Surprise guests drop by? Another name on your long list of Holiday baked good recipients? Just need some baking therapy? I sure do at this time of year!

Fortunately, I have a secret ally residing always in my freezer, ready to perform miracles at my hour of need. Yes, it is the humble puff pastry! Right, that box of frozen dough you walk by in your grocery store’s frozen section… With its help, I can whip up fruit tarts, bourekas, peach crostada and more in no time, that is, once it is thawed!

However, first things first: what is puff pastry? It is a flaky pastry made of laminated dough. Imagine layers of dough cushioning thin layers of butter in a labor of love that takes repetition, hours, patience and some expertise. Whether you are in Paris, San Francisco or Tel Aviv, it is the measure of a great patisserie and bakery - kind of the mother dough for many pastries around the world.

Now, the store bought variations are NOT created equally! The best are made with butter (duh!), yet can sometimes be hard to find. Here are three options in order of excellence:

1.     Dufour Puff Pastry – Originates in France, high quality, made with butter, comes in a 14oz box: 1 sheet. Can be hard to find, try Whole Foods or online.

2.     Trader Joe’s – During the holiday season the chain carries its own brand of puff pastry (which is actually made by Dufour), prepared with butter, comes in 18.3oz package, 2 sheets. Affordable and flavorful, great option, stock up if you can!

3.     Pepperidge Farm – Widely available throughout the year, made with palm, soybean and hydrogenated cottonseed oils, comes in a 17.3oz package, 2 sheets. An acceptable option, since it is so available, though definitely not of the same quality.

So, now that we have some on hand – what should we make? Pretty much – the sky’s the limit: sweet or savory, mini tarts or 10”, pinwheels, turnovers, hand pies… you get my drift – puff pastry is an all inclusive player in your kitchen!

Follow these links for a few fun (and delicious) recipes:

1.     Make your own – King Arthur Flour

2.     Cranberry & Brie Appetizer – Half Baked Harvest

3.     Cheese Bourekas – Middle Eastern savory cheesy appetizer

4.     Palmiers – Otherwise known as Elephant Ears -Classic French recipe

5.     Three Cheese Tomato Tart – from TheKitchn.com

6.     Apple Hand Pies – Ina Garten – The Barefoot Contessa

7.     Peach Turnovers – Serious Eats

Note: For best results, follow package directions for thawing (though I must admit that I have thawed individual sheets on the counter for 30-45 minutes with great results as well…)