Cream Puffs and Flowers

Fully loaded

Aren't those four delightsome words no matter what kind of day you're having?  Yesterday I had to make cream puffs for Enrichment Night at church - we had a drawing class, like a 101, and we ate cream puffs, lots of cream puffs.  With rich ganache on the side.  There are several steps to making them but they are quite easy.  I used the recipe in my Joy of Cooking book.  The dough is made in a large saucepan and then you pipe the blobs of pastry dough on ungreased cookie sheets.  Here's the process:

 I just put the dough in a large zip lock freezer bag, cut a hole in a corner and piped

Here I poked a small hole with a skewer in each one and piled them on their sides in a warm oven to dry for 10 minutes

 Cut off the tops with a serrated knife - ready to fill

 I loaded them with a rich mix of half pastry cream and half whipped cream

 Put the tops back on and sprinkle with powdered sugar

I served them with a side of warm bittersweet ganache.  They were so good - tons of filling!

Every time I've gone to the grocery store lately, I've thrown in one of these which adds a spot of cheer in the house for these bitter cold days.  

 Nothing fancy, just bright and cheery - 5 bucks. 

 Do you see those chrysanthemum petals on top of the potpourri bowl?  They eventually fell off the first bouquet.  They dry out and hold essential oils for scent very nicely. I have bowls all over the house and add petals, leaves, yard stuff all the time.

This picture just pleased my eye - glorious greens!