Cheddar Nut Paté Recipes

CHEDDAR-WALNUT GOUGèRES

Steps:

• Set a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 400 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Put the butter, milk, salt and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil. Add the flour all at once, set heat to medium-low and stir without stopping until the mixture pulls away from the pan easily and comes together in a ball. Keep stirring energetically for 3 minutes more; the drier the dough, the better the gougères. Scrape the dough into a mixer with a paddle attachment (or into a large bowl, if you're mixing by hand), and let sit for 1 minute.
• With the mixer at medium speed, add the 4 eggs one by one, and beat for 1 minute after each goes in, scraping the bowl as needed. As you're working, the dough may break into curds; just keep going - it's always fine once the egg white goes in.
• Beat in the egg white, then the mustard. Reduce the mixer speed to low, and blend in the cheese followed by the nuts. Give the dough a few good beats with a sturdy spatula.
• Working with a small cookie scoop or 2 spoons, scoop balls, each about 2 teaspoons, onto the sheets, leaving an inch between each. (Gougères are excellent baked from frozen. They can be frozen at this point; set them in an airtight container once frozen solid.)
• Working with one baking sheet of fresh gougères at a time, slide the gougères into the oven and turn the heat down to 375. Bake for 22 to 24 minutes, or until the gougères are puffed, golden and firm enough to pick up. (If baking frozen gougères, arrange them on a lined baking sheet, and leave at room temperature while you heat the oven. You may need to bake them a couple minutes more, so keep an eye on them.) Serve immediately. Baked gougères can also be reheated briefly in a 350-degree oven.

POTTED CHEDDAR WITH ALE & MUSTARD

Steps:

• Put the cheese, 100g butter and ale in a food processor. Blitz until creamy and well combined. Stir in the mustard, then pack into a large sterilised jar, ramekin or ceramic pot, making sure to eliminate any air pockets.
• Melt the remaining butter and leave to sit for a minute to let the fat separate from the milk solids (these will form a milky puddle at the bottom). Pour the clear fat over the cheese, leaving the milk solids in the pan. Place a thyme sprig on top, if using, and chill for a few hours. The sealed cheese will keep for a couple of months in the fridge. Once you've cracked the buttery crust, use up within a week.

CHEDDAR-NUT PATé

Steps:

• 1. In a small mixer bowl at medium speed, beat cheese, butter and wine until well blended and fluffy.2. At low speed, beat in nuts. Pack into a crock or a glass jar. Cover and chill.3. Remove from refrigerator about 1 hour before serving.

MUSHROOM & NUT PATE

Steps:

• Spread nuts in shallow pan and toast in oven until lightly browned (note: if you're using a combination of nuts, toast each kind separately, as some take longer than others).
• Melt butter or margarine in large frying pan/skilled on medium heat.
• Add onions, garlic, mushrooms, salt, thyme, and pepper.
• Cook, stirring occasionally,'til onion is soft and most of the juices have evaporated.
• In food processor, whirl nuts to form paste.
• Add oil and whirl until creamy.
• Add mushroom mixture and whirl until smooth.
• Can be served hot, cold, or even at room temperature with fresh bread or your favorite crackers.