3 date strudels Recipes

all-purpose flour, sugar, table salt, chilled unsalted butter , 2 sticks cut into 1/4-inch pieces, chilled vegetable shortening, cut in pieces, sour cream, golden raisin, chopped pitted prunes, chopped pitted dates, dried currant, grated orange zest from 1 oranges, grated lemon zest and 1 tbsp lemon, juice of, pear brandy other brandy or 1/3 cup dark rum, firm ripe pears, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch dice, honey, gingersnaps , coarsely crumbled use 4 if pears are very juicy, ground cinnamon, ground allspice, ground cardamom, grated nutmeg, ground black pepper, cream or 1 tbsp milk, granulated sugar, sugar , for dusting

six 18-by 14-inch sheets of phyllo , stacked between 2 sheets of wax paper and covered with a dampened kitchen towel, unsalted butter, melted, sesame seeds, toasted lightly, mild goat cheese, softened (about 1 cup), pitted dates , cut crosswise into thirds, crisp-cooked bacon, crumbled, minced scallion