Smoked Gouda

Smoked Gouda

smoked gouda, round wheel

Pillsbury pastry dough (or your own recipe)

Cheese...yum!  If you are like me, cheese & bread are about two of my favorites!  It brings back memories of living in Spain for me, when we lived above a bakery & smelled fresh bread every day.  Well, this one is so simple & the perfect appetizer for most any meal.

Just take a round of smoked gouda, or other soft cheese of your choice.  Then, preheat oven according to pastry package.  Now, wrap the cheese with the pastry, trim off the edges & seal it tight.  I like to use the left over dough to make a bow on the top.  You could do your initial, leaves or just leave it plain.

Place in the oven & follow instruction on pastry box.  Make sure not to remove until the dough looks browned.  If your decorative bow seems to get too done, just remove it while the rest finishes baking & then replace it after removing from the oven.  Serve warm.

There are many variations of this easy technique.  Trish sent me one recently that looked wonderful.  She wrapped brie, with a layer of cranberry relish, in puff pastry.  It's all the same idea & looks extra pretty with a layer of mint jelly or chutney on top of the cheese too.  You can be creative & just follow your pastry direction.

Happy baking this holiday & enjoy all the warmth that comes with bringing something like Smoke Gouda Wrapped In Pastry to the table!