Speaking of chocolates... There used to be a miniature candy bar called “BUM SZELET”. Bum means bang and it is pronounced boom in Hungarian. It was a tiny, cheap revolting nougat and it cost 1 forint back in the sixties. I don’t think it had chocolate in it, but this old couple of the family used to bring each of us kids a “BUM Csoki” on Thursdays. Even with our limited experience with good chocolate we thanked them and left our BUMs on the table. We never ate them. After gifting us with the BUMs, Erzsi néni and Bendi bácsi made a b line to the table and stuffed themselves with pastries. Between mouthfuls we got to hear the latest news on Erzsi néni’s knee pains. Aren't children cruel and observant? I have to admit they were not alone picking Thursdays to drop by; Thursdays were baking days at the Vári house. Here I am sitting with my newly operated knee and thoughts of Erzsi néni’s knees and BUM Csoki are floating by. I don’t know if it’s my knee or the memory of BUM Csoki that pains me more.
PUFF PASTRY WITH CHOCOLATE
1/2 of a 17.3-ounce package Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry, thawed
1cup of good quality chopped dark chocolate
1 egg
1 Tbsp water
• For best result thaw the puff pastry in the fridge overnight.
• Heat the oven to 400F.
• Roll half of the pastry into a 12-inch square. Always roll from the center outward and avoid stretching the dough by hand.
• Cut the dough into 9 squares.
• Arrange the chopped chocolate in the middle of the squares.
• Orient the square so a corner is pointed away from you. Fold this corner down just past the filling and press firmly to seal.
• Then fold over to one side, forming an open-ended envelope.
• Brush the filled pastries with the egg mixture.
• Place the pastries onto 2 parchment lined baking sheets.
• Bake the pastries for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Be careful this burns easily.
• Sprinkle with icing sugar and serve.
