Chocolate Éclairs’ – Oh Yummy

By Chef Diane

I have a wonderful Uncle Jack, but he isn't really my uncle.  He is a friend of my father's, and has known him since before I was born, so I call him uncle.   Every time he came to visit, I would make him Chocolate Éclairs’.  He always made such a fuss over them, eat them all day long, and wouldn't share with anyone.  These days, the only time I fix them is when he comes for a visit.  I have given his wife the recipe a few times, but she still hasn't made any for him.  They should really complicated and exotic to make, but actually they are really quite easy.  In fact, last year when I went to his home, we made a batch together and they turned out great.

You don't need any special tools to make them yourself.  They may not look quite like the ones from the bakery, but they will taste heavenly all same.

The word comes from French éclair 'flash of lightning.'  They probably got that name because when you eat them, they will be gone in a flash!  The éclair probably originated in France during the nineteenth century. It is a popular type of cake served all over the world. The word is first attested both in English and in French in the 1860s.  In some parts of the United States, Long Johns are marketed under the name éclairs, though the two are not identical. A Long John uses donut pastry and is typically filled with vanilla pudding or custard, making it a simpler and inexpensive alternative to the éclair.   The French call the dough of these treats “choux,” which is carefully baked to allow for a hollow interior. Then cream, custard, or purée is piped into its center and it is topped off with fondant icing.

Today is National Chocolate Éclair Day.  Below is the recipe I have used for  years, and it never fails.  If you don't have time to bake your own, head to your nearest bakery and pick up some for dessert, or breakfast, or any time of the day.

Éclair’s:

Shell:

1 stick butter (real butter)

1 cup water

1 cup all purpose flour

4 eggs

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a medium saucepan bring water and butter to full boil. Remove from heat. Add flour and mix well and let cool slightly. Add eggs one at a time mixing well after each egg. Spoon mixture in the shape of a finger onto a cookie sheet. Remember they will double in size so keep that in mind as you spread them out. Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 325 and bake another 45 minutes. Allow to cool.

Filling:

Some people like a cream type filling - I prefer pudding. Since it is a French dessert, I use French Vanilla instant pudding, but regular vanilla is just as good too. Mix according to directions and let sit in refrigerator while éclair shells are baking. When cooked, take the shell, cut a slit down the side with a sharp knife and spoon the pudding in.

Chocolate Glaze

2 1oz squares of unsweetened chocolate

2 tablespoons butter

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

3 tablespoons milk

Melt Chocolate and butter in saucepan over low heat, removed and stir in sugar and milk. Mix well until smooth and drizzle over éclairs immediately, it sets up pretty fast.

Time to eat you...

(Photos from Google) 

Chocolate – Ice Cream - Yummm

By Diane Forrest

A friend of mine is an ice cream fanatic.  We have spent several days talking about ice cream and the different flavors he likes, and the different places he has tried them.  He vacations in Mexico at a resort, and loves their homemade ice cream and will eat many bowls at a time while he is there.  I recently told him about my favorite brand of ice cream, and to my surprise he was able to find it where he lives. Even if it is a little more expensive than the store brands, he says the taste can't compare.

Chocolate Ice Cream is one of my all time favorite flavors, and as luck would have it, today is National Chocolate Ice Cream Day.  It has been really hot already so today is a great day to go out and have some chocolate ice cream.

According to punchbowl.com, culinary historians believe that the first ice cream flavors were fruit-based, but by the 18th century both vanilla and chocolate were quite common. Thomas Jefferson took a fancy to ice cream while living abroad during the 1780s. (He was the ambassador to France at the time.) It is likely that he is responsible for bringing this delicious frozen treat to America!  Today, the United States produces around 1.6 billion gallons of ice cream each year.

My city no longer has a place that serves hard ice creams, so I will either go to the store and buy some, or make my own.  Below is a recipe for Chocolate Ice Cream in a freezer.  It is a soft ice cream, like the frosties at Wendy's, so if you have the time, whip up a batch, and if you don’t, you can still grab a cone or a dish of your favorite brand.

Chocolate Ice Cream:

1/2 gallon chocolate milk

1 can sweated condensed milk

1 8-ounce carton of cool whip

Mix in a large bowl and place in your ice cream freezer. Follow directions to your freezer as directed.

This is a perfect treat for a warm summer night, or even a cold winter night! Enjoy!

(Images from Google) 

National Rocky Road Ice Cream Day – 2013

By Terry Orr

 As a kid, there were basically three primary flavors of Ice Cream - Vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry - tho others existed - these were most often available and served.  Banana Splits were a wonderful treat - getting all three flavors with a banana, choice of three toppings, nuts, whip cream and a cherry on top.  That was truly a dessert heaven. Rocky Road fast became a favorite in our home and one could always find at least a half gallon of it in the freezer - gallon sizes when they were on sale.

