During the 12 Days of Christmas, the foodies at Chop on the Block will be featuring a holiday recipe. We hope you enjoy our selections.

These savory, melt-in-your-mouth puffs are perfect with a hearty holiday meal. The cheddar and scallions give these small rolls extra zing and keep guests reaching for more. I especially like this dish as it can made ahead of time and reheated just before serving. Makes two dozen mini puffs.

Ingredients:

1 stick of salted butter
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 cup of all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
4 large egg whites
1 cup of extra sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup finely chopped scallion greens
generous pinch of salt

Directions:

Heat oven to 400°. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or grease with butter or non-stick spray.

In a medium saucepan, bring butter, 1 cup of water, salt and cayenne pepper to a slow simmer. When butter has melted, reduce heat to low and add flour all at once. Stir mixture slowly with a wooden spoon, forming a thick dough. Remove from heat and transfer dough to a medium bowl. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add whites separately, beating and folding one at a time until completely incorporated. Let dough cool for 5-10 minutes then stir in cheese and scallions.

Spoon dough in 1 tablespoon portions onto baking sheet(s), spacing apart 1 inch. Bake on lowest oven rack until crisp and golden, 25 to 30 minutes. To reheat, bake at 300° for about 10 minutes.

Coming tomorrow: Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Horseradish Sauce