It doesn't take long to realize that responsibilities gained in your 20s are not all that exciting. Paying bills, taxes and working for the man are all about as cool as they sound. Luckily, holidays are the perfect opportunity to revert to your immature pre-grown up self. Hiding outside the kitchen to avoid washing dishes, fighting over the remote with siblings and trying to hide your hangover from grandma are ways to invoke that comforting feeling of being a teenager again - living in someone else’s home, with everything taken care of.
As great as that is, it’s also time for a reality check; you are too old to show up to thanksgiving empty handed. It is time to contribute. So do something different this year and impress your friends and family by bringing a delicious and simple appetizer. It will take you 25 minutes to make and maybe even redeem the odor of your beer infused sweat from last night’s high school reunion.
Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry Bites
-2 sheets puff pastry (Pepperidge farm – found in freezer section) – put in fridge or leave out for a few hours so it defrosts.
-¼ pound thinly sliced ham (from deli)
-¼ pound thinly sliced provolone cheese
-1 egg
-Dijon mustard (Grey Poupon of course)
-Preheat oven to 425 degrees
-Take a big sheet of tinfoil and put it on the counter – spray it with Pam
-Put the defrosted puff pastry on the tinfoil and unfold it so it is one big square (it comes folded in thirds).
-Spread a think layer of Grey Poupon on the puff pastry leaving about an inch border around the sides
- Put a layer of ham on top of the mustard, and then put a layer of provolone on top of the ham.
-Crack the egg into a cup or bowl and beat with a little water, then brush the border around the layers with the egg/water mixture (if you don’t have a brush just use your fingers.).
- Unfold the 2nd sheet of puff pastry and place on top of the layers.
- Take a rolling pin or wine bottle and roll out the whole thing to make it a bit thinner. Press around the edges with your finger to seal the sides.
- Brush the rest of the egg mixture on the top of the pastry.
- Cut a few slits in the top of the puff pastry to ventilate.
-Bake on sprayed tinfoil in the oven for 17-20 minutes (until slightly golden.)
-Once pastry has cooled a bit take the top of your Pam spray bottle and use it like a cookie cutter to cut out little circular ham and cheeses.
-Serve the circles with a little dish of Grey Poupon for everyone’s dipping pleasure.
