The joy of an eclair

It all started last week when I got a picture of an eclair on my phone from a friend of my son’s.
The friend calls me mom and he wanted me to make eclairs.
How often do 20 yr olds call asking for baked goods?
Normally not often…but anytime these guys want baked goods, cookies, cakes…I get a text!
So, today…eclairs were made for son, his friend and if either of them don’t eat all of them then his girlfriend will get eclair as well!

I was contemplating putting this on my new site, RecipesForEatingWell.com but decided that it’s not exactly eating well material but more a good feeling recipe.

It’s really easy to make eclairs, the recipe and pics follow:

Eclair pastry recipe:
1 c. water
1/2 c. butter
1 c. flour
4 eggs

Bring the water and butter to a rolling boil.
Remove from heat.
Add flour and stir with spoon until ball can be formed.
Add eggs one at a time, mixing like crazy after each one!
Mix until dough is very stiff…this is the part that can give you a little arm workout.

Drop by full teaspoons in a connecting line onto a cookie sheet for individual servings (you can also use this for cream puffs as well)
I put the dough in a pastry bag and piped out long strips for the eclairs.

Bake 35-45 minutes at 390-400°F.
Cool away from drafts.

Filling:

2 pkg. instant French vanilla pudding
2 1/2 c. milk
1 (8 oz.) container Cool Whip
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix pudding and milk together.
Fold in Cool Whip and vanilla.
Slice eclair in half and fill generously with filling.
Replace top of eclair.

This always makes too much filling so, what better to do with leftover filling…
put it in chocolate cups!

Chocolate Topping
6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips (I use the mini choc. chips)
1 1/3 c. evaporated milk
1/2 c. butter
2 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Melt chocolate chips and butter together.
Gradually add milk and powdered sugar.
Bring to boil.
Stir continuously.
Boil for 8 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Stir in vanilla.
Drizzle top of eclair with chocolate topping.

Top with sifted powdered sugar.
Enjoy!

So, just a little bit of time, some flour, eggs, butter, filling and now there are going to be numerous happy teen-20’s today!
Amazing how something so simple can make people happy.

Do you have a favorite comfort food, or a food that you request be made just for you?