Crunchy or Puffy?...

Puffy? Wimp.

So. Scenario. Surprise visit from my dear brother Lee. Lee wants a turkey. And a birthday celebration. Lee it's just not possible. It's just not feasible... it's just not... just not... jus..... AUGH FINE!! But only cause I'm nice.

So the first day (which this entry is not about) I slaved for hours making THE CAKE. I figured it was the best recipe thusfar and was fitting for my dearest elder brother. I went to Safeway three separate times that day... and it's not like I'm just another random in the grocery store.... My hair is flaming red. I'm pretty easy to pick out of a crowd. It's like Where's Waldo for the innocent bystanders. I went in the morning for dark brown sugar, corn syrup, icing sugar and cream cheese.... then in the afternoon for whipping cream and finally that evening for turkey and all the fixings. The cake, somehow, was a disaster. I ended up having to skewer it together AFTER turning it upside down. Plus the bottom layer got a bit crushed. I'm not sure how that happened. However, I did nail toasting the pecans this time and the pecan coat was very even and the cake was not lopsided. I'm getting there, slowly but surely. I really, REALLY need 8'' cake pans.

Day two was Turkey Day. We bought a fresh turkey because we were going to bake it the very next day, and my thoughtful little brother (just trying to help) threw the turkey in the freezer. I can only imagine the horror the person who discovered it must have felt. Cold shiver down their spine and all that. So they baked it for a good 3 hours by itself to thaw it. Then it was stuffed with a ton of thyme and parsley and was roasted till din din.

But this isn't about Turkey or CAKE or Safeway. This particular entry revolves around CREAM PUFFS. Ahh cream puffs. One of the more delightful pastries. Like sweet Yorkshire puddings that you stuff according to your whim of the moment. Would you like custard and whipped cream? Or perhaps chocolate and ice cream? Or if you are like me... a smattering of everything? Yes.... yes.

                 

Butter. Did you expect anything else from Cakerella? Really??

Cream puffs have very few ingredients... but the main thing with them is you have to watch them very carefully. Like unto a hawk. This was made difficult by my crappy oven's lack of functioning light bulb. So, consequentially, you could oft find me crouched down beside it cupping my hands around my eyes to try and see inside.

This is where it starts to get hard to stir...

The first go at the cream puffs wasn't the smoothest. Stirring in one egg at a time is not easy on your arm.... and it felt like alot of guesswork. Especially when shaping the puffs and coating them with egg wash. I had a very hard time with the concept of baking them at 415 convection for 15 minutes... then for another 15 at 365 convection. 30 minutes of bake time?... for PASTRY?? It didn't seem right. And it most definitely wasn't. What a disaster.

You know that oath on my homepage? If you don't, go take a look. I would like to make note that part of that oath inspired me at this dire moment. All hope was lost. I was tired, frustrated, starving, and had too few cream puffs that were overcooked. But, as Cakerella, I vowed to fix it if it wasn't right. So I busted out the butter and put on my game face.

I reduced the overall cooking time by around 9 minutes, taking time from the first and third baking cycles. I camped by the stove the entire time. Right as soon as I saw them becoming that wonderful shade of gold, out they came.

They were absolutely beautiful. That is a CREAM - PUFF ladies and gents.

I served them with creme patisserie, chantilly cream, ice cream, and melted Callebaut chocolate. I found that the build your own dessert idea was a charming way to bring us a little closer at the close of the meal.

They were a lovely little treat at the end of the best Thanksgiving Dinner I have ever had. It just goes to show you what you can pull off when it is required of you... not that this was the first time we have made this evident.

We were planning on making a HAM this week. But the need arose and we all banded together to make it happen. The food was delicious, the company was delightful, and the spirit in our home was truly beautiful.

Something's missing....

Oh yes. Chantilly Cream and Diet Pepsi.

And how amazing it is that I am lucky enough to run this blog. If I want to run to the store and pick up a bunch of baking supplies I can. If we want to go and buy the biggest turkey in the store for an impromptu Thanksgiving, we can. If we want to spend time with our families who live far away we have the means to do so. We are blessed with SO much and many of us (including in large part myself) don't even realize it. This weekend I was so grateful for the incredible family I have been blessed with. What in the world would I do without you? I love you all immeasurably and am so privileged to know you.


As a side note.... I'm not exactly sure how Turkey Dinner Dessert evolved (or devolved) from lattice and pumpkin pie to cream puffs, but that is how it played out this year. However, this was just Turkey Day uno. We are having part two next week, and I have a special concoction in the works for yall then. Happy Baking!