Easy Puff Pastry Cheese Sticks

These crispy, flaky, cheesy sticks require just a few ingredients and 15 minutes of your time. Very easy to put together with absolutely no experience needed. They go with dips, salads, soups, beer and yet, kids favorite crunchy snack.

More recipes with puff pastry on my cooking blog.

Easy Puff Pastry Cheese Sticks

Natalija
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 13 minutes
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 sheet all butter puff pastry
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 50 g shredded cheese
  • Some Herbes de Provence or any herbs of your choice
  • freshly ground black pepper (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. On a parchment paper roll out the puff pastry.
  • Whisk the egg yolk and spread evenly over the puff pastry.
  • Sprinkle cheese, herbs and pepper on top of the yolk mixture. Slice with a pizza cutter into 1 cm strips.
  • Bake for 7-9 minutes.
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Easy Madeleines

Very light, fluffy and tasty French cookies. Classic small sponge cakes shaped like seashell, usually made with lemon zest. I love lemon, but I decided not to add any to my madeleines. I just like them plain.

You can find molds for mini-madeleines. That’s really nice and you can savor them for a cafe gourmand.

French Madeleines

Natalija
To make an authentic madeleine, you will need a madeleine pan. But you can use a muffin pan or any cake pan.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 24 pieces

Ingredients
  

  • 4 eggs
  • 200 g sugar
  • 120 ml milk
  • 200 g all purpose flour sifted
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 120 g unsalted butter melted

Instructions
 

  • In a medium bowl combine eggs and sugar. Whip until light. Add milk and mix well.
  • Carefully fold in the flour, baking powder and pinch of salt.
  • Add melted butter and mix throughly until smooth. Let the batter rest in the fridge for about 15 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Butter madeleine pan. My pan makes 12 cookies at a time. From this receipe you’ll make 24 cookies.
  • Spoon batter into the prepared molds, filling 3/4 full. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are golden and the tops spring back. Remove the madeleines from the oven and let cool for 2 minutes.
  • With a knife or fork carefully loosen the madeleines from the pan and then tip the whole pan out to a prepared plate.
  • If you want to make it in a loaf pan, it will take much longer, about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake come out clean.
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Creamy And Buttery Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs are the perfect healthy appetizers and always welcome at a party. This is very easy recipe of stuffed eggs with softened butter and a bit of garlic.

Stuffed Eggs

Natalija
To cook a perfect boiled eggs, simply place eggs in a large saucepan. Cover them with cool water by 1 inch. Cover pan with a lid and bring to a boil over high heat, boil for 6 to 7 minutes over medium heat for perfect hard boiled eggs.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 10 people

Ingredients
  

  • 10 hard boiled eggs
  • 2 tsp softened butter
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp mayonnaise
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • salt to taste
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • fresh dill

Instructions
 

  • Carefully peel the eggs and slice them in half lengthwise. Remove yollk and transfer it to a medium bowl.
  • Mash the yolk with a fork until crumbly.
  • Add the mayonnaise, butter,garlic, salt and pepper and combine until incorporated.
  • Place the mixture in a piping bag fitted with a medium tip (or teaspoon), pipe the yollk mixture into the whites.
  • Garnish with fresh dill.
  • Refrigerate before serving.
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Shortcrust pastry

Shortcrust pastry (or pie crust) is very popular when making quiche, pie, tart and tartelettes. You’ll be amazed how easy it is to make this unsweetened pie shell. It turns out light, crumbly, crunchy and deliciously buttery. After trying making this recipe you will never go back to store-bought crust again.

Shortcrust pastry

Natalija
Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap, then freeze. It can last up to 3 months.
This is also called pie crust pastry.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 240 g all purpose flour
  • 2-3 pinches of salt
  • 125 g softened unsalted butter
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2-3 Tbsp water

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl or on the clean table surface combine salt and flour together. Add chunks of softened butter.
  • Use finger to combine until crumbly.
  • Add egg yolks and start to knead the dough, only add as much water as dough needs. Do not over-knead.
  • Shape into a ball.
  • Wrap in plastic wrap and chill at least for 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 380°F. Unwrap dough and roll into a thin circle between two pieces of parchment paper.
  • Fit dough into a tart pan, press firmly on bottom and sides. Trim any extra dough. Pick all over with a fork.
  • Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes, until pie shell is lightly golden.
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Three Layer Chocolate Mousse

Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate… Each layer has different taste and texture. You can use any size glasses you desire. And of course, as always, I choose mini portions. Ideal for a Cafe Gourmand.

Three layer chocolate mousse

Natalija
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 6 hours 35 minutes
Servings 6 serving

Ingredients
  

Dark chocolate ganache

  • 120 ml heavy whipping cream
  • 100 g dark chocolate

Milk chocolate mousse

  • 100 g milk chocolate
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 pinch salt

White chocolate mousse

  • 150 ml heavy whipping cream
  • 100 g white chocolate

For garnishing

  • 6-8 fresh raspberries

Instructions
 

Dark chocolate ganache

  • In a small pan, boil the heavy whipping cream. Pour the boiling cream over the dark chocolate. Wait for one minute and mix it until the mixture is smooth.
  • Divide dark chocolate ganache among six glasses. Refrigerate for one hour.

