Vive le France baked brie

"How do you govern a country that has 246 varieties of cheese?" - Charles de Gaulle

Good question, which is why France will never be a world power in anything besides delicacies - like Brie. Make no mistake - this baked brie will have you marching on your stomach like Napoleon's army before you know it.

Recipe:

You will need:

• 1 sheet of frozen puff pastry
• 1 egg
• water
• 1/2 cup apricot preserves
• 1/2 cup Dijon mustard
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 1/3 cup chopped almonds
• 1 brie wheel

 Thaw the puff pastry sheet until it's easy to handle. Heat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix egg and water in a bowl.
Unfold the puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 14 inch square, but be sure it's not too thin. Cut off the corners to make a circle. Spread the preserves on the circle to within 1 inch of the edge. Spread the mustard on top of the preserves in the same way. Sprinkle the cranberries and almonds on top of the mustard. Place the cheese wheel in the center of the circle. Brush the edge of the circle with egg wash. Fold 2 opposite sides over the cheese, one at a time. Fold the remaining two sides onto the cheese. Press the edges to seal. Place the brie seam-side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Decorate the top with the pastry scraps, using egg wash to secure the pieces, if desired. Brush the entire brie with egg wash.
Bake for 20 minutes, or until the pastry is golden. Let stand 1 hour before serving.

Vive le Brie!