Mendez Cafe

Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Put Crisco into a mixer bowl. Add cheese gradually, beating at medium speed until mixture is fairly smooth. Blend flour, salt, and pepper. Gradually add to cheese mixture, mixing at low speed. Stir in cereal with spoon. Shape into balls, using 1 tablespoon for each ball.
Arrange balls on ungreased cookie sheets. Lightly press with a fork to make a crisscross pattern. Dip fork in flour as needed to prevent sticking. Press a pecan half onto top of each, if desired.
Bake at 350ºF for 10 minutes or until lightly browned around edges. Cool for 10 to 12 minutes on cookied sheet, then remove to a rack to cool.

Preheat oven to 450ºF.
Put Crisco, water, and salt into a saucepan and bring to a rolling boil.
Add flour all at one time. Beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until mixture leaves sides of pan and forms a smooth ball. Remove from heat.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating until mixture is thick and smooth.
Drop dough by teaspoonfuls 1-1/2 inches apart onto greased cookie sheets.
Bake at 450ºF for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350ºF and continue baking for 10 minutes. Cool.

For Chicken Salad Filling, combine all ingredients.
Cut off tops of puffs and pull out any soft moist dough. Spoon Chicken Salad Filling into puffs. Replace tops.