Guayaba (Guava)

Guayaba is a very popular and common fruit in Colombia. It is available, like almost every other fruit, as a juice, but is also often found in jams, pastries, and other desserts. This classic tropical flavor is sweet and something like a tangy apple. The skin is also similar to an apple so you do not have to peel it before eating. You can get it as a thick paste as well, for cooking (look for it in the hispanic section in most supermarkets). I have not seen this fruit fresh outside of South America but you can taste it by trying the paste or getting the pulp for juice in the freezer section. I will also be posting a recipe for homemade ketchup with guava...it's so good!

Guava and Cream Cheese Pockets

Ingredients
1 puff pastry sheet, thawed and cut into 18- 2.5" squares
1/2 lb block guava paste , cut into 1/2 inch strips
1/2 lb (250g) block PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, chilled cut into 1/2" strips
egg wash (1 egg yolk with 1 tsp milk, whisked)

Directions
1. Preheat oven 400º
2. Place 1 strip guava and 1 strip cream cheese on pastry square.
3. Fold the sides of the square over the filling sealing the edges.
4. Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet. Brush the top of each pastry with the egg wash
5. Bake 18-20 minutes.