chive and aged gouda gougeres

This, I believe, may be the first pâte à choux post on this blog. (I know, actually!) But that’s all the excitement that there is to these. My understanding of choux has since, minimally, improved. Looking back, I think I may have made the pastry a bit too soupy and loose here. Or maybe now I just like to make thicker pastry? The thicker pastry would hold its shape much better though.

Also, not too long ago the lovely Lina from Lin’s Recipes nominated me for the Liebster Award! (If you have not already been reading her story, the 5 to 9 Chef, you my dear have been missing out! It seamlessly pulls together romcom fiction and delicious recipes in a fun and creative format. This link here links to the first 8 chapters compiled in a single post.) I’ve gone through the nomination process previously so this time I’m just planning to answer the questions.

1. Your signature dish?

I don’t think I make anything well enough for it to be my signature. Hmm, poor unpredictable results is my signature!

2. Will you choose strawberries over mangoes or vice-versa?

I want to choose both!

3. Books or movies?

I’m cheating, but it’s difficult to choose…

4. Favourite genre of books?

I don’t read a particular genre and very genre-oriented books (mystery or horror or high fantasy and the like) usually don’t appeal to me too much. So I suppose I would have to say General Fiction, a suitably general genre for my very general answer.

4. Favourite Chef?

My mother will always make the best food of course! But I do love Ottolenghi books…

5. An impossible dream if you have one?

To be able to have a career that allows me to do exactly and only what I want to do and enjoy every minute of it. Oh that sounds rather impossible, but that would be rather nice…

6. What do you do when you want a break?

I like to read the news (which I don’t read enough) or read food blogs (of course!)

7. What does happiness mean to you?

Many things. Sometimes it means spending time with family, or eating lunch with friends or baking something on my own.

8. What is the thing that you really cannot tolerate?

I hate it when I’m sloppy. I hate it when I make a mistake not because I don’t know better, but just because I’m being sloppy. It’s the worst and I don’t know how to improve.

9. How much do you respect everybody’s opinion on a decision?

Equally, I hope!

I’d also like to say a late happy Fiesta Friday! (Yes, it is Monday, but this is a long party–useful as I’m sometimes a tad late.) This week is a quieter one, with no designated cohosts and no feature posts. I think this only emphasizes how much the Fiesta Friday community comes through for each other–this party is always a pleasure for the food but mostly for the people. I hope to take some time to visit everyone and drop a few comments here and there!

Chive and aged gouda gougeres: Adapted from David Lebovitz‘s chouquette recipe.