Belated Birthday Wishes and Puff Pastry Ham and Cheese Squares

Catch a Little Rhyme
by Eve Merriam

Once upon a time
I caught a little rhyme

I set it on the floor
but it ran right out the door

I chased it on my bicycle
but it melted to an icicle

I scooped it up in my hat
but it turned into a cat

I caught it by the tail
but it stretched into a whale

I followed it in a boat
but it changed into a goat

When I fed it tin and paper
it became a tall skyscraper

Then it grew into a kite
and flew far out of sight ...

Eve Merriam, “Catch a Little Rhyme” from Catch a Little Rhyme (New York: Atheneum, 1966). Copyright © 1966, 1994 by Eve Merriam. Reprinted with the permission of Marian Reiner.

July 19, 1916- 1992 Eve Merriam was a poet, playwright, director and lecturer.
Puff Pastry Ham and Cheese Squares

Cook's notes: This versatile Puff Pastry recipe can be served as dinner, side or as an appetizer. 

Ingredients:

• 2 Puff Pastry sheets, thawed but cold
• 3/4 lb. deli ham, diced
• 1-1/2 cups, grated Cheddar Cheese, Gruyere or Swiss 
• 1 egg and 1 TB.water (egg wash) 
• 1-1/2 TB. sesame seed
• sprinkle of Garlic Bread Sprinkle

Mustard Dip

• 1 TB. honey
• 1 tsp. dried thyme or 1 sprig fresh thyme leaves
• 3 TB. Stone Ground Mustard

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. On a large piece of parchment paper unroll one sheet of puff pastry. Lightly roll the pastry sheet and place on a rimmed cookie sheet. 
• Mix mustard dip ingredients and use a pastry brush to cover the puff pastry with mustard dip.  
• Spread diced ham and grated cheese over puff pastry sheet. Leave 3/4-1 inch of space between the filling and the pastry edge along the entire perimeter.  

• Mix the egg and water together with a fork to create the egg wash. Brush the inside pastry edges with egg wash. 
• Place the second puff pastry on a parchment sheet. Roll gently. Flip pastry sheet over on top of ham and cheese mixture. Use a fork and crimp edges all around to seal with a fork. 

• Egg wash the entire puff pastry and sprinkle with spice Garlic Bread Sprinkle and sesame seeds. Use a sharp knife cut a large t and bake 18-20 minutes.  

• Use a serrated knife to cut Puff Pastry into squares.