Impress The In-laws - Savory Crab And Asparagus Puffs

Total Time: 1 hr 50 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr 30 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon sour cream
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon water
• 1 lb asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 large tomato, seeded and diced
• 1 cup crabmeat (or imitation if you prefer)
• 16 ounces ricotta cheese
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, diced
• 1/4 cup onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• salt and pepper

Recipe

• 1 to make pastry: sift together flour,cayenne and salt.
• 2 mix in butter pieces until the mixture resembles a coarse meal.
• 3 in another bowl, whisk together egg, sour cream and basil.
• 4 add the flour to the egg mixture and mix with a fork until it forms a dough.
• 5 take care to not overwork the dough.
• 6 form the dough into a ball, dust with flour, wrap with plastic wrap and flatten it slightly.
• 7 place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• 8 for filling: melt butter with olive oil in a large heavy bottomed skillet.
• 9 add garlic, onion and asparagus.
• 10 saute' until onion is translucent and asparagus is beginning to soften.
• 11 add tomato, crab, salt and pepper and allow to cook 2 minutes longer.
• 12 mix ricotta and basil.
• 13 remove dough from icebox.
• 14 sprinkle work surface with flour.
• 15 roll flour into a rectangle about 1/8 inch thick.
• 16 spread ricotta on dough.
• 17 spread asparagus/crab mixture over cheese.
• 18 cut into 2x2 inch squares.
• 19 mix egg and water to make egg wash.
• 20 roll each square into a'log', brush with egg wash and place on a cookie sheet.
• 21 bake in a 375 degree oven for 20 minutes or until pastry is flaky and golden brown.