momma Snyder’s potato salad; Momma Snyder’s braised lamb chops with Papa Snyder’s garlic roasted potatoes; excellent take-out barbecue from a new local joint.
We made bagels together (and David’s six-year-old granddaughter showed her potential as a baker, artfully shaping a Krakowski bagel). And, of course, David and I each provided some other pretty good breads for the whole multi-day festival.
Don’t think that all we did was cook and eat. We also drank. And, with the weather unusually clear and warm, we spent many happy hours exploring the local beaches.
I didn’t get bread or bagel pictures (I think David got some), but I had my camera handy when the breakfast pastries came out Monday morning. I made a double recipe of the cream cheese short dough from ITJB and used it for bear claws and berry wheels (with local Ollalieberry jam).
They were good! Thanks Stan and Norm!
A very sweet time for the Snyder clan.
Glenn
Comments
Sounds like you guys had a great time. My mouth is watering picturing the patrami on rye.
Your bear claws and berry wheels look like they came from a bakery.
Makes me wish I was part of the Snyder clan!
Regards,
Ian
Thanks, Ian.
I got three corned brisket flats, totaling about 22 pounds. The wouldn't all fit on my Weber, so I froze one with the spice rub. It's thawing now; we'll see how it works. The two I smoked last week were superb--eight hours smoking and three hours braising. They made great sandwiches and the leftovers went into pastrami and eggs and pastrami hash.
Thanks for the comment on the photogenic pastries.
Glenn
Can you point me to the post about making your own pastrami? I would love to give it a try. Just smoked a brisket and pork butt last week.
Thanks
Ian
http://www.thefreshloaf.com/node/24258/smoked-pastramia-reason-bake-deli-rye
Glenn
awful nice pastries Glenn. Glad you could all get together for some fine food and drinks.
Glenn
I bet they didn't last long around the family gathering! Hope you have a restful 4th : )
Sylvia
Sylvia--
There was a half bear claw and a berry wheel for each person, with a few berry wheels left over. We also served big bowls of wonderful fresh fruit and many quarts of strong coffee, so everybody was satisfied.
You have a good Fourth also.
Glenn
Glenn,
Please tell us about the Berry Wheels. Did you just roll out the dough and spread Jam on top and then roll them Up? The look very nice (Bear Claws too).
Dwayne
Dwayne--
I basically follow the recipe for Mini-Schneckens in ITJB. Divide the dough ball in half. Roll out to something like 6 x 16 inches. Paint the surface in melted butter. Spread a mix of half jam and half cake crumbs thinly over the surface, leaving about 3/4 inch margin at one long side. Roll tightly. Paint the margin with egg wash to seal. Repeat with second half of dough. I use about 1 cup of jam and 1 cup of cake crumbs for the whole recipe of dough.
Then I cut the logs into 1 inch pieces (using dental floss) and lay them on a parchment lined half sheet pans. Bake at 350 for about 25-30 minutes, until golden. Cool on rack until not quite room temperature and serve to large family with strong coffee.
Any jam will do, but I prefer berry.
Enjoy!
Glenn
Family, food, drink and beaches, what could be better! Thanks for a post that made me smile and feel warm inside :) Gorgeous pastries, too, they look completely professional.
I don't know how professional they look, but fresh out of the oven they taste mighty fine!
It was fun to make the pastries with family around the kitchen island. I felt like I was giving a baking class. Then we all watched Oven TV while they baked. Needless to say, an armed guard was required at the cooling rack.
Glenn