Baked Brie with Pears and Rasberry Jam

This is a fairly simple recipe, and a great party appetizer.  As an aside, I always cut off the white coating on the brie ... which can be a pain, but to me is worth the effort.

Servings: 4 - 6

Ingredients:

• 1 wheel (8 oz.) Brie cheese
• 1 box Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Dough Sheets
• 2 pears, fresh
• 2 Tsp. butter
• 3 tbs Raspberry Jam
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

1. Remove puff pastry dough from box and let thaw if frozen
2. Slice pears into wedges, about ¼ to ½ inch thick (no core pieces)
3. Melt butter in a sauté pan and sauté pears until tender
4. Place pears on a flat plate and place in refrigerator to cool
5. Remove white coating from Brie wheel
6. Stretch puff pastry out, place pieces side to side and roll lightly to pull seams together
7. Crack eggs into a bowl and whip with ½ cup of milk
8. Using a pastry brush, brush egg wash onto seams of dough to seal
9. Spread Golden Raspberry Jam on top of the brie
10. Place cooled, sliced pears on top of the jam and then place the puff pastry dough over the cheese wheel
11. Egg wash the edges of the dough and fold around the brie to fully envelope the wheel of cheese
12. Carefully flip the wheel over and place it on a baking sheet pan
13. Gently brush egg wash all over puff pastry dough, being careful to NOT leave any puddles of egg wash
14. Bake in 350 degree F oven until crust is golden brown
15. Remove from the oven and let set for 15 to 20 minutes before serving
16. Place on your favorite serving tray, surround with slices of French bread, crackers and fruit and enjoy.