Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Bacon & Cheddar Savory Bread Pudding Bites | Blogger C.L.U.E. Society


It is time again for the Blogger C.L.U.E. Society.  We are a group of like minded food bloggers who get assigned once a month to another blogger who is a member of this secret society of sorts.  We go on a secret mission to discover and make a recipe from our assigned blog with the theme of the month.  For February, our theme was red.  That could mean make something that is red or venture down the virtual red carpet.  I chose to dance down the red carpet and choose an appetizer that could be enjoyed while hosting an Oscar Party at home.

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If you have followed my blog for a while and/or we are friends, you know that I adore appetizers.  They are bite sized delights that pack a punch of flavor and you can sample many different flavor profiles in one sitting if you have an assortment of these little snacks.  This month I was paired with Kelli from Kelli’s Kitchen and she has a ton of recipes to choose from.  She calls Oklahomahome and learned a lot from her Nana.  She is the matriarch to her family and takes care of her hubby, daughter, step-sons, grandson (from her photo I can’t believe she is a grandmother), her Mom and her doggie Jack.  I can sense that she is a caregiver and nurturer and loves to share her food with everyone to make them smile.

After toying over a couple recipes, I knew I wanted to go the red carpet route and her Country Cook’s Cheesy Bacon Ranch Bread - just simply sang to me.  I had to gasp when I saw it called for 1 cup of butter – I just couldn’t do it.  Oh how I wish I could but then I thought about my waistline and heart.  Instead I cut down the butter and used half and half.  Okay, still not the healthiest, but something inside of me was reasoning with my inner-self saying this would be healthier.  I had to chuckle inside. Smile.  My hubby is always the official taste tester and he absolutely LOVED them.  These will make an appearance on the red carpet of appetizers for my small gathering for the Oscars.  Thank you Kelli for the recipe and inspiration!!


Bacon & Cheddar Savory Bread Pudding Bites

3 Cups Sourdough Bread, small cubes
2 Cups White Cheddar Cheese, grated
¼ Cup Butter, melted
¾ Cup Half and Half
2 Tablespoon Dry Ranch Dressing Powder
½ Cup Parmesan Cheese
1 Cup Cooked and Crumbled Bacon (Apple smoked is what I used)
½ Cup Scallion, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Add the melted butter to the half and half and stir in the ranch dressing. Mix well.  Add the bread cubes to a large bowl and then add the melted butter mixture to the cubes of bread and mix well.  Let sit for 15 minutes.

Add the grated cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, cooked bacon and scallions to the bread mixture.  Mix well.

Use 2 mini muffin tins.  Spray each cup with non-stick cooking spray.  Fill each muffin with a large scoop of the bread mixture.  I used a small ice cream scoop to fill each one.  Made is really quick and easy.  Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.  Let cool then gently remove with a sharp knife and enjoy!



Participating Bloggers:

  • Bacon & Cheddar Savory Bread Pudding Bites by Lisa from Authentic Suburban Gourmet
  • Banana Cranberry White Chocolate Muffins by Aly from Cooking in Stilettos
  • Blood Orange Mojito by Anna from annaDishes
  • Buffalo Roasted Chickpeas by Janet from Cupcakes to Caviar
  • Cherry Almond Coconut Bars by Jean from Lemons and Anchovies
  • Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Bark by Ramona from Curry and Comfort
  • Garlicky Roasted Tomatoes by Azmina from Lawyer Loves Lunch
  • Love Potion #9 w/ Raspberry Chambord Ice Cubes by Christy from Confessions of a Culinary Diva
  • Madam Wong's Pizza Rolls by Kelli from Kelli's Kitchen
  • Negroni by Kate from Kate's Kitchen
  • Paloma Naranjada Cocktail by Stacy from Food Lust People Love
  • Pomegranate-Lime Granita by Debra from Eliot's Eats
  • Raspberry Amaretto Bundt Cake by Liz from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
  • Raspberry-Strawberry Puff Pancake by Alice from A Mama, Baby and Shar-pei in the Kitchen
  • Red-Hot Currant-Glazed Pork Chops by Stacy from Food Lust People Love
  • Red Velvet Cupcakes by Lea Ann from Cooking on the Ranch
  • Roasted Asparagus by Kim from Liv Life
  • Strawberry Vanilla Scones by Christiane from Taking on Magazines
  • Tomato Herb Compound Butter by Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm
  • Turkey Joes from annaDishes


