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♥♥♥Surprise!♥♥♥

♥♥♥Megan & Ben are getting married!♥♥♥

Well, it’s no surprise that Megan and Ben are getting married…just look at how utterly adorable they are in that engagement photo! Any couple that can make each other laugh like that are definitely made for each other!

The surprise is that a bunch of Megan’s Blogging Buddies are throwing her a Virtual Bridal Shower today! Only Megan has no idea because it’s A SURPRISE!

Can I get a Woo-hoo?!

I just love surprise parties. Especially whey they’re in honor of good people, and Megan is definitely Good People. Megan writes a blog called Wanna Be a Country Cleaver. She’s sweet, smart, funny, engaging, and incredibly talented. She’s the real deal, Friends. I heart Megan.

But I’m not the only one who loves Megan more than cake! Fifteen food blogger’s have gotten together to honor Megan and Ben with a delicious spread that will make you want to kick up your heels and do a little dance of joy.  I’ll share the entire menu at the end of this post, so we can all enjoy a little nibble of the great food we’ve prepared for Megan’s shower.

But first, how about a little appetizer? Megan and I share a love of All Things Cheese and Butter, so it seems only right that I made her one of my very favorite appetizers: Caramelized Onion & Goat Cheese Puffs. They’re bite-sized, buttery pastries topped with creamy goat cheese, and caramelized onions…can you say yum? As if that sweet, tangy, sassiness wasn’t reason enough–you’re not going to believe how easy it is to make this appetizer!

All that’s needed is: frozen puff pastry, herbed goat cheese crumbles, onions, butter, and a little salt & pepper.

Remove one sheet of puff pastry from the package, and allow it to thaw at room temperature on a floured surface. (Between 20-30 minutes.)

Slice the onions in half lengthwise. Lop off the root and tip ends before removing the outer skin, and then thinly slice the halves.

Melt the butter in a skillet set over medium heat. Add the onions, salt and pepper, stirring to coat.

Reduce the heat just a touch, and continue to cook the onions, stirring periodically, until they are soft with a nice golden color. (About 25 minutes total.)

Roll the pastry sheet to 1/8-inch thickness. Use a 1-1/2 inch round biscuit cutter to cut circles of pastry, re-rolling the pastry scraps as necessary, to get 36 rounds. If you don’t happen to a cutter that small, then the rim of a little plastic tea cup from a child’s tea set works nicely. Or you could use the rim of a shot glass. I guess substitute cutters depend on what season of life you are in. ;)

Place the rounds on baking sheets that have been lined with silicone mats or parchment paper. Dock each pastry circle three times with a fork to keep them from excessively puffing in the oven. We’re going for delicate, but not fussy here.

Excessive puffing is fussy, man.

Bake the pastries in a preheated 350° F oven for 8 to 11 minutes, or until puffy and lightly golden in color.

Let the puffs cool on the baking sheets for two minutes, and then lightly press the centers to make a slight indentation to hold the toppings.

Place about 3/4-1 tsp. of the goat cheese crumbles in the center of each puff.

Top the goat cheese with a pinch of the caramelized onions. If there’s anything on Earth that’s more tasty than caramelized onions with goat cheese, then I’d like to meet it. Can’t. Get. Enough.

Plate ‘em up and share these Caramelized Onion & Goat Cheese Puffs with your all of your favorite people.

Cheers to you, Megan! May your marriage be richly blessed with patience, much love, and a healthy dose of humor. Congratulations, BBBF!

♥♥♥

Caramelized Onion & Goat Cheese Puffs

http://comfortablydomestic.com

Makes 36 puffs

2 very thinly sliced (small) Vidalia or other sweet onion

1 Tbs. unsalted butter

¼ tsp. kosher salt

1/8 tsp. black pepper

½ of a 17.3 oz. package of (frozen) Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry

3.5 oz. herbed goat cheese crumbles

  1. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Remove one sheet of the frozen puff pastry and set it on the counter to thaw; about 30 minutes.
  3. Place a 10-inch skillet over medium-low heat, allowing pan time to warm.
  4. Add butter, onions, salt and pepper; stirring until butter melts.
  5. Continue to cook over medium-low heat, stirring periodically, until onions are deep golden brown, and very tender; about 25 minutes total.
  6. Roll the thawed pastry out on a floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness.
  7. Cut circles of pastry with a 1 ½-inch round biscuit or cookie cutter. (If you don’t own a 1 ½-inch cutter, then the rim of a shot glass will do.)
  8. Place the pastry rounds about 1-inch apart onto the prepared baking sheets.
  9. Dock each round with a fork by piercing the centers three times.
  10. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until pastry has puffed and edges begin to turn a little golden brown.
  11. Remove the puffs from the oven and immediately depress the centers with a finger to form a small cup.
  12. Place a pinch of the goat cheese crumbles in the center of each puff (about ¾ tsp.)
  13. Top the cheese on each puff with a pinch of the caramelized onions.
  14. Serve immediately.

♥♥♥

Please grab a plate and join the rest of us in wishing Megan & Ben a very happy marriage!

♥Appetizers♥

♥Drinks♥

♥Entrees♥

♥Desserts♥

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