Taylor and I don't agree often on what to have for supper. A problem, considering we dine together regularly, just the two of us. There is one thing, however, that we always agree on. Parmesan cheese. When we are approaching hour number 2 in the negotiations, I often fall back on a couple of standby recipes that have Parmesan cheese as a main player. Here's one:
Parmesan Puffs
1/4 cup milk
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan
In a small heavy saucepan combine the milk, 1/4 cup water, the butter, and the salt and bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to moderate, add the flour all at once, and beat the mixture with a wooden spoon until it leaves the side of the pan and forms a ball. transfer the mixture to a bowl, whisk in the eggs, 1 at a time, whisking well after each addition, and stir in the Parmesan and pepper to taste. Drop the batter in 8 mounds on a buttered baking sheet and bake the puffs in the upper third of a preheated 400°F. oven for 20 minutes, or until they are crisp and golden. The puffs may be served as an hors d'oeuvre or as an accompaniment to soups, meats, and poultry and may be stored overnight in an airtight container.
Makes 8.
Super easy, super fast and the whole house smells like Parmesan cheese and fresh baked bread.
You can have these with almost anything--a bowl of pasta, soup and salad, roasted chicken. You can make a glorious sandwich with them, or on nights when no one is really all that hungry, just put your favorite filling in them and you're done!
Kristin