Basil Brie in Pastry

 

2

tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

2

tablespoons finely chopped fresh or 2 teaspoons dried basil leaves

1

round (14 ounces) Brie cheese

1/2

package (17 1/4-ounce size) frozen puff pastry (1 sheet), thawed

Assorted crackers or sliced fruit, if desired

• 1 Heat oven to 400º. Grease cookie sheet. Mix Parmesan cheese and basil. Cut Brie cheese round horizontally into 2 layers. Sprinkle basil mixture evenly over cut surface of bottom layer. Reassemble cheese round.
• 2 Roll pastry into rectangle, 15x9 inches, on lightly floured surface. Cut out 2 circles, one 8 1/2 inches and the other 6 inches. Place cheese round on center of large circle. Bring pastry up and over cheese, pressing to make smooth and even. Brush top edge of pastry lightly with water. Place 6-inch circle on top, pressing gently around edge to seal. Cut decorations from remaining pastry if desired; moisten pastry with water to attach.
• 3 Bake about 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on cookie sheet on wire rack 30 minutes before serving. Serve with crackers.