But it's always great when you taste something that you baked for the sole purpose of getting it baked and find that you really really like it. Then it's all worth it. Such was the case with this week's Tuesdays with Dorie recipe, Cottage Cheese Pufflets, which were chosen by Jacque of Daisy Lane Cakes. It's not that they didn't sound good to me -- they did. But I baked these in a hurry several weeks ago before heading out of town to visit my adorable new baby nephew, so I was kind of checking things off the ol' list left and right, and the pufflets were just another item on the list, along with "buy TSA-approved baggies" and "pick up monogrammed bib." Therefore, I remember very little about baking them. I don't think they gave me too much trouble, or I would have remembered. I know that some people found the dough to be hard to work with, but I don't recall having any particular issues with it. I know that I did a poor job sealing them, as the jam kind of oozed out while they were baking, as you can see in the picture.
I do know that we really liked these. The pufflets were more breakfast pastry-ish than dessert pastry-ish, in my opinion. The dough puffed as it was supposed to puff and was flaky, tender and not too sweet. It went well with strawberry jam, which I can see from the pictures that I used. I might have made a few with apricot jam as well. David?
I knew that David would be turned off by the name "cottage cheese" pufflets. As I handed him one, I thought for a split second about calling them "jam pufflets" or "pufflet pastries" or "jam pastry thingies," but I told it like it was -- "cottage cheese pufflets" -- and watched him grimace. But fortunately, the worst thing about these is their name, and after one bite hubs was a believer in the deliciousness of cottage cheese dough. Who knew?
Thank you Jacque for the great pick!
37 comments:
I felt the same way about the dacquoise, and we ended up loving that one. My pufflet dough is chilling and may have to wait until tomorrow night. I'm very inspired by how yours turned out, I think they look fabulous with the jam oozing out!
I think you must have been on cold medication. :) The dough was a horror to work with... (for little old me). But it was worth it - and my jam leaked out too - they're supposed to be rustic, little tart things. SO glad you enjoyed the baking experience, what little you remember - and that everyone enjoyed them. That makes it all worthwhile! Well done!
I didn't have issues with the dough, either. After reading the p & Q, I flooded nearly everything in sight with flour, so stickiness wasn't an issue. HAHAHA.
Your pufflets look delicious...and I agree with Leslie, the jam-ooziness just makes them prettier.:)
Congratulations on your new nephew!
I admire your philosophy, and your puffy jam pastry thingies! Don't you just love it when ticking something off on your to-do list is actually fun? I generally have to not-think-about-the-cottage-cheese too...though of all things, I use it (pureed) in a pasta dish, where it makes a wonderful creamy sauce. Makes me grimace, too, until I taste it!
They look great! Yours are the nicest I have seen so far this morning.
I like that they are not too sweet. Perfect for tea time.
I couldn't agree more about the words "cottage cheese" in the name. I quickly renamed mine also. Your pictures are gorgeous and very tempting.
Yeah ! i'm glad you and the family liked them ! I did to even my picky Carlo eat the ones with the nutella filling !!
I approached these cottage cheese pufflets with exactly the same reservations. Uninviting name. Too much like the previous week's turnovers. Don't think. Just bake. But I loved them, too!
I like how the jam is oozing out of them. Very pretty and puffy.
I think the reason you can't remember baking these is that the experience was so trying that you're surpressing it! I'm amazed that your dough didn't get sticky or have to hang out in the freezer for awhile... no, seriously, your pufflets look amazing.
And baking because you are a baker and that's what bakers do - that sounds like the "right" reason to me!
Well - you are the first person I've come across that didn't have issues with this one.
What's you secret? Black magic? Sorcery? Secret spells?
So glad you enjoyed these. Yours really look beautiful! My boyfriend wasn't around to taste these, but when I told him the name he replied with an "ewww gross!" Haha, his loss!
Your pufflets look amazing! They look exactly like they're named (except for the cottage cheese part)- pufflets! I love the jam sticking out, it makes the pufflet look more delicious!
I hope I have the same experience you did with the dough when I roll it out tonight!
Yours look TASTY! Love them!
