What is a pastry? Please give examples, and feel free to leave recipes!?

Question

I was wondering what people considered a 'pastry' I don't neccessarily require an official definition. Just examples.

Answer 1

Generally, a pastry's going to have some sort of dough, and a filling in it. Could be a tart, quiche, baklava or an eclair. Hang on, and I'll try to find a recipe.

Here's a basic pastry dough:

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 freshly grated lemon
1/2 cup cold butter, cut into small pieces
1 large egg, beaten lightly
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine and whisk flour, sugar, lemon and salt in a bowl.
Cut butter until it resembles coarse meal.
Add egg and vanilla and toss the mixture.
Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently, forming it into a disc.
Wrap in plastic and chill at least and hour. Can chill overnight.
Let dough stand at room temperature until softened, but still firm enough to roll out.

Here's something to put in the pastry:

Blueberry Filling

4 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)
2/3 cup sugar (can use up to 1 cup if you like a sweeter filling)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup cornstarch (depending on how thick you like your filling)
1/4 cup water


Mix sugar, blueberries and lemon juice in a saucepan.
Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring frequently.
Make a paste of the water and cornstarch.
Pour into berry mixture, stirring frequently until thickened.
Remove from heat and let cool. Use filling in pies or tarts.

Answer 2

Since you now know what a pastry is from the other answers I will give you a recipe for scones and an easy Danish! They are delicious!

Cranberry Orange Walnut Scones
3 cups cake flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons orange zest - grated
1 cup cranberries
1/2 cup walnuts - chopped
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
2 tablespoons half and half
2 teaspoons sugar

Preheat your oven to 425 and butter a baking sheet. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Blend the butter into the dry ingredients, using your fingertips or a pastry blender, until the mixture is crumbly. Add the orange zest, cranberries and walnuts and toss to combine. Add the milk and juice, and stir until the dough is rough.

Gather the dough together and place on a floured work surface. Knead
gently about 10 times. Divide the dough in half and pat each piece into a circle about 6 inches in diameter and about 1/2 inch thick. To glaze, brush the circles with the half and half and sprinkle with sugar. Cut each circle into eight pie-shaped wedges. Place the scones, barely touching, on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until puffy and golden, 15-18 minutes.
Yields: 16
AND --

Cream Cheese Danish
2 (10 ounce) cans refrigerated crescent roll dough
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, diced
3/4 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons sour cream

1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon butter, softened

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
Line bottom of baking pan with 1 can of crescent rolls. Pinch all seams together to seal.
In a large bowl, mix together cream cheese, white sugar, lemon juice, vanilla extract and sour cream. Spread filling on top of rolls. Place second can of rolls on top of filling.
Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes.
In a small bowl, stir together confectioners' sugar, milk and butter. After Danish has cooled, drizzle with icing.

Happy Baking! ~-~

Answer 3

Chefs use the term to define a finished baked item (Pastry) from a raw 'paste' (pate' in french).

Try this take one part fat (butter, margerine, etc.) and rub it into four times the amount of flour, until it forms sand like crumbs. Then gradually add cold water until it comes together as a 'paste'. Voila! short paste!

Answer 4

Pastry

A sweet baked food made of dough, esp. the shortened paste used for pie crust and the like.

Any item of food of which such dough forms an essential part, as a pie, tart, or napoleon.

Answer 5

Go and buy a recipe book