Hand Carried Gifts e.g. Corica's Apple Strudels

What is the Foochow or Asian way of showing love? Hand carry a most precious package of cakes or baos home to the children. My father once did that when he came back from Singapore and that memory left a deep imprint in my soul

Father's love or mother's love often comes in the form of a "Hand carried gift".

And I think that is why many many Malaysian and Singaporean tourists visiting Perth would put Apple Strudels on top of their must buy list and it must be Corica's Apple Strudels. ...and hand carry sometimes THREE "back home".

But do not be overwrought if you cannot get to buy them in Perth..

Check with their operating times.....if you can get to buy..buy and eat and it's Aus $19.00 and above each. If you  cannot hand carry it...well don't have to buy . It is really too much trouble to bring back to Malaysia or Singapore.

So what's that? What's a strudel? It's just some pastry baked with nice custard

This is the logo of Corica of Perth - good pastry shop to visit if you enjoy pastries etc.

apple strudels on their way out of Perth!!

I got this recipe from a friend and perhaps you can make it at home (note: the recipe is not Corica's and many   people really can make their strudels at home)

Apple Filling

4 Granny Smith or Fuji Apples

35g butter

90g castor sugar

1/2 tbsp cinnamon powder

50g raisins

Juice and zest from half a lemon

7g corn flour



Slice the apples in thin wedges or cubes to your preference

Heat a saucepan over medium heat. When hot, add in the butter and let it melt. Add in the apples and stir such that all the apples are coated with the butter. Allow the apples to be cooked thoroughly , this will take about - 10 minutes. Sir the apples occasionally to prevent burning.

Meanwhile, mix the corn flour, lemon juice and zest in a small bowl and save for use later.

Once the apples are cooked, stir in the sugar and continue stirring till all the sugar has melted.

Add in the raisins and cinnamon and continue stirring for a few minutes.

Add in the corn flour and juice mixture and stir. Allow the sauce to thicken and remove from heat. Allow the apple filling to cool.





Custard Cream



2 egg yolk

1/3 cup + 1/2 tbsp castor sugar

2 tbsp plain flour

1 cup milk or 1/2 cup milk+ 1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 vanilla bean pod or 1/2 teasp vanilla

1 tbsp melted butter



Mix the egg yolks and sugar in a pot till it becomes creamy

Sift in the flour and mix well.

Add warm milk into the mixture slowly and mix well.

Now place the pot on low heat and stir the mixture constantly. Add in vanilla and continue stirring until it thickens.

Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the melted butter.

Cool the custard cream in the refrigerator to let it thicken somemore.



Puff Pastry



1 package Butter Puff Pastry(or make your own from scratch)

70g castor sugar

1 tsp cinnamon powder

1 tbsp butter (melted)



Combine castor sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C

Cut the puff pastry according to how big you want it. I made rather small ones, 2 layers with each sheet of puff pastry cut into 3. Cut each sheet of puff pastry into 3 equal rectangles. Place it on a well greased baking tray, apply melted butter on the puff pastry. Sprinkle the mixture of sugar and cinnamon over the puff pastry. Repeat this step with the other 2 sheets of puff pastry.

Bake in the oven at 180 deg C for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown.

Once baked, remove from oven and allow to cool on a rack.



How do you assemble it?

Lay one puff pastry baked on your work surface.

Spread the chilled custard cream over the layer of puff pastry.

Spread a portion of apple filling on top of the custard cream and puff pastry.

Place another layer of puff pastry on top.

Make sure you divide your apple filling and custard cream well to ensure that there is enough for all your strudels.

Repeat for the rest of your strudels.

Enjoy!!

You can make mini ones if you like. These Corica apple strudels are  about 16 inches long!!


Carrying strudels from Perth and other gift boxes reminded me of the paper boxes we used to carry when we left home to study. Mothers would pack fried salted fish and home made cookies for us to bring to our hostels away from home. And indeed one MAS airline personnel even said..."Ha..you must be from Sibu" when I picked up my luggage at the airport...

If you have not experienced carrying a hand gift...you should try doing it one day....It could be a very bad experience mind you...but may be it could be an extra-ordinary act of love!!