Asparagus Napoleans

Asparagus Napoleans with Goat Cheese, Chives, Lemon Zest

serves 6

Ingredients:

• 1 sheet of frozen puff pastry, thawed about 40 minutes at room temperature

• 1 egg, beaten with about 2 teaspoons water

• 24 asparagus spears, cut to a length of about 6 inches

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• salt, pepper

• 8 ounces goat cheese at room temperature

• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives plus 12 chive sprigs for garnish

• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

• 2 tablespoons honey

• large pinch of coarse salt

Instructions:

Bake Puff Pastry Rectangles:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.  Lay the thawed puff pastry on a lightly floured surface.  When you unfold the puff pastry, the sections between the fold lines should be about 3 inches wide each. The measurement the other way should be about 10 inches – if it isn’t, you can take a rolling pin and lightly roll it out a little. The whole sheet should be about 9×10 inches.  Take a pizza cutter or knife and cut right down the two fold lines and then once down the entire length of the pastry sheet – you will have 6 rectangles of about 3×5 inches each.  Don’t fret too much about the measurements – they should just be uniform.

Place the rectangles of puff pastry on a sheet of parchment paper (or a Silpat) on a baking sheet. Brush the tops with a little of the egg wash.  Bake for about 10 minutes or until the pastry is nice and golden. Place baked pastry rectangles on a cooling rack.

Roast Asparagus:

Remove the parchment paper or Silpat from baking sheet. Line with foil.  Place asparagus spears on sheet, drizzle with a little olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and roast at 400 degrees F for about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.

Make Filling:

In a small bowl, mix soft goat cheese, chives, lemon zest, honey and salt.

Assemble Napoleons:

Slice each puff pastry rectangle horizontally. Divide filling between the six bottom sections.  Place asparagus spears on top of filling and place puff pastry tops on. Garnish with chive sprigs.