Parmesan Spinach Swirls

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Pre-Notes

Make sure cheese is well blended in and not clumped so that it will come out of the piping bag. Make sure to use a large tip.

Ingredients

Parmesan Puff Dough

1. 1/2 c margarine or butter
2. 1 c water
3. 1 c all-purpose flour
4. 1/4 t ground red pepper
5. 4 eggs
6. 1/3 c grated Parmesan cheese

Spinach-Cheese Filling

7. 1 (10 oz) pkg. frozen chopped spinach
8. 1 (3 oz) pkg cream cheese with chives, softened
9. 1 beaten egg
10. dash nutmeg
11. 2 T finely chopped pimento
12. 2 T feta cheese, crumbled

Parmesan Spinach Swirls

13. aluminum foil
14. cooking spray

Instructions

Parmesan Puff Dough

1. In a medium saucepan melt margarine or butter. Add water; bring to a boil.
2. Add flour and red pepper all at once; stir vigorously. Cook and stir till mixture forms a ball that does not separate. Remove from heat; let stand about 5 minutes or till slightly cooled.
3. Add the eggs, one at a time, stirring vigorously with a wooden spoon after each addition for 1 to 2 minutes or till smooth. (I use an electrtic mixer on a very low speed, as this can hurt your hand.)
4. Stir in the 1/3 c parmesan cheese.

Spinach-Cheese Filling

1. Thaw spinach. Drain well, squeezing out excess moisture.
2. Stir in cream cheese, egg, nutmeg, pimento, and feta cheese.

Parmesan Spinach Swirls

1. Preheat oven to 400°F
2. Line baking sheets with foil; grease foil.
3. Drop spinach filling by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto prepared baking sheets, mounding filling slightly.
4. Place dough in a pastry bag fitted with a 5/8 inch wide star tip.
5. Pipe dough around filling mounds in one or more concentric cirles, starting at base and working toward top, leaving filling uncovered in center.
6. Bake in a 400°F oven 16 to 18 minutes or till golden brown.
7. Serve immediately.

To freeze

1. Transfer appetizers to wire racks to cool. Place in freezer bags for up to 1 month.
2. To reheat, place frozen appetizers on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes or till heated through.

Parmesan Puffs - without the spinach filling.

1. Place dough in pastry bag fitted with a 5/8 inch plain tip.
2. On a greased baking sheet pipe dough into 32 mounds, each 1 3/4 inches in diameter. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
3. Bake at 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes or till puffy and golden.
4. Serve warm, makes 32.

How to Photos

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