Apple Cranberry Bolster

Dinner dates with friends make me :) It had been a long time since our last one, but I think it was worth the wait. We quickly planned a delish din din menu:

Edamame. Lightly sea salted.
Mixed Field Greens with fresh Pear, Pomegranate, Goat Cheese, and Pecans.
Steamed Carrots.
Mashed Rosemary Red Bliss Potatoes.
Pork topped with blackberry sauce.

No one mentioned a dessert. If the oven is being turned on, doesn't it make sense to bake? So I got the wheels turning and ditched on helping with din din to make a secret dessert instead!
Apple Cranberry Bolster
idea from butter, sugar, flour, eggs
2 Granny Smith apples

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon lemon zest

1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup fresh cranberries
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup almonds
3 sheets Phyllo Dough, thawed
3 tablespoons melted butter

preheat the oven to 375. wash, core and chop the apples. I leave the peel on for added fiber and nutrients. plus, I think it tastes better with the peel! toss with the lemon juice, zest and vanilla.

wash and sort cranberries. add to food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. add in sugar and briefly mix.

finely chop the almonds. or buy them already chopped if you're smart/lazy.

this is mid-chop. they should be smaller than this...

now the fun part! place one sheet of phyllo dough on a greased pan. **if you have not worked with phyllo before, be prepared. make sure that it is fully thawed before using. it dries quickly so once you take it from the fridge, keep it under a towel or work fast. it also tears easily, so be gentle!** lightly butter the sheet. sprinkle the chopped almonds on the top. you can also add some extra sugar...

butter sheet #1

lay another sheet on top of the almonds. lightly butter the top. sprinkle more almonds. lay the final sheet. lightly butter. add the chopped apple and cranberry mixture to the final layer leaving about one inch on the ends.

starting at one end, roll the pastry into a log. lightly butter the top of the log and add the remaining almonds on top. bake at 375 for 25 minutes.

let it cool for 15 minutes. cut carefully into sections and serve with some tea!

Merriam-Webster believes a bolster is:
- a long pillow or cushion
- a structural part designed to eliminate friction or provide support or bearing

I think it's a great fall treat that is not too sweet.