Shelly's Recipe

SPINACH AND PROSCIUTTO EN CROUTE

Category: Hot

2 tbsp olive oil
1 small clove Garlic, crushed
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp Parmesan cheese
1 lb frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 (10 oz) pkg frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1/2 lb coarsely grated Swiss cheese
1/4 lb prosciutto, thinly sliced
1 cup black olives, sliced
1 tbsp cold water

Mix together the oil, garlic, black pepper, and parmesan. Cover and marinate for 2 to 3 hours.

Roll out the puff pastry on a floured board to form a rectangle 12x20 inch. (Pinch any seams together so that you essentially have one large piece of dough.) Chill for 30 minutes.

Squeeze the spinach of all its liquid. Spread the spinach down the center of the length of the dough forming a layer 4 inch wide and extending to within 1 inch of either end. Cover the spinach with half of the Swiss cheese. Blanket the cheese with even layers of prosciutto. Spoon the marinade over the ham. Sprinkle the reminder of the Swiss cheese over the prosciutto. Top everything with black olives.

Fold the dough like a turnover, overlapping the sides. Crimp the ends together firmly to seal. Place seam side down on an ungreased baking sheet. (Up to this point may be prepared 2 to 4 hours in advance and refrigerated. Return to room temperature to bake.) Beat the egg and water together. Brush the pastry with the egg wash. This gives the loaf a golden glaze when baked. Bake in at 350 for 30 minutes. Transfer to a platter, cut into 1 and 1/2 inch wide slices, and serve immediately.