  • Monday, February 9, 2015

    Orange Scented Valentine Sugar Cookies


    Love is in the air.  The images of heart shaped objects abound during this time of year.  Whether you walk into a department store or your local drug store, you can’t help but be bombarded with the iconic symbol of love – the heart.  My hubby always calls Valentines Day, the hallmark holiday.  It got me thinking, what is the actual origin of this multimillion dollar holiday for retailers. Okay after reading here, I learned that it is beyond an obsessive retail holiday but a real holiday.  I knew that deep down, but had to check myself.

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    Hubby and I have been consumed this season with watching what I deem – “Love Movies” on the Hallmark Channel.  They are a collection of new movies created for 2015 that simply make you feel good.  In our world of negative news, it is quite refreshing to watch a happy movie that warms your heart and reveals the meaning of love.  Hubby and I are romantics to the core.  We met years ago on a blind date and by the third date, we knew we would be together forever.  This September we will celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary and he proposed just after knowing each other for a little over five months.  Everyone would always say to me – “you will know when it is the right person, you just know”.  It is hard to put into words, the “you just know thing” – but I can vouch that it is true. I feel like the last 17 years simply flew by and I am excited about our continued journey - just want it to slow down just a bit. Each year gets better and better and I love him more each day.


    I can’t believe that it will be seventeen years this year – it has gone by way too fast.  When most of the time, it is easy; that is the sign of a good marriage.  A few of the secrets to having a solid marriage is having straightforward communication, respect for one another, being supportive, trustworthy and keeping the romance alive.  In addition, doing nice things for one another and spending quality time together.  Hubby loves to be nurtured and loves that I bake for him.  Since the love holiday is around the corner, I thought I would make some Orange Scented Valentine Sugar Cookies for my darling hubby.  Our orange tree is pretty loaded with these sweet gems and when I used the micro plane for the zest, the scent permeated the kitchen.  The addition of the orange was the perfect compliment and these cookies simply delighted my hubby. 


    Orange Scented Valentine Sugar Cookies

    Makes 40 Cookies

    1 cup butter, softened
    3/4 cup sugar
    1 egg
    3 cups all-purpose flour
    1/4 tsp. salt
    1 tsp. Vanilla extract
    Zest of one Orange

    Beat the butter until softened, add sugar, egg, flour, salt and vanilla extract, orange zest and mix until combined. Chill dough for 1-2 hours. Roll the dough out onto a floured surface until it is 1/4-inch thick. Use 2 inch heart shaped cookie cutters to cut out the dough and place the cookies 2-inches apart onto cookie sheets lined with parchment or silpats.

    Bake in a 375 degree oven for 8 to 11 minutes or until edges are light brown.

    Icing

    3 Cups Confectioners sugar
    8 teaspoons Orange Juice
    4 teaspoon Water
    Red Paste Food Coloring

    Use 3 medium size bowls.  Place one cup of confectioner’s sugar in each bowl.  Add 4 teaspoon of orange juice to the first bowl and 4 teaspoon of orange juice to the second bowl and 4 teaspoon of water to the third bowl.  Use three different spoons – one for each bowl.  Mix the sugar and liquid in each bowl until really smooth.  The bowl with the water will be your white icing.  Next add just a drop or two of the red food coloring to the second bowl and mix to make a pink frosting.  For the third bowl add 6 to 7 drops of the red food paste to make a dark red icing.  You may need to add a bit more water to any of them to make smooth.


    Lightly dip the top of each cooled cookie in the desired color icing. Let the excess drip back into the bowl by gently shaking.  Lay on a cookie rack to dry.  Will take 3 to 4 hours to completely dry.  Repeat until all cookies are iced.


    Thursday, February 5, 2015

    Gooey Pimento Cheese & Ham Crostini | Friday Night Bites


    Do you ever just crave something ooey gooey and delicious?  Oh and with some melted cheese and smoky ham added in for good measure – then I have just the perfect treat for you.  I was relaxing on a Saturday morning and watching one of my favorite shows on the Cooking Channelcalled Road Trip with G. Garvin, when he completely caught my eye by making a Pimento Cheese and Ham Hock Toast.  Okay – I have to admit my mouth was completely watering and wanted to share with all of you.

