Russian Walnut Cherry Latkes With Cherry Applesauce

Total Time: 20 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup dried tart cherry
• 1 (7 1/2 ounce) package farmer cheese, drained
• 2 tablespoons cream cheese, room temperature
• 4 large eggs, separated
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 5 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons golden brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 5 gala apples or 5 apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1/4 cup unsweetened apple juice
• 1/4 cup cherry preserves

Recipe

• 1 place cherries in a bowl with enough hot water to cover. soak until plump (about 10 minutes); drain and set aside.
• 2 blend cheese, egg yolks and vanilla in a processor just until smooth - about 30 seconds.
• 3 add the flour, sugar and salt and mix in using on/off turns, just until blended.
• 4 transfer to a large bowl, and mix in the walnuts and reserved cherries.
• 5 using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until stiff, but not dry.
• 6 gradually fold beaten eggs into batter, in three additions.
• 7 melt 1 tbs butter with 1 tbs oil in heavy large nonstick pan, until hot, but not smoking.
• 8 working in batches, drop batter by heaping tbs into skillet, and spread to 2 1/2-inch rounds.
• 9 cook until bottoms are golden; then turn and cook until golden on other side.
• 10 using slotted spoon, transfer latkes to hot plates.
• 11 add more butter and oil as necessary, and allow to get hot before adding more batter.
• 12 serve with the applesauce.
• 13 to make the sauce, combine apples and juice in saucepan.
• 14 bring to boil, stirring occasionally.
• 15 cover and reduce heat to low; simmer for about 15 minutes until apples are tender.
• 16 remove from heat, and stir in cherry preserves.
• 17 mash with a fork to a chunky mixture.
• 18 can be made up to 2 days ahead.