Let it ride

Today I rode with the Bend Bella Cyclists on a group road ride. I put in about 70 miles in near perfect riding conditions. We went out along the Prineville Reservoir and then I rode back into Bend. It is a beautiful area to ride along with the Crooked River running alongside the road. I've been told that river has the most fish per mile than any other river in the states. I saw at least 30 people along it fishing so maybe it's true. If you live in Central Oregon and ride a bike, you MUST ride out there.

I got brave and made some apricot cherry turnovers for dessert tonight. They are delicious! I love summer fruit months - there are so many things you can do! Here is the recipe I used - but I used fresh fruit instead of the dried fruit listed in the recipe.



Ingredients

1 cup apricot nectar
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon grated lemon rind
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 (3-ounce) bags dried sweet cherries
2 tablespoons chopped almonds
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons canola oil
6 (18 x 14-inch) sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed
1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs, divided
2 tablespoons brown sugar, divided
Cooking spray
Preparation
Combine the first 6 ingredients in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally. Stir in almonds and vanilla. Cool completely.

Preheat oven to 375º.

Combine the butter and oil. Place 1 phyllo sheet on a large cutting board or work surface (cover remaining dough to prevent drying). Lightly brush phyllo sheet with 1 tablespoon butter mixture. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon crumbs and 1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar. Repeat layers once. Top with 1 phyllo sheet. Gently press layers together. Lightly coat top phyllo sheet with cooking spray. Cut stack lengthwise into 4 (3 1/2-inch-wide) strips. Cut each strip in half crosswise. Spoon 2 tablespoons of cherry mixture onto 1 short end of each rectangle, leaving a 1-inch border. Fold 1 corner of edge with 1-inch border over mixture, forming a triangle; continue folding back and forth into a triangle to end of rectangle. Tuck edges under triangle. Place triangles, seam side down, on a large baking sheet coated with cooking spray; lightly coat triangles with cooking spray. Repeat procedure with remaining phyllo, butter mixture, crumbs, brown sugar, cherry mixture, and cooking spray.

Bake at 375º for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from baking sheet, and cool on a wire rack.
Yield

16 turnovers (serving size: 1 turnover)
Nutritional Information

CALORIES 155(25% from fat); FAT 4.3g (sat 1.2g,mono 2.1g,poly 0.8g); PROTEIN 1.9g; CHOLESTEROL 3.8mg; CALCIUM 21mg; SODIUM 62mg; FIBER 1.9g; IRON 0.8mg; CARBOHYDRATE 27g