These melt-in-the-mouth cheese pies make good party food. They can be eaten hot or warm. You can make them in advance and heat them through before serving. Use fresh or frozen and defrosted puff pastry.

　　

Ingredients

makes 32 pies

　　1 pound puff pastry

　　Flour

　　2 to 3 tablespoons butter, melted

　　

For the Filling

1/2 pound mozzarella cheese

　　1/2 pound feta cheese

　　2 eggs, lightly beaten

　　

Step 1

It is important to roll out the puff pastry as thinly as you possibly can. It is easier to do this if you cut it into four equal pieces and roll out each one separately. Dust the rolling surface and the rolling pin with flour. Roll out the first sheet of pastry, turning it over and dusting it with flour. Cut 6 rounds with a 4-inch pastry cutter. Make a ball out of the off-cuts, roll this out, and make 2 more rounds. Put the 8 rounds in a pile and wrap it in plastic wrap. Do the same with the remaining pastry.

　　

Step 2

For the filling, blend the mozzarella in the food processor. In a bowl, mash the feta cheese with a fork, add the mozzarella, and mix well together, then mix in the eggs.

　　

Step 3

Put a tablespoon of the filling on one half of each round of pastry. Dip your finger in water and slightly dampen the pastry edges (this will make them stick better), then fold the pastry over the filling to make a half-moon shape. Seal the pies by pinching the edges very firmly together. A traditional way is to finish the pies by twisting the edges, making a scalloped effect; another is to press down the edges with the prongs of a fork.

　　

Step 4

Arrange the pies on sheets of foil on baking trays. Brush the tops with melted butter and bake them in an oven preheated to 400°F for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until they are puffed up and lightly golden.

　　

variations

Step 5

Instead of baking, deep-fry the pies in vegetable oil, turning them over once. Drain them on absorbent paper towels.

　　

Step 6

For a shiny golden color, instead of brushing with melted butter, brush the pies with an egg yolk mixed with a drop of water.

　　Arabesque