Cheese Puffs

This is from a Cajun cookbook. I have never tried these but they look so incredibly good. I am looking forward to making these. The picture is outstanding!

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Serves: 20-24

Ingredients

• 1  cup water
• 4  tablespoons butter
• 1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 cup  grated sharp cheddar cheese
• 1  pinch mustard powder
• 1  pinch hot paprika
• 1  pinch cayenne pepper
• 1  pinch salt
• 2  large eggs, beaten

• Filling

• 8  ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 2  tablespoons  Pickapeppa Sauce
• 1⁄4 cup diced pimento
• 1  tablespoon capers, finely chopped

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Put the water and butter in a heavy saucepan and heat to melt the butter.
3. Bring to a boil, then remove from the heat and beat in the flour all at once.
4. Beat in sharp cheese and seasonings until smooth and the mixture forms a ball.
5. Gradually beat in the eggs to make a smooth, glossy dough.
6. Drop the dough in blobs from a heaped teaspoon onto a buttered baking sheet.
7. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until risen, golden brown and crisp.
8. Make a slit in the side of each puff to allow the steam to escape, then return to the turned-off oven to keep hot.
9. To make the filling, beat the cream cheese with the Pickapeppa sauce, then mix in the pimento and capers.
10. Pipe or spoon filling into the cheese puffs and serve hot.
11. Variations: For an alternative filling, combine 6 oz.
12. cream cheese with Tabasco or other hot pepper sauce to taste and mix in 1/2 cup finely chopped cooked shrimp and 1/4 cup chopped scallions.