Milk chocolate mousse

  • Separate egg yolks from the egg whites.
  • Melt milk chocolate in microwave until the chocolate is completely melted. Add egg yolks in melted chocolate and mix well.
  • Whisk egg whites with salt until stiff.
  • Carefully fold in the egg whites into chocolate.
  • Remove glasses from the fridge, spoon the mousse over the chocolate gonache and chill for another hour.

White chocolate mousse

  • Bring the heavy whipping cream to a boil. Pour the hot cream over the white chocolate. Wait 1-2 minutes until white chocolate melts.
  • Whisk until smooth. Place white chocolate in the fridge for about 45 minutes. Chocolate should chill completely but at the same time still liquid.
  • Beat the chilled chocolate until soft foam.
  • Using piping bag or small spoon, spread the mousse into the glasses.
  • Refrigerate your dessert for 4-6 hours.
  • Before serving, garnish each glass with fresh berries. If the portion is mini, you can cut raspberries into 2 pieces.
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Irish Coffee

The perfect cocktail to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, the national holiday of Ireland. Irish Coffee is quickly prepared with coffee, sugar, heavy whipping cream, and whisky!

Irish coffee

Natalija
Heat the cup or glass before preparing.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1 cup

Ingredients
  

  • 1 black coffee
  • 1/2 tea spoon brown sugar or powder sugar (optional)
  • 2 Tbsp whisky
  • A bit of heavy whipping cream

Instructions
 

  • Pour the whiskey and the sugar in the bottom of the cup. Prepare a black coffee and pour it in to the glass.
  • Finish with a little bit of heavy whipping cream (preferably homemade) on the whiskey coffee. Serve right away.
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Tuna pate with smoked salmon

Delicious Tuna and Smoked Salmon Pate is an amazing appetizer served with fresh or toasted bread.

Tuna pate with smoked salmon

Natalija
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 6 hours 15 minutes
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

  • 160 g tuna in water drained
  • 5-6 slices smoked salmon
  • 160 g mascarpone cheese
  • 1/2 onion chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • fresh dill to taste

Instructions
 

  • In a bowl, combine together mascarpone cheese and tuna, mash it with fork.
  • Add chopped dill and minced onion, salt and pepper.
  • Add finely chopped smoked salmon and stir together.
  • Transfer to a small dish and garnish with chopped fresh dill or with thin slices of salmon. Cover with food plastic wrap.
  • Chill in the fridge for at least 6 hours.

Notes

Keyword smoked salmon, tuna pate
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Ham And Cheese Quiche

The Quiche is a French open faced pie. Amazing dish which can be served with tossed salad, roasted potatoes, bouillon ( broth ) or just by itself.

Ham and cheese quiche

Natalija
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 sheet all butter puff pastry
  • 3 eggs
  • 150 ml cream
  • 150 g ham
  • 70 g shredded cheese
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • On parchment paper, roll puff pastry out to larger than the size of your baking dish circle. Transfer to a pie plate. Using a fork, prick the surface of the dough to keep it from puffing up.
  • Pop in the oven for 10-12 minutes or until the crust starts to turn light gold. Remove the pastry from the oven, pressing the center down with a fork, if it puffed up a bit.
  • Cut ham into small cubes and spread on top of the dough.
  • Sprinkle with shredded cheese.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, cream, salt and pepper. Pour evenly over the cheese layer.
  • Bake for 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a tooth pick comes clean.
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Course: Main Dish

Liquor 44

One orange, one liter of vodka or rum, 44 coffee beans, 44 pieces of sugar, and 44 days of infusion. A French alcohol drink that will enchant your guests. Consume with moderation!

Liquor 44

Natalija
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 59 minutes
Servings 1 litre

Ingredients
  

  • 1 orange organic
  • 44 coffee beans
  • 44 pieces of sugar (or 220 g of granulated sugar)
  • 1 liter vodka or white rum

Instructions
 

  • Wash a jar with boiling water then dry it. Wash and dry the orange.
  • With a knife, make 44 cuts in the orange and put a coffee bean in each hole.
  • Put the orange in the jar and add the sugar.
  • Add the vodka (or rum).
  • Close the jar well, keep it in a cool and dark place for 44 days.
  • Throw away the orange (sadly it is not good anymore). Filter the liquor and pour into a bottle.
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Juicy French Style Pork Tenderloin

I lived in France more than 10 years. My husband is French but neither he or his parents have heard of this dish. The French don’t even suspect that this dish is called French style meat, but Russians eat this meat and know that it truly is “French style meat”.

Juicy French Style Pork Tenderloin

Natalija
The main ingredients in this dish are meat, mayonnaise, cheese and onion, lots of onion.
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 6 pork tenderloin chops
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1-2 onion
  • 200 g cheese shredded
  • 5-6 Tbsp mayonnaise

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 380 degrees F. Line medium baking dish with aluminum foil.
  • Place each piece of meat between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound with the flat side of meat tenderizer until about 1/4 inch thick. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
  • Lay the meat out on the baking dish. Peel and cut the onion (half-moon). Arrange the onion on top of the pork. Sprinkle with shredded cheese. Spread mayonnaise all over the meat.
  • Bake for about 40 minutes until golden brown.
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