Tuesday, April 22, 2014

10 Minute Ham and Cheese Pastry Pockets by Cleo Coyle #Baking up #Leftovers

Got leftovers? Here's a great use for them.
It takes only 10 minutes to assemble these quick
and easy pastry pockets. Slip them in the oven
and you've got a fast, hot lunch or tasty snack.


Many cultures have some form of pastry pocket or another in their culinary heritage from the Cornish pasty to the Spanish empanada and Haitian Creole pate

This is my favorite way to make a pastry pocket fastThe folks at Pillsbury invented it, and I'm using their buttermilk "Grands" large refrigerator biscuits for the recipe today. You can use any brand, but these are very good. Marc, my husband (and partner in crime-writing) also likes their "Southern Style" Grands.

As for your fillings, they can be a combination of almost any type of leftovers. After this busy holiday week, I suspect many of you have them!


Scratch Pastry? 
We've got that...

If you prefer to make your own pie crust from scratch, then check out my recipe for Blueberry Hand Pies by clicking hereI use yogurt in my hand pie crust for a nice flavor. The dough is also sturdy enough to hold up to being stuffed and baked. One note: if you're using this recipe for a savory filling, like today's ham and cheese, simply leave out that little bit of sugar in my ingredient list. 




Culinary mystery author
Cleo Coyle writes The
Coffeehouse Mysteries
Learn more by
clicking here.

And now...

Your mission, should you
choose to accept it, is to open
the fridge and find those leftovers...











To download a free PDF document of this recipe that you can print, save, or share, click here









1. Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Next dice up your ham and shred some sharp cheddar cheese. (Marc and I like sharp because it stands up to the ham and brings lots of flavor.)



2. Lightly coat a length of aluminum foil with a non-stick cooking spray. In my photo, you see Pam, but any neutral-tasting spray will work fine.


3. Open your can of large refrigerator biscuits. In my recipe today I'm using Pillsbury Grands Buttermilk biscuits (8 large biscuits in each container).


4. Tease apart each large, thick biscuit into two thin layers. Each layer will serve as a dough disc to flatten and fill. (In other words, 8 large biscuits will give you 16 pastry pockets.)


5. Use a juice glass to roll out the biscuit layers into flat, even circles. (No rolling pin needed, huzzah!)


6. Place a small dab of mustard in the center of each dough circle. Use the back of a spoon to spread it evenly over the entire surface, as shown below. 

Marc and I like deli mustard for our pastry pockets (our favorite brand is whole grained Boar's Head). You might prefer honey mustard or a Dijon mustard. If you don't like mustard on your ham and cheese, use a condiment you do like or just go naked.


7. Now fill the pastry with your diced ham and shredded cheese combo (or whatever leftovers you've prepared).


8. Fold over the dough circle to form the pastry pocket (as you see in my photos below). Use your fingers to fold over and press the edges closed. Use fork tines to press down and secure.



9. Lightly brush the tops of the pastry with an egg wash (an egg that's been whisked well and thinned out with just a few drops of water). 


10. Create a steam vent by using a pair of sharp kitchen shears, as shown below. Snip the top of the pocket pastry in one or two places.

11. Carefully slide the aluminum foil from your counter to a baking pan and bake in a well-preheated 350 degree F. oven for 15 to 18 minutes, and...





Click here for
free recipe PDF.





Eat with joy!
~ Cleo Coyle

New York Times bestselling author of
The Coffeehouse Mysteries

Yes, this is me, Cleo (aka Alice). 
Friend me on facebook here.
Follow me on twitter here
Visit my online coffeehouse here.







To view the
Coffeehouse Mystery
book trailer, click here.
 





Now a National
Bestseller in Hardcover

A Coffeehouse Mystery 

*Starred Review* -Kirkus

"Top Pick"  -RT Book Reviews

"...a highly satisfying mystery."
-Publishers Weekly



See the book's
Recipe Guide
by clicking here.



* * * 


Coffeehouse Mystery
Free Title Checklist
(with mini plot summaries)


The Coffeehouse Mysteries are bestselling
works of amateur sleuth fiction set in a landmark
Greenwich Village coffeehouse, and each of the
13 titles includes the added bonus of recipes. 


* * * 


Haunted Bookshop
Free Title Checklist, 

4 comments:

  1. Those are beautiful Cleo--they would even work for breakfast--like now!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looks delish, Cleo. I bet a lot of people have leftover ham right now. So smart to add that dab of mustard. There's nothing better with ham!

    ~Krista

    ReplyDelete
  3. Simple and yummy. We'll all be right over!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for dropping by, you guys. Pastry pockets all around. :))

    Cheers and have a delicious week.

    ~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    “Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
    Cleo Coyle on Twitter
    www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com

    ReplyDelete