Cheese Puffs
Ingredients:
- butter - 4 T plus more for baking sheet
- flour - 1/2 cup
- salt - pinch
- eggs, beaten - 2
- freshly grated Parmesan - 1/4 cup
- Filling --
- cream cheese with garlic and herbs - 5 ounces
- milk - 2 T
- fresh lemon juice - 1 tsp
- cayenne - pinch
- freshly ground black pepper - to taste
- freshly grated Parmesan, sharp Cheddar or crumbled Blue cheese - 1/4 cup
Instructions:
In a saucepan, bring butter and 1/2 cup water to a boil. Remove from heat, quickly beat in flour and salt with a wooden spoon. Return to very low heat, stir until dough is smooth and very lightly films the bottom of the pan.
Remove from the heat, cool 5 minutes. Gradually stir in the beaten egg until the dough is glossy and thick. Stir in cheese.
Butter and flour a baking sheet. Drop 16 balls of dough, spaced well apart, on the baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 20 – 25 minutes, or until puffed and golden.
Remove from oven, use a sharp knife to make a slit in the side of each puff to allow the hot steam to escape. Transfer the puffs onto a wire cake rack and let cool.
Prepare filling -- in a bowl, mix together cream cheese, milk, lemon juice, cayenne, pepper and cheese. Split each puff open and fill with a 1 tsp filling. Serve at room temperature.
