Gougères

Élevée, Dundee Hills

Instructions -

1)   Preheat oven to 425F.
2)   Heat water, butter, salt, chile powder, and nutmeg in saucepan until melted.
3)   Pour in flour and stir vigorously until mixture pulls away from sides as smooth ball.
4)   Remove from heat and let rest 2 minutes, then scrape into a mixer bowl.
5)   Add eggs, one at a time, stirring quickly (so eggs don't cook), then let cool until tepid.
6)   Add the grated cheese, stirring until well-mixed.
7)   Scrape mixture into pastry bag and pipe the dough into mounds (the size of a small cherry tomato).
8)   Pipe onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
9)   For a more rustic look & texture, top each puff with a bit of grated cheese (France does not do this).
10) Bake 5 minutes, then turn heat down to 375F and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes.