Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Gougeres: Catching Up is Sweet (or Savory)

See the spiky cheesy goodness of a gougere hot out of the oven.
I couldn't pass up an excuse to make gougeres. I realize that French Fridays will be easier for me because I pretty much have all the ingredients for the savory recipes...I just do. That baking on Tuesdays With Dorie just wore me out with the sweet ingredients I didn't have...never a chance to do a quick baking session.

Gougeres? Simple. Bring milk and water, salt, butter to the boil. Add flour all at once and stir HARD. (It ends up looking like mashed potatoes). Then put that batter into mixing bowl. Beat with paddle, adding eggs, one at a time. Then beat in 6 ounces of the BEST grated cheese you can imagine. Spoon (or ice cream scoop) onto trays. Bake until golden brown.

Eat one hot. Eat another one hot. Try not to eat them all. Give a big batch to office staff. Knock on neighbors' doors (yes, PLURAL)...take them to rooftop and give them to friends while savoring sunset and a glass of wine. Offer to random passers by...take the to game night and force players to enjoy...finally hide one so you can savor the custardy, cheesy, salty goodness of the gougere one last time.

But then? Don't remember how easy they are to make. Don't make them again and eat THEM for dinner instead of a proper dinner tonight.

Just don't.

DO Check out other blogs and photos at French Fridays with Dorie..
And of course, buy the book!

7 comments:

Tara said...

Ooh! So these are like savory cream puffs? Is that a really low-brow question? (If so, you certainly aren't surprised.)Anyway, I will have to try them.

Babette said...

Tara, not stupid! It is the very same dough with this addition of most excellent cheese. Don't be cheap wih the cheese here, because the flavor is ....all about the cheese! Simple and divine.

Nichicakes said...

I dont know if I could give them away! They look so yummy!

Celia said...

I love these, and Dorie's new book! I've decided I like the French cooking book even better than her first baking one. We've just made the beef cheek daube...hmmmmm....

Pamela said...

These are so delightfully simple! No one would ever know that from just looking at them, though. Nice!

Anonymous said...

These look delicious! I wonder if chicken salad or something else would make a fun filling of the Gourgeres for a "proper lunch" or dinner! haha...then we wouldn't feel quite so guilty!

Anonymous said...

Gougeres are my favorite! We always have them on Christmas. My mom likes to make them into a ring instead of individual ones.