I decided to use phylo dough instead and used the cottage cheese as a filling. :)
You are a way more honest person than I am, the presence of cottage cheese in these is a highly guarded secret in my house. I feared that if my family knew the truth they'd refuse to even sample one and I'd be "stuck" eating them. ALL of them, so they wouldn't go to waste, LOL, and I just can't handle that many extra calories. (Wow, see how hard I'm working to justify my lie of omission?) Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed them and totally agree, they are more breakfast-y than dessert-y.
I wouldn't tell my husband what they were called until he tried a bite!
I totally know where you're coming from with the baking because you just need to get it done. I think that's why I've slowed down a bit with both baking and blogging lately. I didn't make this week's TWD yet, but that's mainly because I was out of town all weekend. I'm glad to hear that you guys enjoyed them.
They look Puff Daddy Delicious!
I was not in the mood to make these either, but went for it. They were a royal pain in my tush, but pretty good tasting!
I know what you mean about baking just to get it done. It's nice, though, when you're actually rewarded with a dessert you like. I'm glad you and hubs liked this one.
Thanks for baking along this week :)
This dough was totally a PITA for me. Glad it worked well for you! The name really does need to be changed.
Not only are these gorgeous but you had no issues? I don't think you give yourself enough credit. I am truly impressed.
This wasn't a hit for me. I didn't think I was baking them just to bake them but...
They look lovely and I am happy to hear they were a hit. We liked them as well, but I am just not into fussy things, and this, in my mind, was a very fussy thing. The guys were popping them like little bites of popcorn or something...they were gone in no time.
In my opinion, the oozing jam just makes these even more appealing.
I didn't bake this week, but I hope to give these a try soon.
Well, I have to say, your post makes me want to try these again! Maybe I was really just in a bad mood or something because they don't really sound that bad from your perspective.
They look great, Cathy- nice and puffed and golden.
I'm glad you compelled yourself to bake along this week so I could see what these were supposed to look like!
I, too, didn't think the dough was quite as horrible as others did. I just used loads of flour on the counter.
Your puffs of long ago look great, so I would call that a definite success. That and the fact that your husband liked them!
My husband despises cottage cheese (Hence the not mentioning it in the title of my post, well, that and a friend who I made the Reese ones for LOVED them and would hate me forever if he ever knew he ate something with cottage cheese in it.) You rock getting these done weeks ago!
And I totally agree about the baking and baking in a group thing and doing it just because we signed up to. It's almost mechanical. Well, maybe not that bad. ;) Bring on the chocolate goodness for next week!
If they have cottage cheese in them can they be classified as health food? ;-) They look puffy and delicious!
I did the same thing... made pretend bubie liked cottage cheese after altering so much there is no way in h--- he could recognize it, then... tolf him: "But of course! I knew it all along you liked cottage cheese!!!" lol ...although, it was a bit harder to do with the escargots!!! lol (believe it or not, even after saying he doesn't like them, he's the one who ate the most! pffff... men.)
No wonder you keep a good memory of those pufflets. They look way more flakier than many... super tender and very yummy! Anyone for cottage cheese now? David?
Every now and then, a recipe surprises you. Actually, I thought I'd like mine more than I did, but mine didn't look as cute as yours. At the very least, this recipe will improve cottage cheese's reputation among the cc-haters.
totally agree about baking just to get the thing baked! lol...
Now you have made me want to try these. I passed them up due to their name but now I am curious! I am happy to hear you enjoyed them.
these totally surprised me too!
Cathy, those look amazing! You need to start sharing your creations with the 31st floor! wink wink!
I feel like I have been so cut off from the blogging world! Its time to catch back up.
I think the jam leakage is just expected. I sealed mine really, really well and they still leaked. Ah, well.....
Yours look soooo tasty.
A new baby nephew and pufflets? Hooray!
It looks fabulous.... I have not joined the club yet as I can barely keep up with Daring bakers.. yikes..
They turned out well - great job! I know what you mean about baking "because that's what you do" - can sometimes take the joy out of it.
Ok I officially stink - two weeks late to comment on your pufflets?? Unacceptable. I'm so with you on these though. I was totally put off by the "cottage cheese" in the name and I only baked them in order to participate with the group. Then I had my first bite and discovered they were delicious!! Glad they were a hit for you guys too :)
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