Cheddar Apricot Puffs Recipes

CHEDDAR-APRICOT PUFFS

Steps:

• Unfold puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface, and sprinkle cheese over pastry. Refold pastry in thirds, then roll out to a 12 1/2-inch square. Cut dough into fifths (5 strips) in one direction, and then the other, to yield twenty-five 2 1/2-inch squares.
• Stir together fruit spread, Dijon, and pepper to combine. Dollop a rounded 1/2 teaspoon of filling in center of each pastry square. Gather the 4 corners of each square up over filling. Pinch and twist the ends, then fold twisted end under, and firmly press to seal. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freeze 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place pastries 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheet, and bake until golden brown and puffed, about 15 minutes.

COUNTRY HAM AND CHEDDAR PIE WITH WHOLE GRAIN MUSTARD AND GREENS WITH APRICOT VINAIGRETTE AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• For the pie: Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Line a half-sheet pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
• Unfold or unroll one sheet of the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Gently roll with a rolling pin until each side is increased by about 1/2-inch. Place the pastry on the prepared baking sheet and brush the pastry from edge to edge with prepared egg wash. Combine the mustard, apricot jam and a generous amount of black pepper in a small bowl, and spread over the egg wash, leaving about an inch border between the mustard and the edge of pastry. Place the ham evenly over the mustard and then evenly spread the cheese over the ham.
• Roll out the second piece of puff pastry as the first, increasing the size by about 1/2-inch on each side. Gently place it on top of the ham and cheese and press the edges together with your fingers. Gently fold about 1/2-inch of the edges over, creating a thick crust. Press the edges with the tines of a fork. Dip the fork in flour if it sticks to the puff pastry during pressing. Lightly brush a layer of egg wash over the top and edges of the pie. Cut a few small slits into the top of the pie and bake until cooked through and golden brown, 30 minutes.
• For the greens: Whisk together the vinegar and jam in a small bowl, and season with salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in the oil until emulsified. Put the greens in large bowl, toss with the vinaigrette, divide among the plates and top with the almonds.

CHEESE PUFFS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring the water, butter, salt and cayenne to a boil. Add flour all at once and stir until a smooth ball forms. Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until mixture is smooth and shiny. Stir in Gruyere and mustard. , Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake at 425° for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm or cold.

APRICOT CHEESE LOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.
• Pour boiling water over apricot pieces in a small bowl. Cool.
• In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, soda, salt, and dates.
• In a large bowl, cream butter or margarine, cream cheese, and sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until smooth. Stir in cooled apricots and water. Pour in flour mixture, and stir until moistened. Turn batter into greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour, or until it tests done. Let stand 10 minutes. Remove from pan to rack. Cool.

BACON CHEDDAR PUFFS

Steps:

• Combine milk and butter in medium saucepan.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until utter is melted and mixture is simmering.
• Add flour, stir until mixture forms a ball.
• Remove from heat.
• Beat in 1 egg at a time until mixture is smooth.
• Stir in remaining ingredients; mix well.
• Drop heaping teaspoons of mixture onto greased baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 25 minutes or until puffed and golden brown.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

CRISPY CHEDDAR MASHED POTATO PUFFS

Steps:

• MIX 1/2 cup sour cream and chopped chives together in a small bowl. Refrigerate.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Shred 1/2 of cheese to make about 1 cup of shreds. Divide shreds into 8 piles, about 2-inches apart, on a silicone baking mat or parchment paper lined cookie sheet and bake about 5 minutes or until cheese melts and becomes crisp. Let cool 5 minutes and remove from baking sheet. Reduce oven temperature to 180 degrees F.
• Cut the remaining 4 oz. cheese into 8 1/2-inch cubes. Form balls of mashed potato mixture, using an ice cream scoop. Make a small hole in center of each potato ball and fill with one cube Borden® Cheese. Cover with additional mashed potato so cheese is hidden inside. Refrigerate until ready to fry.
• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat to 375 degrees F. Prepare beer batter according to package directions; dip each mashed potato ball into batter, and deep-fry for about 5 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oil, and drain on paper towel. Reheat oil to 375 degrees F between batches. Keep potato puffs warm in the holding oven.
• Place potato puff on a plate; top with dollop of chive cream, a few chives and the Cheddar crisp. Serve immediately.

CHEDDAR DILL PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Bring water to a boil with butter and salt in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over high heat, then reduce heat to moderate. Add flour all at once and cook, stirring vigorously with a wooden spoon, until mixture pulls away from side of pan, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool slightly, about 3 minutes, then add 4 eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition (batter will appear to separate but will then become smooth). Mixture should be glossy and just stiff enough to hold soft peaks and fall softly from a spoon. If batter is too stiff, beat remaining egg in a small bowl and add to batter 1 teaspoon at a time, beating and then testing batter until it reaches proper consistency. Stir in cheese and dill.
• Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment or lightly butter sheets. Fill pastry bag with batter and pipe 15 (1-inch-diameter) mounds (or spoon level tablespoons) 1 inch apart onto each sheet. Bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until puffed, golden, and crisp, about 30 minutes total. Make more puffs in same manner. Serve warm.

CHEDDAR CHEESE PUFFS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine all ingredients; mix well. Roll into 1-in. balls. Place at least 1 in. apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 400° for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve warm.