OYSTER PATTIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together the bread flour, cake flour, sugar, and salt. Toss the chunks of butter into the flour and make sure each piece is coated with it. Combine the vinegar with 1 cup cold water and stir into the flour mixture while lightly tossing the ingredients to moisten them evenly. Gather the dough into a ball.
• On a lightly floured surface, pat and roll the dough into a neat rectangle that's about 1/2 inch thick. Fold the dough into thirds like a business letter, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Unwrap the dough and place it on a floured work surface with the folded side towards you. Roll the folded dough into a rectangle and again fold the dough into thirds. Repeat this process two times. The dough will be slightly marbled-looking with streaks of butter running through it. Wrap the dough in plastic and let it chill for 1 hour.
• Unwrap the dough and place it on a floured work surface. Roll it out to a 1/4-inch thickness and cut it into 4-inch squares with a sharp knife. Place the squares 3 inches apart on a baking sheet and chill for 1 hour.
• Heat the oven to 400°F.
• Bake the pastries for 10 minutes or until puffed and golden. Remove the pastries to a cooling rack.
• In a medium skillet set over medium heat, melt the butter. Sprinkle the flour over the butter and whisk to combine. Cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes or until the roux is lightly golden. Add the shallots, celery, and garlic and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the oyster liquor and the clam juice to the roux, along with the bay leaf, thyme, salt, and cayenne pepper, and cook, stirring, until the mixture thickens, about 4 minutes. Add the heavy cream, sherry, and parsley and cook for 3 minutes or until very thick. Add the oysters and cook, stirring, just until the edges begin to curl, 3 to 4 minutes. Discard the bay leaf.
• To serve, make an indentation in the center of each pastry square using the back of a spoon. Spoon the oyster filling into the center of each pastry. Serve at once.
• If you are a hostess pressed for time, pick up frozen puff pastry shells at the grocer.
• The vinegar helps make the pastry more tender.
• The pastry cases can be made 1 day in advance or frozen unbaked for 1 month.
• If you like, cut 3-inch rounds of dough and top each round with a circle with the center cut out (like a doughnut) and bake to form more elegant patty shells (or you can just buy some frozen ones).