Searching for a Valentine’s Day recipe? This one is a real keeper.

Made with phyllo dough and baked brie, this scrumptious delight will wow your loved ones and make you look like a kitchen rock star (even though it’s so simple to bake).

INGREDIENTS
¼ c. Lucille’s Kitchen Jam (any flavor, but Strawberry Verjus is lovely for Valentine’s Day)
½ lb. wheel brie or camembert cheese (leave rind on)
½ lb. frozen phyllo dough, 10–12 sheets, thawed
½ c. (or more!) butter, melted
Fresh rosemary, thyme or lavender; optional
Red and green grapes; optional
Apples, sliced; optional
Pears, sliced; optional

METHOD

Thaw phyllo dough thoroughly before using. Keep dough ready for use and moist by covering with a damp cloth.

Spread preserves heavily on top of the brie.

Lay out three sheets of thawed phyllo dough in an asterisk pattern — like an X with a third “line” of dough across the middle of the X. Spread melted butter on each individual sheet of dough.

Place the wheel of brie in the center of the “asterisk” and begin folding the dough around the wheel of brie, spreading more melted butter on the phyllo as you wrap.

When finished, make another asterisk of dough and wrap as before. Turn cheese over after applying each wrap of phyllo (for even distribution). No need to be too precious with the dough, though. Wrinkles, slight tears, and odd folds in the dough actually make the pastry look beautiful and unique after baking! Brush phyllo-wrapped brie with more butter. When in doubt spread more butter.

Place the completely wrapped cheese in a shallow, greased baking pan. Bake in a 425 oven 8–12 minutes or until golden. Let stand 10 minutes. Garnish with optional herbs and pears if desired.

Serve with crackers.

Serves 6–8

Photo via Wikimedia Commons. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.