Via Dorie Greenspan: Baking From My Home to Yours - adapted by Isabelle
For the dough:
200g (1 cup) butter, at room temperature
30 g (2 tbsp.) sugar
1 ml (1/4 tsp.) salt
200 g (1 2/3 cups) all-purpose flour
30 ml (2 tbsp.) grated Parmesan cheese - optional
165 g (3/4 cup) cottage cheese
For the filling:
8 slices yellow cheddar cheese - or your choice
150 g (2/3 cup) ham, cut into small cubes
sesame seeds - optional
In the bowl of your food processor, mix butter and cottage cheese.
Beat for about 2 minutes.
In another bowl, combine flour, Parmesan cheese, sugar and salt.
Add flour mixture to the cheese and pulse until it forms a ball.
Divide dough in half and flatten into a square, then wrap in plastic wrap.
Refrigerate for a least 3 hours.
When your dough is very cold and you're ready to get your pufflets, preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
On a floured surface or between 2 "Silpat" or 2 pieces of plastic wrap, roll your dough to a thickness of a scant 1/8 inch.
Using a cookie cutter, cut the dough into round or square - I use a 10 cm (4 inch) round cookie cutter. You'll have about 16 pufflets.
Place a piece of cheese on each pufflets and add the diced ham over cheese.
Using a brush, moisten the edges of your dough, fold the dough over to enclose the ham and cheese.
Pock a hole in a center of each.
Sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.
Bake the pastries 20 to 25 minutes.
Makes 16 pufflets.
Bon Appétit!