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    I have a distinct fascination with the South.  Not sure what it is, considering a lot of the southern states are still on my “Visit All 50 States Bucket List”.  Perhaps that is why I just adore this show.  The way that G executes the narration of the show and engages with the chefs, I feel transported to that restaurant and can “almost” taste the food.  I knew that I needed to make this pimento cheese delight ASAP.  Luckily for me, I had the ingredients on hand and could easily whip it up for our Friday Night Bites for hubby and me.

    I was curious to learn more about the origin of Pimento Cheese, so I did a bit of research.  Obviously it is southern in nature and is affectionately known as the "caviar of the south".  I found two interesting articles the share the history of Pimento Cheese – quite interesting.  Feel free to learn more by clicking here and here.  One even outlines that it was originated outside of the south – you decide.  In any event, it is one delicious concoction.

    These bites of goodness would pair great with an ice cold glass of artisan beer or a chilled glass of Chardonnay.  These are a crowd pleaser and so simple to make.  Hope you enjoy your next Friday Night with these tasty delights.


    Gooey Pimento Cheese & Ham Crostini

    1 or 2 Smoked ham hocks (about 1 pound)
    3 Tablespoons finely chopped roasted red bell pepper
    3 Tablespoon Sherry Vinegar
    2 ½ Cups Grated Extra Sharp Cheddar (10 oz), at room temperature
    ¾ Cup Mayonnaise
    1 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika
    1/8 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
    Freshly Ground Black Pepper
    Toasted Baguette Slices

    Place the smoked ham hocks in a pot with enough water to cover and simmer, covered, until meat is falling off the bone, about 4 hours.  I would suggest doing this step the day before.  Remove the ham hocks, cool for 15 minutes and shred the meat.  You should have about ½ cup of shredded meat. 

    Mix the roasted red pepper with the vinegar in a small bowl and set aside to soak for 30 minutes.  Drain loosely the peppers prior to adding to the cheese. Place the grated cheddar in a large bowl and add the shredded ham, roasted red peppers drained, mayonnaise, paprika, cayenne and 5 or 6 turns of freshly ground black pepper and stir together until well mixed and creamy.  Taste and add salt if needed.


    Spread the pimento cheese mixture on baguette slices and toast in the oven at 350 degrees until golden brown – about 10 minutes.  You can also cook under the broiler for super bubbly toasts.


    Monday, January 26, 2015

    Baby Kale, Banana and Pineapple Smoothie + 2 Bonus DOLE Smoothie Recipes


    With each New Year, come those resolutions that we all make – right?  The typical list is to lose weight, work out more and eat better.  Those are all great and now the challenge is to stick to these goals and make them happen.  They say it takes at least 30 days to create a new habit and I also believe that you need to really commit to yourself that you are going to make that change and stick to it.  Like many, these are among the list of resolutions that I made for 2015.

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    I was fortunate enough to connect with the kind folks at Dole to be an ambassador for 2015 to help spread the word about their amazing products and be part of their new year-long campaign – “Get up and Grow” for Americans to get up, get active and make healthier decisions.  I believe this goes hand in hand with my personal philosophies and honestly Dole makes some of the best products around and I can vouch 100% to the quality.


    To kick off the New Year, they asked me to create and share a smoothie recipe with all of you.  Quite frankly, I was super excited and knew that I wanted to make a smoothie with kale.  Okay, as my hubby would say – I am slightly obsessed with kale.  I knew that the vivid green color would come alive along with adding terrific nutritional benefits since kale is high in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C and calcium.  After doing a bit more research, I learned that kale has been found to contain a group of resins known as bile acid sequestrants, which have been shown to lower cholesterol and decrease the absorption of dietary fat.


    To add to this tasty smoothie I wanted to use the marquee fruit Dole is known for – bananas along with pineapple.  Instead of milk, I used grapefruit juice to pull the whole smoothie together and the end result was impeccable.  Next time, I may play around with adding some greek yogurt and chia or flax seeds.  With such great Dole products, the possibilities are simply endless for a magnitude of unique smooth combinations. 


