Tuscan Cream Puffs Food

YES, YOU CAN MAKE HOMEMADE CREAM PUFFS, WE PROMISE

Steps:

• For the Italian custard cream: Put the milk and the vanilla in a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat
• In a bowl, whip together the sugar, flour, and egg yolks with a hand mixer
• Ladle a cup of the milk-vanilla mixture into the bowl and beat to temper the yolks
• Add the yolk mixture to the pot and beat over medium heat with the hand mixer until thick and creamy, about 1 minute
• As you are beating, move the pot on and off the flame so that you don't scramble the eggs
• (Buddy's Tip: The longer you cook this cream, the thicker it will become, so you can -- and should -- adjust the texture to suit your taste
• ) Remove the pot from the heat, add the butter, and whip for 2 minutes to thicken the cream
• Transfer to a bowl
• Let cool, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 6 hours or up to 1 week
• (To make chocolate custard cream, add 1½ ounces melted, cooled unsweetened chocolate along with the butter
• For a richer chocolate flavor, add a little more
• ) For the choux pastry: Put the water, butter, and salt in a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat
• Add the flour and stir with a wooden spoon until the ingredients come together in a smooth, uniform dough, about 2 minutes
• Transfer the mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment
• (You may also use a hand mixer
• ) Start paddling on low speed, then add the eggs, one at a time, until thoroughly absorbed, mixing for 1 minute between eggs, and stopping the motor periodically to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula
• Finish with the final egg and mix for an additional two minutes
• (Buddy's Tip: Use the dough immediately
• It does not refrigerate well
• ) For the cream puffs: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 450F
• Transfer the dough into a pastry bag fitted with the #6 plain tip
• Pipe rounds onto two non-stick baking trays, about 2 inches in diameter by about ½ inch high, leaving 2 inches between puffs
• (You should be able to make 24 puffs
• ) Bake the cream puff shells in the oven, in batches if necessary, until they are golden brown and they have set enough that you can pick them up (test by gently pinching one with your thumb and forefinger to see if it can be lifted), 15 to 20 minutes
• Remove the tray from the oven and let the shells cool on the tray for 20 minutes
• (The cream puff shells can be frozen in a plastic freezer bag for up to 1 month; let come to room temperature before cutting and filling
• ) Fill the puffs by either cutting them in half horizontally with a serrated knife and piping them full of Italian Custard Cream, or by using your pinkie to hollow out the puffs from the bottom and piping the cream into them through the hole

CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• Make the cream puffs: In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, granulated sugar, salt and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove the pan from the heat and sift the flour directly into the pan. Stir the mixture into a paste with a wooden spoon. Return the pan to a medium heat. Stir the mixture until it pulls away from the sides of the pan and is slightly shiny, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer the paste to a medium bowl, and beat with a wooden spoon until slightly cooled, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the 3 eggs, one at a time, incorporating each one thoroughly before adding the next. Before adding the third egg, beat it in a small bowl. Adding it by tablespoons to the mixture, just until the batter is smooth and tight. If the batter starts to get loose, do not add all of the last egg.
• Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Fill a large pastry bag, fitted with an open tip, with the cream puff mixture. Pipe twelve
• 2 1/2-inch circular mounds, about 2 inches apart, onto the prepared pan. (Alternately, use a large spoon to form the dough into the mounds.) Dab the tops of each puff with a fingertip dipped in water to smooth the tops. Beat the egg yolk with a tablespoon of water and brush the surface of the puffs with the beaten yolk.
• Bake in the middle of the oven for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F; continue baking until golden brown and the puffs are light, airy, and crisp, about 30 to 35 minutes more. Cool on a rack.
• Assemble the cream puffs: Cut the puffs in half with a serrated knife, and set the tops aside. (If the puffs are very moist inside, scoop out the excess dough and re-crisp them in a 350 degree F. oven for about 5 minutes. Cool completely before continuing.) Put a heaping tablespoon of the fruit in the bottom halves of the cream puffs. Pipe or spoon about 1/3 cup of the Chocolate Whipped Cream on top. Replace the puff tops. Refrigerate for up to 3 hours or serve immediately.
• Yield: 12 cream puffs
• Beat the cream in a medium bowl with an electric mixer or a whisk, until it begins to hold a loose peak. Sift the confectioners' sugar into the cream. Continue beating until the cream holds a firm but still soft peak. Set aside.
• Put the chocolate in a clean, medium, microwaveable bowl. Melt the chocolate in the microwave, at half power, at 30 second intervals, until softened and warm. Whisk until smooth and liquid. (Alternatively melt the chocolate in a double boiler.)
• Fold about 1/2 cup of the whipped cream into the warm chocolate to lighten it. Add the lightened chocolate mixture back to the remaining whipped cream, folding until completely blended. Store in an airtight container until ready to use. It's best used the same day it is prepared.
• Yield: about 4 cups

ST. JOSEPH'S DAY CREAM PUFFS / SFINGI DI SAN GIUSEPPE

Steps:

• For cream puffs: Combing butter, salt and water in a sauce pan.
• Bring mixture to a boil.
• Add flour all at one time, mixing well by hand (with a wooden spoon), until the dough forms a ball and leaves the sides of the pan.
• Remove pan from heat, and let cool a little.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Add sugar and grated lemon and orange peels, and mix thoroughly (dough should have a slight gloss or sheen to it).
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Line a large sheet (or jelly roll) pan with parchment.
• Attach a# 4 tip (large star tip) to a pastry bag.
• Fill the pastry bag with the dough, and squeezing the dough through the bag, form donut shaped circles on the parchment, be careful that you do not move the bag too quickly or the dough will be stretched too thin.
• The dough circles should be about 1 inch thick.
• Leave a 2-inch space between each circle.
• Bake at 400F for about 10 minutes, reduce heat to 325F and bake for 30 minutes more or until golden brown.
• Remove from oven, carefully cut a small slit horizontally into the side of each puff, place on a rack to cool.
• When completely cooled, carefully slice each puff in half horizontally (forming a top and a bottom).
• Filling: In a large bowl; cream the drained ricotta well, until very smooth.
• Add flavorings and stir to blend well.
• Add sugar and mix well, filling should be thick (stiff) enough to hold its shape, if it is not, add more sugar.
• Fill a pastry bag fitted with a# 4 tip (large star tip) with the ricotta mixture.
• Squeeze the filling on to the bottom half of each puff.
• Place cherries on top of the filling (spaced about 1/2 inch apart).
• Replace tops on the puffs, and gently press down just enough to press the cherries part way into the filling.
• Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until serving.
• Sfingi may be lightly dusted with a sprinkle of powdered sugar before serving (optional).
• Note: Sfingi are best served/eaten the day they are made, because once they are filled, the puffs can soften.
• The puffs may be made a day ahead, and filled before serving.
• The filling may be made a day ahead of serving and stored (covered) in the refrigerator.