home for the holidays

Well this holiday season certainly isn’t like any other. And while you won’t be having the usual crowd over to your home, that doesn’t mean you can’t entertain yourself in style.

One of the best things about freezable hors d’oeuvres is that you can pull out a few just for you or for those in your bubble. You must try my cheddar cheese tartlets. They’re not the easiest to make, but you’ll find they are certainly worth the effort.

First make the pastry by blending the flour, salt and cayenne in processor.

Add cheese and butter and pulse until coarse crumbs form.

Blend in enough ice water by teaspoonfuls until small moist clumps form.

Flatten into two disks, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour.

While the pastry chills blend cottage cheese and whipping cream in a food processor until smooth.

Add 1 cup shredded cheddar, eggs, salt, and cayenne blend well.

Transfer to a bowl and stir in chopped green onion. Set aside.

Here's a no-fuss way to roll out pastry dough. Place your chilled pastry dough in an extra-large Ziploc bag then roll it out. No need for extra flour to toughen your crust and no muss and fuss on your counter.

First loosen the rolled crust from sides of the bag, trim off the edges of the bag then cut into 2 ½ inch rounds.

Place a round in each mini muffin cup, pressing down lightly. Spoon one heaping tablespoon of filling into each pastry.

Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees until puffed and just golden. Sprinkle the warm tartlets with some more cheddar cheese. Cool slightly in the pan and then transfer to a wire rack.

Place completely cooled tartlets in Ziploc bags in a single layer and freeze for up to three weeks.

To reheat re-warm uncovered in a preheated 350-degree oven until heated through, approximately 12 minutes.

Your fellow zoomers will be quite envious when they see the little present you’ve made for yourself on your upcoming virtual holiday gatherings.