Ready, set, patio dining!

Here in New England we love surf and turf. Add to that it's finally grilling season and let the games begin! 

Steaks, burgers, BBQ ribs and chicken ... the list is long and mouth watering. Paired up with steamers or better yet, lobster, and we East Coast huggers are in heaven. But how to turn the usual summer menu into something special can be something of a challenge.

Starting courses are a great way to set up the taste buds for a juicy main attraction.  Last night, we hosted our first backyard dinner party. And of course, surf and turf was on the menu. Check out our appetizer course, an attempted replication of a small plate Farmer Paul and I enjoyed more than 20 years ago at a bistro in Quebec City.

It took us several tries over as many years to come up with a version that tickled our taste buds as much as the memory of that original dish. It's still not quite right, but this recipe is so good and so easy that we stopped experimenting. Follow up with a chopped salad and the perfect grilled steak (medium rare is Farmer Paul's specialty) ... heaven awaits your taste buds!

Lobster Cream Puffs
1 sheet prepared puff pastry, thawed
1/4 stick butter
1/8 cup flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/4 cup cognac (optional)
1 pound lobster meat, cooked

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Cut puff sheets into four 3 inch squares and four smaller sized rectangles. Place pastry shares on a parchment lined baking sheet for 12-15 minutes or until puffed and golden brown.

While puffs are baking. Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the flour and stir in the cream and cognac until thickened. Stir in parmesan until melted in. Season lightly with pepper and salt. Fold in lobster. Keep warm.

Spoon lobster sauce over each puff square. Garnish with small puff pillow. Serve.