Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Cream puffs

Last weekend it was our turn turn to bring dessert to our neighborhood potluck. What to bring?

Younger Daughter asked for cream puffs, so that's what I made. Years ago I copied over this recipe from somewhere, but I don't remember where. I doubled the recipe since we usually have about twelve people at the potluck.


The cream puff shells are quite easy. Start with two cups water, one cup butter/margarine (remember, I doubled the recipe). Meanwhile preheat the oven to 400F.


Bring the water to a boil and the butter will melt into the water.


Once the butter is melted, I turned the heat to low and added two cups of flour, about half a cup at a time. At first it's all lumpy...


...but then it forms a sort of dough ball. At this point I turn off the heat.


Now comes the fun part: EIGHT eggs, added one at a time. I had to raid the chicken coop for this part.


With each successive egg, it gets harder and harder to stir the egg into the dough. Whatever you do, make sure your wooden spoon is sturdy.


But eventually all the eggs got mixed, then I dropped quarter-cup globs on cookie sheets.


Baked 35 to 40 minutes until golden.


Once cool, the idea is to slice them open, pull out the filaments to sort of "hollow" out the puff, and then fill it with something yummy.


The cream puff recipe includes a recipe for the cream filling, which is essentially a custard. I duly made this...


...but after chilling it for several hours, it never "set" and remained liquidy. So I chucked it and instead made the cream filling I use in trifle.


This consists of whipped cream...


...beaten cream cheese, which is then beaten again with sour cream...


...and instant vanilla pudding beaten with some milk.


This is all mixed together to make a beautiful creamy filling.


When it came time to assemble the cream puffs, I sliced them open...


...hollowed them out a little bit...


And then filled.


Yum!

12 comments:

  1. Patrice, once again I am indebted to you and your blog. Not just for the Cream Puffs (though I'm sure they are delicious), but for everything. Simply everything. As I log in to my PC daily I am assaulted with BAD NEWS from every angle, and I have my PC set this way so I can catch every sordid detail and remain 'on top of things' although I no longer know why this is important.

    Well, I must tell you that I looked over the wealth of international bad news and bad lies waiting for me just now and I did what any sane person would do.... I jumped on over to your blog because I knew I would find a small corner of Eden. Rest for the soul. In the midst of all the worldly tremors and frights, we all need a good dose true daily life as God intended! I am comforted and uplifted to see photos of your new birthday calf (Congrats to both of you!) and your garden and canning jars and the milking stall. Thank you for providing a little bit of Heaven here on earth for us, especially in these days ahead.

    As I write this, tomorrow is 9/11, and I will be spending at least some of it in prayer for our nation and what is ahead of all of us. As Elvis Presley once sang "I know not what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future, it's a secret known only to Him."

    God Bless,
    Janet in MA

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  2. OH! Be still my beating heart and drooling lip!

    Boy, that looks great!

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  3. You didn't really "chuck" the custard did you? My scotch mama is fainting.

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  4. Hello:)

    Hope you are having a blessed week so far. I wanted to let you know that I ordered your three e-books on canning last week on September 5th and still have not received them in my email. I even went through my SPAM folder. Is there something else I need to do to get them...everything went through PayPal. Thanks, Jeannie Cisney

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    1. Jeannie, if you email my husband at ruralrevolution@hotmail.com , he'll get you all set up. Thanks for ordering!

      - Patrice

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  5. Thank you so much for the recipe. I will try these yummy puffs.

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  6. hope you used the liquid custard for something else.
    might try some arrowroot powder mixed into a small portion thoroughly and then mix thoroughly into the whole batch.
    however it is good as is drizzled over things.
    deb harvey

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    Replies
    1. I agree. Waste not want not. Could even freeze it up. That is basically what ice cream is.

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  7. Awesome recipes, looks so delicious. Wish I found this site earlier.

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