CREAM FILLING FOR PUFF PASTRY RECIPES

Steps:

• For the custard: In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup sugar, 5 tablespoons flour and a pinch of salt. Stir in milk, a little at a time, until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil 60 seconds, then pour a small amount of hot liquid into the 2 egg yolks, and stir. Then return now heated egg yolks to saucepan and stir, over heat, until mixture starts to bubble again. Remove from heat, add vanilla. Cover and chill in refrigerator.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• For the pastry: In a medium saucepan, combine shortening and water and bring to a boil. Sift together 1 cup flour and a pinch of salt and pour all at once into boiling mixture. Stir vigorously until mixture forms a ball. Remove from heat, and add eggs, one at a time, stirring vigorously after each addition. Drop by spoonfuls onto baking sheet, or pipe into desired shape.
• Bake 10 minutes in the preheated oven, then reduce heat to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and bake 25 minutes more, or until golden. Cool completely, split, fill with custard, and replace tops.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Cut thawed puff pastry sheet in half. Cut each half into 6 small squares. Put a spoonful of cream cheese on one side of each square. Fold over diagonally to make a triangle. Brush edges with water and press to seal.
• Transfer pastries to the prepared baking sheet. Brush beaten egg over top of the pastries to add shine.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden, about 20 minutes.