Today is National Rocky Road Day! Rocky road ice cream is a delicious dessert with an interesting culinary history. In 1929 after the stock market crash, a man named William Dreyer (the founder of Dreyer Ice Cream) calmed his Black Thursday nerves by creating the original rocky road. He mixed chunky almonds, mini marshmallows, and delicious milk chocolate ice cream to create a new ice cream flavor that would make people smile despite the tough economic times. It instantly became an American favorite and soon became popular all over the world. (Source: Punchbowl)

According to ActiveBeat.com – the 15 Most Popular Ice Creams in 2012 are:

Vanilla

Chocolate

Butter Pecan

Strawberry

Neapolitan

Chocolate Chip

French Vanilla

Cookies and Cream

Vanilla Fudge Ripple

Praline Pecan

Cherry

Chocolate Almond

Coffee

Rocky Road

Chocolate Marshmallow

There are several different list of Top however many favorite/popular ice creams – but this list, while the order may be different, the same names seem to appear. July is National Ice Cream Month and we will endeavor to bring you more interesting information and variety of flavors and makers of ice cream.  We would like to know what your favorite ice creams are – and to share them in our article in July. Thanks!

 (All images from Google) 

Oh My, It is Oreo Cookie Day!! Yum

Mmmm..taste so good

By Diane Forrest

I was recently reading where a 63 year old woman who worked at an Indiana Walmart was caught eating Oreo cookies off the shelf.  Not only was this woman fired, but Walmart was pressing felony charges against her for the theft.  She admitted eating the cookies, and went as far as to admit to doing it for years!  Read the story here: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/02/walmart-employee-hit-with-felony-for-snacking-on-store-oreos/

Also in the news was an inventor who created a machine that will remove the cream from inside the Oreo cookie.  He made several sacrifices, such as having a cold neck and not being able to find a good sandwich during work hours, he designed a machine that will clean off the cream and leave the chocolate cookie in tact.  to see this invention at work, click here: http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2013/0227/Oreo-Separator-Machine-Modern-day-Robert-Oppenheimer-splits-the-Oreo-video

The Oreo was invented by the Nabisco Co in 1912, and celebrated their 100th anniversary on this day last year.  Since their invention, over 362 billion have been sold, making it the best selling cookie of the 20th century according to the Oreo history website. 

There have been a few changes since their inception, in 1975 they came out with double stuff, in 1987, fudge covered, and in 1991 there were halloween Oreo's with orange colored cream and in 1995 Christmas Oreos.  They also have Mint Oreos.

So what is the big deal about Oreo's, why have they lasted so long?  Could it be the crunchy chocolate cookie?  Or is it the creamy filling?   They've caused great disputes as to the best way to eat them - dunking them in milk or twisting off one side and eating the middle first. Besides eating them plain, there are recipes galore on how to use Oreos in cakes, milkshakes, and additional desserts. Oreos had become part of twentieth century culture.

So, today, on Oreo Cookie Day, why not grab a bag and let us know how you like to eat them.

(All images from Google)

There is Always Room for Jell-O!!

(Google Image)

By Chef Diane

Jell-O is the brand name for gelatin desserts. It originated in the Victorian period, where it was made in complicated gelatin molds, it was a difficult process, and so only the well to do were able to afford it. In 1845 the patent was sold to Mr. Peter Cooper, who invented the powdered gelatin. 40 years later, the patent was sold to Mr. Wait, and he gave it the name Jell-O. Not being able to make a go of the business, he sold the patent for $450.00.

(Google Image)

It was then advertised in the Ladies’ Home Journal and proclaimed to be America's Most Famous Dessert. Business began to improve, and started being advertised by Jack Benny in 1934, and was seen on I love Lucy show and other outlets. In 1974 Bill Cosby became the spokesman, and once again in 2010. Today there are around 300 million boxes made each year.

(Google Image)

Jell-O is one of the main foods of choice being served in hospitals for patients recovering from surgery, it is also an inexpensive food for school children, and is sometimes mixed with fruit. I make a congealed salad that my grandmother used to make, and have included the recipe below.

This is National Jell-O Week. The Joy of Jell-O site has some other fun activities you can do with Jell-O, they can be found below.

Ways to Celebrate Jell-O Week

Have a Jell-O Eating Contest

Drink Jell-O through a Straw

Have a Jell-O Making Contest

Have a Jell-O Wrestling Competition

Make Jell-O Shots

Buy a Jell-O Mold at a Near-by Thrift Shop

Make Jell-O With Your New Jell-O Mold

Buy a Jell-O Recipe Book

Try Out a New Recipe

Try a New Flavor- or Better Yet- Create Your Own Flavor. Mix Kinds and Give a Nifty Prize to the Person that Can Guess the Flavors.

Write a Letter to a Utah Congressman/Woman Telling About Your Jell-O Joys.

Take Jell-O to a Neighbor.

Take Jell-O to Work

Congeal Your Co-Workers Stapler or Other Item in Jell-O. See Jell-Ostapler.com for details.

Congeal Your Husband’s Car Keys in Jell-O

If You Have had it with Your Teenager Texting, Congeal His/Her Cell Phone in Jell-O

Play a Jell-O Joy Joke

Have a Jell-O Buffet

Fill Your Bathtub with Jell-O

Make Jell-O Jigglers

Try to Make a Delicate Arch Out of Jell-O

Make a Jell-O Valentine

(Google Image)

Granny’s Orange Salad:

Dissolve 1 package of orange Jell-O in 1 cup Hot water. Cool. Add 7 cups of miniature marshmallows, 1 small can crushed pineapples 1 cup cottage cheese and 1 small container of cool whip. Pour in casserole dish and place in the refrigerator until set.