    Baby Kale, Banana and Pineapple Smoothie

    Makes 2

    1 Cup Grapefruit Juice
    4 Cups DOLE Power Up Greens Baby Kale, packed tightly
    3 Cup DOLE Tropical Gold Pineapple or Dole Canned Pineapple with Syrup removed
    2 Ripe DOLE Bananas, peeled and chopped

    Add all ingredients to a blender and pulse until combined.  After pulsing, set on the highest setting to ensure all ingredients have been processed.  Split between two glasses and enjoy.

    Bonus recipes - I wanted to share two additional recipes that were created at the kitchens of Dole and have not been published to the public yet, so you are getting a sneak peak to these divine smoothies. First is the Dole Tonic and the second is the Dole Running Man.  Enjoy!!


    Dole Tonic

    Makes 4 (8oz) Servings

    2 cups diced DOLE® Tropical Gold® Pineapple
    3 DOLE® Celery Stalks
    1 DOLE®Apple, quartered
    1 small fennel bulb
    3/4 cup DOLE® Raspberries
    1/2 cup DOLE® Power Up Greens™ Baby Kale
    1/2 cup flat leaf parsley            
    1 lime, peeled
    1-inch piece fresh ginger or 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

    Press pineapple through juicer. Continue adding celery, apple, fennel, raspberries, salad blend, parsley, lime and ginger.  Serve.

    Note:  Can use blender or food processor in place of juicer; add 1 cup water before blending fruits and vegetables.


    Running Man

    Prep:  10 min.  
    Makes: 2 (8-oz.) servings

    2 cups diced DOLE®Tropical Gold® Pineapple
    1 cup DOLE®Broccoli florets, steamed
    1 medium cucumber with peel
    1-inch piece fresh ginger or 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
    1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric or 1/2-inch piece fresh turmeric

    Press pineapple through juicer. Continue adding broccoli, cucumber, ginger and turmeric. Serve. 

    Note: Can use blender or food processor in place of juicer; add 1 cup water before blending fruit and vegetables. 

    ***Disclosure:  This post was sponsored by DOLE and compensation was given to me.  All opinions are, as always, are my own.  Sponsored posts such as these help behind the scenes at Authentic Suburban Gourmet. Thank you for visiting and making my blog part of your day



    Sunday, January 18, 2015

    Pumpkin Scones with Spiced Glaze | Secret Recipe Club


    It’s a new year of kicking it off with the Secret Recipe Club For January, I received Heather’s blog called – It’s Yummy to My Tummy.  While looking through her blog for the perfect recipe to make, I soon realized why her blog had a familiarity to it – she was paired with me back in June and made my Caprese Bites.  Heather likes to make people happy with her food and decided to add her collection of delightful treats to one place – her blog.

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    It is Sunday morning and I am a bit behind in my grocery shopping and realized I only had 4 eggs.  Hubby asked what’s for breakfast and I thought can’t make scrambled eggs since the egg supply was at an all time low along with no milk to be found in the refrigerator.  Then while deciding what to make from Heather’s blog, I found pumpkin scones, which would be just perfect, since they required no eggs and I did have some half n half in the refrigerator.  The big plus was that hubby loves anything with pumpkin. I know it is well past the pumpkin season, but what the heck – you have to make things you love regardless of the time of year. Who says you have to follow those “seasonal” rules?

    I chose to make the spiced glaze for the top and doubled the spices to add that extra flavor to these breakfast treats.  In addition, I used a large cookie scoop to form round scones versus the triangle version.  The overall results were a yummy in my tummy treat and a great way to start a Sunday!


    Pumpkin Scones with Spiced Glaze

    2 Cup Flour
    7 Tablespoons Sugar
    1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
    ½ teaspoon Salt
    1 teaspoon Cinnamon
    1 teaspoon Nutmeg
    ½ teaspoon Ground Cloves
    ½ teaspoon Ground Ginger
    ½ Cup + 1 Tablespoon of pumpkin puree
    3 tablespoons half n half
    1 Egg
    6 Tablespoon of Chilled Butter, cut into small cubes

    Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

    In a large bowl, add the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and spices and mix together.  Next add the chilled butter and break down with your fingers into small pieces and mix into the flour until small flakes appear.  In a small bowl, mix together the half and half, egg and pumpkin puree and mix well.  Add to the dry ingredients and mix until well combined.  Use a large ice cream scoop to form large balls of dough on a baking sheet. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes.

