Chatelaine recipe redux circa 1970: Lobster

Then: Posh Nosh

What to serve in 1970? Anything — so long as it's fresh baked, cheesy and seafoody. At swish cocktail buffets or sit-down gourmet meals that run from hot shrimp toasts to Black Forest cake, dinnertime is party time.

Now: High/Low

Homemade buns stuffed with a fresh and easy lobster filling elevate this down-east treat to dinner party status!

Ingredients

CHOUX BUNS

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs, at room temperature

FILLING

• 1/2 Granny Smith apple, diced
• 1/2 celery stalk, diced
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 3 tbsp mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp chopped chives
• 1 tsp apple-cider vinegar
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 cups cooked lobster meat, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Instructions

• POSITION a rack in lower third of oven. Preheat to 400F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• COMBINE water with butter and salt in a medium saucepan. Set over medium and bring just to a boil. Remove from heat. Using a wooden spoon, stir in flour all at once, beating briskly until mixture comes away from sides of pan. Return to heat and continue stirring for 1 min. Then cool for 5 min. Using same wooden spoon, beat in 1 egg until fully combined into the dough. Add remaining egg. Continue beating until dough is thick and shiny. Scrape into a resealable plastic bag. Snip 1 in. off a corner of bag just before piping. Pipe 8 3 1/2-in. strips onto prepared sheet.
• BAKE in lower third of oven until rolls are puffy, 15 min. Without opening oven door, reduce heat to 350F and continue baking until rolls are golden, 10 to 12 more min. Remove from oven and immediately poke 4 holes into the side of each roll using a toothpick. Cool on a rack.
• COMBINE apple with celery and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Whisk mayonnaise with chives, vinegar and cayenne in another bowl. Stir in lobster until coated.
• SLICE down the centre of a roll to create an opening. Stuff with lobster mixture. Top with apple and celery mixture and garnish with cilantro.