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1
Preheat the oven to 325. Try to core the quinces. It isn't easy and you will be upset if your knives are not well sharpened. Be careful not to hurt yourself. Also, do not be tempted to sample the fruit. It is astringent and unappealing, as well as being rock hard.
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2
Bring the sugar and water to a boil in and oven proof casserole dish. Add the quinces, bring to a boil, then cover the pan and place in the oven. Bake 1 1/2 to 2 hours. The quinces will smell heavenly and turn a beautiful cornelian color. You will feel better about step one.
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3
Cool the quinces and slice thinly. Reserve the cooking syrup. You can try a slice of quince and a teaspoon of syrup now.
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4
Preheat oven to 400. Adjust rack to middle of oven. Line 2 large cookie sheets or pizza pans with parchment paper. Roll out two nine inch (more or less) circles of puff pastry very thinly, about 1/8 inch. Transfer carefully to baking sheets.Chill the circles in the refrigerator until firm, about 30 minutes.
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5
Prick the pastry all over with the tines of a fork. Brush one of the circles with the egg yolk and sprinkle with sugar. Arrange the thin slices of quince on the circle in a single concentric layer. Carefully brush the fruit with the quince cooking syrup.
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6
Cover the quince layer with the second circle of pastry. Brush the top layer of pastry with egg wash, if desired, and sprinkle with a coarse sugar. Cut slits carefully in the top circle.
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7
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until the top is brown and the bottom is cooked. Unfortunately if will be very hard to tell if the bottom is cooked completely. If you are not sure, put foil over the top and bake a little longer.
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8
Cool slightly. Serve with strong coffee. It will be beautiful and delicious.