    Let cool then glaze with the spiced glaze. (Recipe below)

    Spiced Glaze

    1 Cup + 3 Tablespoon Powdered Sugar
    2 Tablespoon Water
    ½ teaspoon Cinnamon
    ¼ teaspoon Nutmeg
    ¼ teaspoon Ground Ginger
    ¼ teaspoon Ground Cloves

    Mix all together in a medium bowl and let sit for 10 minutes then glaze the cooled scones.  Enjoy!!


    To view all other recipes for the Secret Recipe Club January reveal, click here
       



       
       


       
       


       



       
       
        
       
       


       
       
        

       



       


    Wednesday, January 14, 2015

    Sparkly Shortbread Cookies | Blogger C.L.U.E. Society


    Hubby and I took down the last vestige of holiday decorations on Sunday.  Not sure about you, but I get to a point where I have enjoyed the holidays so much that when the New Year rolls around, it is time to pack these treasures away in anticipation of the day after Thanksgiving when the whole decorating process begins again.  The house looks sparse but that is how it is actually year round, just seems that way – a bit of holiday deception I guess. 

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    Now with the holidays behind us, it is time to make those resolutions for 2015 and set those goals and hit the ground running again.  I am excited for a new year and feel positive for what lies ahead. With that a new group I joined Blogger C.L.U.E. Society is in its 3rd month of existence.  Each month a theme is chosen and we are assigned a fellow blogger who does not know that we have them.  We peruse their site for a recipe that catches our eye and fits into the theme for the month.  For January, the theme is “something sparkly” – think champagne, sparkly sugar topped desserts, even sea salt garnished dishes.

    I was absolutely THRILLED to have received Azmina from Lawyer Loves Lunch.  Azmina and I have known each other for several years and she is simply a doll.  She recently had her second baby which keeps her and hubby quite busy – they are DARLING little guys.  Azmina is smart, talented, funny, warm, kind hearted and simply a great person to hang out with.  I am fortunate enough to actually see her this coming Saturday since a group of Bay Area Bloggers are getting together for our annual cookie exchange – a bit overdue from the holidays but better late than never.  I simply can’t wait to spend the day with everyone. Here is a photo from last year's get together at my house:


    Left to right:  Lisa from Ravishing Hunger, Jean from Lemon and Anchovies, Azmina from Lawyers Loves Lunch, Patty from Patty's Food, Me, Gina from SPCookieQueen and Liren from Kitchen Confidante

    A little know fact that you may or may not know about Azmina is that she was a contestant on Master Chef, season one.  She made it to number 16 and then unfortunately was sent home.  I remember reading about it prior to meeting her in person and thought it was so cool that she took that leap of faith.

    After cruising through all of her simply tasty recipes, I had the theme challenge in mind and selected her Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies.  They looked and sounded simply perfect.  Instead of chocolate, I made a simple icing and dipped in various sparkly sugars to fit the theme.  The outcome just made me smile.  Trust me – they are divine and you will have a hard time eating just one. 


    Sparkly Shortbread Cookies

    ¾ pound Butter (3 sticks), room temperature
    1 Cup Sugar
    2 teaspoon pure vanilla
    3 ½ Cup Flour
    ¼ teaspoon Salt

    Vanilla Glaze

    2 Cups of powdered sugar
    1 teaspoon Vanilla
    1 to 3 teaspoons of water

    In a bowl add the sugar and vanilla.  Slowly add one teaspoon at a time of water and stir.  Continue to add until the consistency is slightly thick but the glaze will drip off the cookie when dipped.

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

    In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the room temperature butter and beat with the paddle attachment until creamy.  Add the sugar, vanilla and salt and beat until well combined.  Slowly add the flour until all is incorporated.

    Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and shape into two flat disks.  Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes. 

    Roll the dough ½ inch thick and cut into a 3 by 1 inch rectangle. Place the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet.  Bake for 20 minutes or until the edges begin to brown.  Allow to cool to room temperature.


    When the cookies are cool dip into the vanilla glaze and let the excess drip off, then sprinkle with your choice of sparkly toppings.  Set on a rack to dry and then enjoy.


