Memere's Cream Puffs

My love of food, and especially comfort food from when I was a kid, is unsurpassed. Mom cooked pretty simple food, but she was old school. For the most part it was meat, mashed potatoes and veggies every night. Rice did not exist when I was a wee lad (I was never a wee lad; 150 lbs at age 11). It was potatoes and occasionally spaghetti. That was it. I have some of Mom's recipes from those days and over the years I have modified them to suit my tastes but some of them have never changed. Today it is the Cream Puffs she made from my earliest memories. The filling is a wonderful custard rather than a whipped cream and a welcome addition to the serving is to drizzle with hot fudge. Absolutely decadent!

Memere's Cream Puffs

The Pastry Puffs
1/2 cup of margarine, softened
1 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
1 cup hot boiling water

1. Melt the butter in a pan with the boiling water (on the heated stove).

2. Add flour and salt, stirring vigorously and constantly until the mixture forms a ball that doesn't separate. Remove from heat and cool for about 10 to 15 minutes (so it is not hot but still warm).

3. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each until mixture is smooth.

4. Drop 1 tablespoon each of the mixture onto a greased cookie sheet. Space each drop about 2 inches apart since they will expand.

5. Bake at 450 degrees F for 15 minutes.

6. Remove from heat and cool on a wire rack.

The Custard Filling

2/3 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups scalded milk
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
2 eggs slightly beaten

1. Mix dry ingredients

2. Add milk slowly to the dry ingredients over a medium heat.

3. Cook about 15 minutes stirring constantly until mixture thickens.

4. Temper the eggs with some of the mixture. Add the tempered eggs to the main pot, stirring frequently for 2 to 3 minutes more.

5. Cool completely.

6. Add lemon and vanilla extracts. Stir completely. Refrigerate until cold.

7. Fill the pastry puffs with the custard and refrigerate until cold.

8. Eat as many as you can without exploding.