At Summerhill Winery in Kelowna, British Columbia tradition meets the mystical to create a winery experience that is somewhat out of the ordinary. There is a huge concrete pyramid on the grounds where many of Summerhill Winery's wines are aged. The owner believes that the aging of good wines in the "sacred geometry" has a positive, flavour-enhancing affect on them. Nine out of 10 people in taste testings prefer the pyramid aged wines, so, who really knows. Nine out of 10 people can't be wrong!! This all sounds like a plug for the winery, but, I really do enjoy visiting this particular winery. It is one of my favourites. What does it have to do with this dish? On visiting the Sunset Bistro on the property years ago I had a Vegetable Strudel for brunch. This recipe reminds me of sitting on their patio overlooking the sweeping and uninterrupted views of the mountains and Okanagan Lake; sipping world -class wines with good company!
**Vegetable Strudel with Balsamic Reduction**
3 T olive oil
2 red peppers
1 medium-sized zucchini
1 small red onion
1 cup sliced mushrooms
6 cloves garlic
1 T rosemary
1 T oregano
1 T fresh basil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 cup chevre goat cheese (sometimes I use half cup goat cheese and half cup ricotta)
1/2 cup olives
1/2 cup sundried tomato
8 sheets filo pastry
1/2 cup butter
*****************************************
Reduction:
1-1/2 cups balsamic vinegar (you can also use leftover red wine as a substitute as well)
2 T honey (or to your liking if you prefer it sweeter)
Put in a small saucepan, cook on medium heat and reduce (until syrupy) about 15 minutes.
Directions:
Chop veggies and toss with some olive oil, then put in roasting pan - include garlic too. Bake for 20 minutes in 350F oven. Then cool veggies.
Season veggies with spices ( salt and pepper, rosemary, oregano and basil) and add cheese, olives, sun dried tomatoes. Toss together. Make a stack of 4 filo sheets, brushing each with melted butter (put sheets on flat pan).
Arrange half of the veggies mix down the middle of sheets, roll up into a cylinder, tuck in ends.
Makes 2 rolls. Brush rolls with butter and bake in 400F for 20 -25 minutes. (it is helpful to score the filo the filo bundles before baking; it makes the cutting easier).
Drizzle the balsamic reduction on individual plates and place slices of strudel on top.
