Jalousie

Very similar to a combination of a turnover and a strudel, this food item is a delicious French pastry containing a sweet filling. Made from a pastry dough that is baked into a light and fluffy crust, a Jalousie typically has baked fruits that provide a thick and syrupy filling within the thin outer crust. Although it is common for the dough to be prepared by a chef, the Jalousie can also be made with frozen pastry dough that is available in most food stores. The dough is rolled flat into a rectangle approximately 10 or 12 inches wide and 12 to 14 inches long. If the fruit for the filling contains excess juice, it is often pre-baked to thicken the contents so the liquid does not soften the crust on the bottom of the Jalousie. The prepared fruit is then placed on the bottom crust. A top crust is slit with a knife to allow the slashed dough to open as it bakes. The top crust is placed over the filling and the edges of the dough are crimped together to seal the Jalousie. When finished, the baked pastry has a golden crust with slits on the top that display the filling inside. Fruits such as apples, pears, peaches, or berries are commonly used to make the fillings for the Jalousie.