Gougere

Rich and tasty appetizer or salad accompaniment

These fill your home with a fragrance that makes people want to try them. They are rich and tasty as an appetizer or served with a salad. For a showstopper, form the dough into one large ring that you can set another dish (salad, for instance) within.

Ingredients

• 8 tablespoons butter

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 4 eggs

• 1 1/2 cups coarsely grated Gruyere cheese

• 3 tablespoons fresh parsley

• 3 tablespoons fresh dill

• 3 tablespoons fresh chives

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

In a saucepan, combine the butter, salt, and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil.

Remove from the heat and add the flour all at once and beat well with a wooden spoon until the flour is incorporated.

Return the saucepan to moderate heat and cook until the dough becomes quite stiff and pulls away from the sides of the pan.

Remove from the heat again and beat in the eggs, one at a time. Stir in 1 cup of the cheese and all the chopped herbs.

Place the dough into the cups of a small buttered muffin tin for delicate pieces. Or you may form a ring of dough and place it on a greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Serve warm.