CHERRY VANILLA BLINTZES WITH NECTARINES AND CHERRIES, FLAMBEED IN SHLIVOVITZ

Cherry Vanilla Blintzes with Nectarines and Cherries, Flambeed in Shlivovitz image

Provided by Food Network

Categories dessert

Time 1h2m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 22

Ingredients

1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
3 large eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons melted butter
Nonstick vegetable spray
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/4 pound cream cheese, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1/2 scraped vanilla bean
2 tablespoons sugar
1 large egg
1 pound (2 cups) farmer's cheese, pot cheese, or cottage cheese
Canola oil and butter, for frying
Sour cream or yogurt, as an accompaniment
Nectarines and Cherries, Flambeed in Shlivovitz, recipe follows
1 (12-ounce) package frozen sour cherries, thawed and drained, reserving the juice
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons sugar
2 large nectarines, sliced into 1/3 inch wedges
1/4 cup shlivovitz or brandy
1/2 pound fresh bing cherries, pitted* (optional)

Steps:

For the crepes: Put all of the ingredients except the butter into a food processor or blender and process until smooth, about 10 seconds. If necessary, scrape down any solids that stick to the sides. Add the butter and process for a few more seconds to blend. Refrigerate, covered, for at least 2 hours or overnight. Set a 10-inch, non-stick crepe pan over moderately high heat, then spray with non-stick vegetable spray. When nice and hot, remove the pan from the heat and add 2 tablespoons of batter, swirling to coat the bottom of the pan. Cook for 1 1/2 minutes until lightly browned. Set aside on a plate, cooked side up, and continue with the remainder of the batter.
For the filling: In a small saucepan, cover the cherries with water and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and let rest. In a bowl, mix the cream cheese, vanilla, sugar, and egg until blended. Gently mix in the pot, farmer, or cottage cheese. Drain the cherries and mix them in.
Place 2 tablespoons of filling in the lower center of the blintz. Fold up once from the bottom, and then fold over the sides. Roll up the rest of the way. Repeat with the rest. Heat 1 tablespoon of canola oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a pan. In small batches (4), fry the blintzes fold side down until golden brown. Gently flip to fry the other side. Serve with sour cream, and Nectarines and Cherries, Flambeed in Shlivoviz.
In a bowl, whisk together the cherry juice and cornstarch. In a hot saute pan, melt the butter. Add the sugar, then the nectarines. Carefully pour in the shlivovitz. If it does not burst into flames spontaneously, ignite with a match. Gently swirl the pan and baste the nectarines until the flames die out. Add the cherry juice mixture and cook until bubbling for 10 seconds. Take the sauce off the heat; add the thawed and fresh cherries.