      • Sparkly Shortbread Cookies from Lisa of Authentic Suburban Gourmet
      • Cherry and Cream Pavlova from Ramona of Curry and Comfort
      • Pomegranate Champagne from Christy of Confessions of a Culinary Diva
      • Rosemary Peach Sparkling Cocktail from Alice of A Mama, Baby and Shar-pei in the Kitchen
      • tba from Azmina of Lawyer Loves Lunch
      • Maple, Caramel, Golden Sugar  Blondies from Kelli of Kelli's Kitchen
      • Strawberry Champagne Cocktail from Stacy of Food Lust People Love
      • Milky Way Martini from Aly of Cooking in Stilettos
      • Cornish Game Hens with Whisky Herb Citrus Glaze Lea Ann of Cooking on the Ranch
      • Peach Buckle from Anna of Anna Dishes
      • Potato Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette from Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm
      • Lemon-Ginger Crinkle Cookies from Jean of Lemons and Anchovies
      • Salted Toffee Chocolate Chunk Cookies from Liz of That Skinny Chick Can Bake
      • Blood Orange Margaritas from Liz  of That Skinny Chick Can Bake
      • Cardamom White Chocolate Panna Cotta from Debra of Eliot's Eats


      • Thursday, January 8, 2015

        Parmesan, Cheddar and Thyme Gougeres | Friday Night Bites


        Happy New Year!  We are now in a new year with new beginnings and new hopes and dreams.  I am excited for what 2015 has to offer.  If I look back on 2014, it was a great year with no regrets.  I am working on my goals for 2015 and excited about what will happen this year.  Do you have your goals and resolutions set for the New Year?

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        I absolutely loved creating my weekly series – Friday Night Bites.  I know for the last month or so, I have been a bit remiss in keeping up with the weekly postings.  It is one of my resolutions and/or goals to be consistent with this fun weekly series.  My hope is share innovative, classic and tasty recipes along with wine pairing ideas with each of you.  One of the things that I had heard years ago was that how you spend your New Years Eve sets the tone for the year.  Not sure if I quite believe it but if this New Years Eve is any indication, then it will be filled with great friends, divine wine and lots of laughs.  That works just fine for me.


        In the spirit of sharing something classic, I have the perfect Gougere recipe to share with you.  If you have never had the opportunity to enjoy this classic French treat, then now is the time.  It is prepared the same way you would a cream puff with the savory elements added. It is made out of a choux pastry dough or shoe paste with gruyere, Comte or Emmantaler cheeses added.  They originated from the Burgundyregion and are generally served cold when tasting wine in the cellars but also served warm as an appetizer.

        Over the holidays, I made the absolute perfect Gougeres and enhanced it with parmesan, cheddar and fresh thyme.  The combination was stunning and so perfect with a chilled glass of chardonnay or a glass of your favorite bubbly.  They are easy to prepare and will simply impress your guests!  Happy Friday Night Bites!


        Parmesan, Cheddar and Thyme Gougeres

        ¼ Cup Butter
        1 Cup Water
        1 Cup Flour
        Pinch of Cayenne
        ¼ teaspoon Salt
        1 Cup + 2 Tablespoons grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
        ½ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
        2 teaspoons Fresh Thyme, chopped
        4 Large Eggs

        Garnish

        1/3 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
        1 Tablespoon Fresh Thyme Leaves

        Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

        Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.  In a medium sized sauce pan bring the butter and water to a boil.   Remove from the heat and add the flour, cayenne, salt and pepper and stir well to blend.  Return to the heat and stir vigorously until the mixture forms a ball and a thin film forms on the bottom and sides of the pan.  Should be about 1 minute.

        Transfer mixture to a stand mixer and add the cheddar and parmesan and thyme and beat on low speed until combined.  Add the eggs, one at a time, fully incorporating each egg between additions and scrape bowl as needed.

        Use a small cookie or ice cream scooper to place 1 ½ rounds on the parchment and space at least 1 inch apart.  Dip your finger in water to gently pat down each gougere to form a round top.  Sprinkle the top of each gougere with parmesan and a sprig of fresh thyme.


        Bake until puffed and golden brown and centers are cooked through but still moist.  About 20 to 25 minutes.  Let cool slightly and serve.