A recipe for a friend.

Baked brie is one of my favorite appetizers — and something I like to make for guests when having a dinner or cocktail party. I made it the other night for dinner at a friend’s house; I did all the prep at home and baked it in her oven. It was the second time she’d had it and she asked me to write down the recipe. I thought it would be easiest to just share it here. As you’ll see, it’s very easy.

Ingredients:

• Small round of brie cheese.
• 1 package Pillsbury Crusty French Loaf (or similar). You should be able to find this in the refrigerator section of your supermarket.
• 2 tablespoons apricot preserves.
• 2 tablespoons sliced almonds.
• Cooking oil spray for pan.

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Coat cookie sheet or pizza pan with a thin layer of cooking oil spray.
3. Carefully open bread dough package.
4. On a flat surface (or the prepared pan), unroll the dough. This can be difficult, especially if the dough is at room temperature. You want to get it started on the entire length of the loaf first, then unroll evenly. When you’re done, you should have a flat sheet of dough. Do not handle it more than necessary.
5. Place the dough on the prepared pan.
6. Unwrap the brie and place it in the middle of the dough.
7. Spread apricot preserves evenly over the top of the brie.
8. Sprinkle almonds evenly over the apricot preserves.
9. Bring one corner of the dough up over the cheese. Repeat this process with the opposite corner of the dough and then with the other two corners. The cheese should be completely covered.
10. If necessary, pinch to seal cheese inside dough.
11. If desired, sprinkle a few more almonds on top for decoration.
12. Bake at 350 until bread is well browned. Cheese should melt inside dough.
13. Serve hot on a serving plate. When you slice into the bread, the cheese may melt out.