One cream puff for every year...
As I mentioned exactly a month ago, I'm turning 40 this year. And it kinda knocked me over a bit. So, I started my celebration last month and will continue to celebrate the end of my 30's until December 7, 2010. Today I'm 39 8/12. (And yes, math nerds, I know I can reduce that to 2/3, but just work with me here... ;)
Last week, Chef-in-Training Johnson & Wales student Rosie came over and taught me and my friends how to make Challah (see post here), Cream Puffs and Pastry Cream. I've always been afraid of pastry cream, but Rosie's excellent teaching technique brought us two perfect batches: vanilla and chocolate.
Oh yes! Glorious chocolate and vanilla pastry cream. I could (and did) eat a boatload of these little gems of goodness.
Here is the 8/12th cream puff! :) Heading toward 40...
We used Vanilla Paste - an inexpensive alternative to real vanilla beans. It gives you all the flecks of vanilla beans for much less green.
All lined up. Ready to be eaten! :)
To celebrate my birthday, I'm having a MONTHLY giveaway until I turn 40. For the "4 month" countdown, I'm giving away a $39 8/12 Sur la Table gift card to one lucky winner! ($39.67 US Dollar gift certificate to Sur la Table). FCC Disclosure: My birthday giveaways are paid for by me.
To enter, just leave a comment (if you aren't connected to a blog, leave your email address...and if you have a blogger account but it's private so I can't see it...leave your email address). Deadline is Saturday, August 14, 2010 at midnight PDT. (*Updated 8/8: I had Wed 8/14, but that is wrong so it is now corrected to Saturday, 8/14! Thanks Edana for the correction!)
**Updated: Contest is closed. Congrats to Laurie #22 who won!**
Happy early birthday... again!!
ReplyDeleteThese cream puffs look absolutely perfect. Rosie definitely has serious skills. That chocolate pastry cream looks amazing. Goodness!
ReplyDeleteHappy 39 8/12th birthday!
Love the cream puffs! In a flash, I just whip heavy cream, vanilla bean paste, and a little sugar for the filling and top with chocolate sauce in case I don't have time to make custard.
ReplyDeleteHappy 39th & 8/12!
these cream puffs are perfect! and your 40th birthday will be too!
ReplyDeleteNo recipes?! The cream puffs look absolutely perfect and delicious, makes me want to give them a try. Happy birthday! You're looking at 40 this year and I'm looking at 50 and really trying to ignore it! Thanks - Winnie
ReplyDeletewinl2006atyahoo.com
OH MY,,, these look absolutely delish!!! I have always used Watkins vanilla, but I will look into vanilla paste. Happy Pre-Birthday... When I turned 50, I decided not to use numbers anymore, so I was 50D this year! Next year, 50E....
ReplyDeleteHappy 39 8/12's Birthday (yes, I'm working with ya)!
ReplyDeleteThese little goodies look absolutely delicious - I am all about vanilla anything! Thanks for the vanilla paste tip...gotta check that out.
the.k.krew(at)gmail(dot)com
There is nothing to fear of being 40.
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea of Rosie's classes at your house. The cream puffs look very yummy.
40 is definitely the new 30!! :-) Thanks for the neat giveaway!
ReplyDeleteHappy 39 8/12! Your cream puffs look amazing!
ReplyDeletehmortars@msn.com
Those cream puffs look delicious! Thank you sharing your birthday with us!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! Thanks for hosting this giveaway. My email is jen.kemp@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI'm the first to make a comment! The baby puffs look great. Cream puffs really aren't hard at all. I learn to make them in Home Ec class 40 years ago!
ReplyDeleteOh yum!!!
ReplyDeleteLooks so good! Good tip about the vanilla paste. PS- I'm sure you don't look a day over 29 8/12. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Unbirthday! (Work with me here, it's approaching but not here yet!) I personally like to think of birthdays as presents-and-cake days. It makes them much more exciting!
ReplyDeletehttp://librarygirl9.blogspot.com/
Aaack! I'm turning 40 in Nov and now that you put it this way, I better get my butt moving and do something. I think I'll go have breakfast.
ReplyDeleteHappy Happy JOY JOY, have a nice birthday
ReplyDeleteThose puffs look amazing!
ReplyDeleteDiane and Lily
deebenner at gmail dot com
Happy Almost Birthday! Those cream puffs look amaaazing...
