Cheese Puff Crown

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees F. In a 2-qt saucepan, bring the water to a boil with the butter and salt. As soon as the butter has melted, remove the pan from the heat, pour in all the flour at once and beat it in vigorously. The dough will be lumpy at first but smoothes out rapidly as you beat. As soon as it is blended, return the pan to moderate heat and beat until the dough forms a ball and begins to fill the bottom of the pan. Put the dough into a bowl and stir to cool it, about 30 secs. Make a well in the center of the warm dough and beat in 3/4 c. of the eggs, a quarter cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Add half of the final quarter cup and test to see if the dough just holds its shape when scooped up on a spoon. Add as much of th final 2 T. as you can without making the dough too loose. Beat in 1 cup of the cheese. On a lightly buttered and floured baking sheet, form a ring by dropping mounds of dough in a circle. Top with the remaining 2 T. grated cheese. Bake until puffed and browned, about 20 mins. Reduce temperature to 400 degrees F and bake until crisp, 10-20 mins longer.