We’ve all seen those tasty videos; those amazing little cooking videos that take you from beginning to finished product in about 30 seconds. It’s like watching the Mary Poppins version of the Food Network. Just snap your fingers, and all the veggies are diced and sautéing in the pan…It’s magic. Two of these videos has been on Sadie’s to-do list for way too long, “Puff Pastry 4 Ways” and “Puff Pastry Decorations 4 Ways“. This is what we learned:

1. Powdered sugar is your best friend. Almost any mess up can be gently erased with a dusting of powdered sugar- that’s where the real magic is at.
2. Don’t over fill. If the recipe calls for a teaspoon of filling and you think a Tablespoon sounds better… it can be messy. Refer to No 1.

3. If you ask Rachel to participate in a “puff pastry hacks” post she will go over the top… but eggs baked in puff pastry wells, topped with Gruyère and bacon are so good! It’s a do.

3. A sharp paring knife worked best for imitating most designs. Finish the video before you send your pastry to the oven; otherwise, you might end up with something different.

4. Different might be better! Get creative… look at all of the surface area on that baked apple for caramel topping. Yeah!

5. Things left in the oven too long get burned. (We’ve all done it. Powdered sugar won’t help this.) Use a timer!

6. Fig jam with caramelized shallots is our new favorite puff pastry filling. Oh my goodness.

7. Baked fruit can look dull, an apricot glaze (even from a jar of apricot preserves) can bring it back to life… or refer to No 1.

8. Fresh herbs, such as mint or chives, add beauty and depth of flavor to sweet and savory pastries. And if you have powdered (confectioner’s) sugar, you can add a squeeze of a lemon or a little milk to make an icing. Tip: A little melted butter in the icing adds another layer of delicious.

9. Mommy bloggers have a way of always incorporating the kids.

10. Pre-made store bought puff pastry can be a lot of fun. We love it… almost as much as Tasty Videos!