Cream Puff Memories

Dear T,

If memories were baked I'm pretty sure they'd turn out like an choux pastry. Light, delicate, and hollow so you could stuff all the good happy feelings inside.

One of my dear "little sisters", you know -I've talked about them before, recently asked for the cream puff recipe that I had made for the blissful New Years we spent together. It was a wonderful time since we hadn't seen them for many months. This recipe is a part of that memory. These little bites of happiness are worthy of their own memory though -talk about yumminess! Just close your eyes to the calories ;) I did :P But it was worth the price for the memories :)

Maybe we can make our own memories with this recipe someday too ;)

Love,

Sonia

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1c water
1/2 butter
1 tbsp sugar
1 cup flour
4 large eggs

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Line sheet pans with parchment paper, spray lightly. Set aside.

Boil water, butter and salt together in a large saucepan. Turn heat to medium.

Add flour all at once.

On low-medium heat, beat constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture forms a ball and leaves sides of pan for approximately 3-4 minutes.

Transfer mixture to a high-speed mixer with a stainless steel bowl.

Beat for 2-3 minutes on low speed with paddle attachment. This allows it to cool down while mixing.

Turn mixer to medium and add eggs one at a time, beating after each egg.

The dough is ready when it forms together and comes away from the bowl. This could take up to a total of 10 minutes.

Spoon pastry into large pastry bag or cookie scoop.

Pipe into eclairs or use small, medium or large scoops to make the shape you need, leaving a few inches between.

Bake at 400 degrees for 25-35 minutes or until the outside is golden brown. Then cut a 1" slit on one side of each pastry. Reduce heat to 375; bake pastries 10 min longer. Turn oven off; cool pastries in oven with door ajar.

Let cool before filling. Store unfilled puffs in a sealed container. These freeze well, making it easy to pop out a few when you need them.

Fill by tubing in pudding or whipped cream.

EAT 8)