Thursday, April 21, 2011

French Friday with Dorie: Mustard Batons

MUSTARD BATONS
I  look forward to Wednesdays.  It’s my day to play with Honey and my day to get prepared for my French Friday with Dorie projects and postings.  It's like a day off although the office work never disappears, just gets put off until "tomorrow."  Honey just loves to chatter and smile at me during a really long lunch while I do my thing in the kitchen.  She loves to taste and experience new foods.  Honey is ALWAYS happy and she is good company.  Unlike me, she loves to have her photo taken, and does not mind if her face is full of food, her hair is not combed, or the old high chair, which was already an antique when our kids used it,  is a mess.   Baking “Mustard Batons” was a perfect project for Honey’s lunch time.
AFTER ROLLING OUT THE PUFF DOUGH, 1/2 WAS SPREAD  WITH A GOOD MUSTARD
Growing up, my kids had really funny tastes when it came to choosing a favorite sandwich for their school lunches.  As a child, my Frolicking Night Owl daughter’s favorite was a mustard sandwich.  Number 1 son’s best was a ketchup sandwich, and another child loved mayonnaise.   It did not matter if I had cheese or meats in the house, they were totally happy with their strange, plain fillings.  I used to think they each just chose a different bread-spread so they could all use their own bottle and make sandwiches at the same time without waiting for whatever someone else was using.  I thought they all sounded bad, but to this day, these are still their favorite condiments.
WITH AN EGG WASH AND A SPRINKLING OF POPPY SEEDS, THESE BATONS ARE READY TO BE BAKED
So, I’m sure the Night Owl will just love spreading mustard on the puff pastry dough, baking it for about 15 minutes, and then enjoying it like an old friend.  

Hubby grew up in PA where there are lots of good pretzels, both hard and soft, and a favorite is to eat these local specialties with lots of good mustard.  So for hubby, mustard with his dough is a really good idea too.  And I was converted years ago.  Because of this, the mustard batons sounded really good to me.

After rolling out the dough to about double it’s packaged size, ½ the area is spread with a good mustard...I used Dijon.  The plain dough area is folded down over the area spread with mustard and then cut into 1" strips.  These strips are brushed with an egg wash and sprinkled with poppy seeds.  I was thinking of other add-ins that would be good...maybe some minced chives, other kinds of seeds, even minced bacon, onion, ...
HONEY ENJOYS HER BATON
The batons puff up nicely in the oven and when browned are ready to eat.  Honey was my official taster; and, as expected, she enjoyed her baton.  Several others came home and upon entering the house I heard, “It sure smells good in here!”   Or, “I can smell something’s good in the oven!”  I hadn’t paid attention to the smells; I was too busy enjoying the whole baton making process which was really quite fun and simple.

These batons would be great with a fresh garden salad, a soup, something like a fish dinner, or as an appetizer.

Just wait until they all come home to the pepper steak next week...then the house really will smell good.  I’ve heard lots of good reports about this steak and am looking forward to enjoying another great recipe from Dorie.

25 comments:

  1. Honey's adorable, cute as a baton...err, button! I like the way you twisted your batons, just like breadsticks.

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  2. What a sweetheart! My 1 year old loved these too! I love how you twisted them - I wish I'd done the same!

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  3. I love your batons, especially the twisty ones. The photo of Honey put a smaile on my face - she's gorgeous.

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  4. Love it! Your GD is a beauty.
    I have to admit my two sandwiches of choice growing up were a) butter & sugar or b) olives & cream cheese. The other kids could not understand why I eschewed the de rigeur choice of bologna or PB&J for these oddball choices.

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  5. My kids loved these too. They were a perfect afternoon snack at our house!

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  6. Cute baby! And, I like how you twisted some of your strips!

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  7. My kids enjoyed them too! Always good to have important taste testers around.

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  8. I love the twists! They look great. And Honey is as cute as a whole box of buttons.

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  9. I love reading your posts when Honey's involved! She is so adorable and happy. Cooking with her has got to be such a fun experience. And, the fact that she loves to try new things is fabulous!! (PS...love the story about the condiment sandwiches...too funny!!)

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  10. Honey! I would love wednesdays too if I was hang'n with her! How adorable. I just love your posts.
    :)

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  11. The twists make the batons cute, but Honey is even cuter!

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  12. Beautiful, Kris! I thought about twisting the batons, too - I should have - the look great!

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  13. Loved reading about your lunch/cooking time with Honey. I bet there was a lot of giggling! Love those moments. Your Batons look great, too. Twisting them didn't even occur to me! :)

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  14. I like the twisting! I wish I thought off that! These are going to inspire me for lots of cocktails this Spring!

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  15. Love the twists. What an elegant touch. Honey is so cute. Looks like she enjoyed the batons!

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  16. Love seeing that great big smile on Honey - what a sweetie she is ! I also chuckled that I did not realize "Frolicking Night Owl" was your daughter....I had left comments and received comments and never realized the link :) I also laughed at your story about the condiment sandwiches. When I was very young - 4 or so, I would surprise my Father with a "Mustard Sandwich". In the true spirit of love and a doting Father...he would eat the entire thing each time. Needless to say, we are big mustard fans in this house (and Nana's).

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  17. I love hearing about the sandwiches your kids liked- so funny! no doubt these were enjoyed

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  18. Those look beautiful! I especially like the way the twisted ones look. Your granddaughter looks so happy with hers!

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  19. Honey is gorgeous! And she looks real happy with her batons!
    It's funny what kids find appealing, I'm glad to hear it's not just mine that get attached to particular tastes and tendencies!
    Your batons look great.

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  20. Oh, Honey is an absolute doll...what a smile! How fun that she's willing to try such gourmet food :) Your batons look fabulous...love the twist!

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  21. Honey's obvious delight says it all, Kris! Your batons look wonderful and I love the twisted look - so pretty! Your memories of your children's different sandwich tastes made me smile - so funny how each kid is different, isn't it? I always enjoy reading your posts.

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  22. i agree. kids have surprisingly weird food preferences. mine won't touch grilled cheese, but loves a good steak cooked medium! lovely pics.

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  23. Honey is adorable! Looks as if she's offering up one of your lovely batons through the screen on my computer. So cute! Your Wednesdays sound like the most perfect of days :). I too agree that these batons would be great with a light meal like fish and salad. Oh yum, I'm getting hungry again! Sweet post. Can't wait to see your pepper steak.

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  24. What a cute photograph of Honey! :) She is adorable. Your batons look great...nicely set in that pretty jar & I love the idea of twisting them.

    10 gallons of pudding!! I am astounded. Congratulations!

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  25. Honey just made me melt! I topped mine with coarse salt, definitely thinking about pretzels. Love the idea of twisting the dough.

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