Apple Turnovers

Canned apple pie filling can be used instead of making your own filling. Other good fillings are cherry, blueberry, peach, and raspberry.

2 tablespoons lemon juice
4 cups water
4 Granny Smith or other tart apples - peeled, cored and sliced
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup brown sugar (try 1/2 cup first)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon water
1 (17.25 ounce) package frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine the lemon and 4 cups water in a large bowl. Place the sliced apples in the water to keep them from browning.

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain water from apples, and place them into the hot skillet. Cook and stir for about 2 minutes. Add brown sugar, and cinnamon, and cook, stirring, for 2 more minutes. Stir together cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water. Pour into the skillet, and mix well. Cook for another minute, or until sauce has thickened. Remove from heat to cool slightly.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Unfold puff pastry sheets, and repair any cracks by pressing them back together. Trim each sheet into a square. Then cut each larger square into 4 smaller squares. Spoon apples onto the center of each squares. Fold over from corner to corner into a triangle shape, and press edges together to seal. Can be made ahead up to this point and frozen on a tray or cookie sheet. When firm, pack in plastic bags.

Place turnovers on a baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between them. When ready to bake, brush with milk and sprinkle with sugar if desired. An alternative topping is to drizzle vanilla icing over top once they have baked and cooled a bit, as done below. You can also leave them plain. Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until turnovers are puffed and lightly browned. Cool completely before glazing.

To make the vanilla icing glaze, if using, mix together the confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla in a small bowl. Adjust the thickness by adding more sugar or milk if necessary. Drizzle glaze over the cooled turnovers.

Makes 8 turnovers