I love informal gatherings. A little bit of vino, lots of good friends, and quick easy finger food. Food that can be picked up and eaten without utensils makes for great mingling and easy peasy cleanup! One of my favorites are cheese puffs. They require water, butter, flour, and cheese.

Begin by placing one stick of butter and one cup of water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Once the butter has completely melted, add one cup of all purpose flour. Stir well with a wooden spoon until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan. (It is important to stir constantly or the flour will stick and burn and then you just have a mess). Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool a minute or two. Then add four eggs and one egg yolk… one at a time. Using the wooden spoon, make sure to stir each egg until it fully incorporates into the flour/butter/water mixture before adding the next egg. As the eggs incorporate, the batter will go from being shiny and a bit “slippery” to being a bit sticky. Once all of the eggs are completely mixed in, add about 2c of any good quality shredded cheese. I have used Gruyere, Gouda, Asiago, Sharp Provolone, and shredded Parmigiano. Whatever you like. Mix the cheese into the batter. Grease two cookie sheets with butter. Using two teaspoons, drop teaspoon-sized mounds onto the cookie sheets. Leave a bit of space between each drop. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 18 to 20 minutes. The puffs will rise and be golden in color when they are ready. The outside will have a bit of a crust and the inside will be moist and airy.

These cheese puffs are a great appetizer. They can be prepared the day before and refrigerated..and then popped in the oven (just allow them to come to room temperature before baking). Making them is easy…eating just one..well that is another story!

Buon appetito!