Apple Strudel
INGREDIENTS
Dough
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg, well beaten
2 tbsp. oil
1/2 cup likewarm water
3/4 cup melted butter
PUT flour mixed with salt into a bowl. Make a hole in the center of the flour and add eggs, oil and water. Stir until a soft dough is formed that comes clean away from the sides of the bowl (it does not matter if some flour is left in the bowl).
KNEAD dough on a lightly floured board for 15 minutes or until it is of much the same consistency as bubble gum. Cover it with an inverted warm ceramic bowl and let it rest in a warm place for 1 hour.
COVER a large kitchen table with a sheet(cloth). Rub the sheet with flour Roll out the dough as large as possible with the rolling
pin, lifting up dough frequently to prevent sticking. Brush dough lightly with a little of the melted butter. Now remove any rings that you may be wearing and dust your hands with flour. Place your floured hands palm side down under the dough. Now with your knuckles
gently pull the dough from the center out, gently stretching until it is as thin as note paper. When finished, it should be about 30 x 40 inches in size and some will hang over the edge of the table. If any holes have formed, these may be patched with small pieces of dough pressed firmly into place. Brush again with melted butter, generously this time; about 3/4 cup of melted butter should be used. (Save the remainder to brush over the outside of rolled-up strudel.)
With scissors trim the edges of the dough and add the filling.
Filling
1 cup toasted bread crumbs
6 green apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1/4 cup raisins
1 cup broken walnuts or almonds, or a combination
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
grated rind of 1 lemon
SPRINKLE the crumbs over the strudel dough, keeping a 2-inch margin around all sides.
COMBINE apples, raisins, walnuts, sugar, cinnamon and lemon rind. Pat this mixture into a long mount on the 30-inch side of the dough, 2 inches from the end. Fold over the 2-inch end margin. Now fold over the dough lenghtwise on both sides. Gradually lift the sheet and very carefully roll up the strudel, taking care that the fragile dough does not break.
SHAPE with your fingers as you roll up the strudel. Place the rolled strudel in a horseshoe shape on a buttered baking sheet. Brush with the remaining melted butter. Bake in an oven preheated to 375 F, for 45-50 minutes until richly golden and flaky-crisp.
COOL slightly after removing from oven and while warm sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.
SERVE while still warm with vanilla sauce or ice cream.