Although I have not travelled to Paris, I know that my love for pastry-making has been enjoyed by my family and has kept alive the memories of my parents' stories.
A simple breakfast treat that I have made for years is called Danish Puff. The recipe came from the old red Betty Crocker cookbook...the bible of basic cooking as far as I am concerned. The newer versions of the cookbook lack so many features and recipes...it is a pale cousin to the original book; I guard my old red book carefully.
The Danish Puff has a center that is custard-like...it magically appears after the pastry is baked. This breakfast treat is not overly sweet...the bottom is wonderfully crisp...it is a simple, yet almost elegant pastry. The recipe makes two long strips or individual, round pastries.
(Wrap leftovers in plastic, do not refrigerate...it will make the bottom crust soggy).
½ C Butter
1 C Flour
2 T Water
½ C Butter
1 C Water
1 tsp Almond extract
3 Eggs
Confectioner’s sugar glaze
(1 C powdered sugar combined with 2 T margarine. Add 1 tsp vanilla and
Chopped nuts
Heat oven to 350. Cut ½ C butter into 1 cup flour. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons water over mixture; Round into ball and divide in half. On ungreased baking sheet, pat each half into strip, 12x3 inches. Strips should be about 3 inches apart.
Heat ½ cup butter and 1 cup water to rolling boil in med. Saucepan. Remove from heat and quickly stir in almond extract and 1 cup of flour. Stir vigorously over low heat until mixture forms a ball about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Beat in eggs all at once, until smooth and glossy. Divide in half and spread each evenly over strips.
Bake about 50- 60 minutes or until topping is crisp and brown. Cool.
(Topping will shrink and fall, forming the custardy top of this puff).
Glaze: Mix 1 C powdered sugar with 2 T margarine, 1 tsp. vanilla flavoring and 1-2 T milk. Mix well.
Individual puffs…pat dough into 3-inch circles and proceed as above. Topping should extend just beyond the edge. Bake 30 min. Makes 2 dozen.
Marian wrote: The pastry sounds really good. Perhaps I should bake some to share at the square dance. I frequently come up with a blank when I try to think of something to bring.
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