ReplyDeleteYum! They look awesome!
ReplyDeleteI love your celebration style! Yum!!!
ReplyDeletehappy early birthday! these look wonderful! it makes me want to make cream puffs...
ReplyDeleteCream puffs sound unhealthy (and they are!), but they are SO delish! Happy getting-closer-to-your-birthday!
ReplyDeleteWow, those are the most perfectly shaped cream puffs I've seen. Happy 39 8/12ths!
ReplyDeleteHappy early birthday! Those cream puffs look like an excellent way to ring in the 8/12. Dang, now I want a cream puff. I'm 29 2/12 (or 1/6 for the math nerds), so I know the feeling of counting down.
ReplyDeletemeravigliosi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!complimenti!
ReplyDeleteim turning 40 too so a very exciting year ahead!
ReplyDeleteYummy, yum-yum! 40 is the new 30.
ReplyDeleteThose look great. I love the paste! -Jessica M.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Mary! Love your blog. You will rock 40.
ReplyDeletekarenreichmann@hotmail.com
Happy almost birthday but honestly I think you're lying. Not that you shouldn't be proud about your age but I've seen you and you look 25.
ReplyDeleteI'm ramping up for 40 right there with you! Cream puffs are definitely one of my favorite ways to celebrate! Kelly
ReplyDeleteMmmmm.... I've never made chocolate pastry cream! Guess now's a good time to start huh?
ReplyDeleteI can't think of a better way to celebrate being 39 and 2/3 than by eating that many cream puffs- I love it!
ReplyDeleteYum! Those cream puffs look delicious. I'm such a sucker for pastry cream!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking from the perspective of one who just turned 50... the 40's are way more fabulous than the 30's could ever hope to be!!! gsg5@ca.rr.com
ReplyDeleteThose cream puffs look amazing!
ReplyDeleteGreat looking cream puffs! Happy 39 8/12 birthday!
ReplyDeleteThose look amazing! Yum
ReplyDeleteloveee your blog!!! happy almost bday! amafmf1@sbcglobal.net
ReplyDeleteThose cream puffs look amazing! Especially the chocolate one.
ReplyDeleteHappy happy birthday. Gonna go make me some cream puffs now.
ReplyDelete-carriechilton@gmail.com
OH i love cream puffs!
ReplyDeletelocal_honee@yahoo.com
Now you've got me thinking that I need to start coming up with some interesting way of celebrating my next birthday, since I turn 40 just a couple months after you. =) The cream puffs look delicious. I haven't made any pate a choux for quite a while.
ReplyDeleteThose cream puffs look great - I'll have to give them a try! Thanks for another great birthday giveaway!
ReplyDeleteHappy 39 8/12 birthday! Forty is a great age (I was there 15 years ago) and the older you get, the better things are -- they just change a lot. The cream puffs look fabulous. Great post about the challah too, and it's nice to see what you look like after all this time.
ReplyDeleteparalegalgs@gmail.com
I love cream puffs.
ReplyDeleteI have made them twice.
The first time something went wrong.
But the second time was perfect.
xchibiox@gmail.com
Those cream puffs look amazing. rhisomers@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteOh those look so good. nom nom nom
ReplyDeletenl.lavigne@gmail.com
happy early birthday! the cream puffs look very delicious!
ReplyDeletebrookefong@yahoo.com
Happy almost birthday! (:
ReplyDeleteand the creme puffs look so amazing.
kimbo1423@yahoo.com
cream puffs looks perfect!
ReplyDeleteso cute! happy almost b-day! enjoy it and eat lots of cake!
ReplyDeleteOooh, I want a bundt pan...or maybe cake rings...or a tart pan...yes! One of those things.
ReplyDeleteIs the deadline Wednesday, August 11th or Saturday, August 14th? (I mean, it doesn't matter for me because I'm commenting now but someone else might be confused later...)
happy birthday!! i loved last month's peanut butter chocolate chunk cookies!
ReplyDeleteEdana #56, Thanks for catching that! I must have been looking at the wrong calendar or something! I have corrected it to give a longer entry period - until Sat, August 14th. - mary the food librarian
ReplyDeleteOh wonderful, you've sold the cream puff mystery for me. I always wondered what they were and now I know.
ReplyDeleteThose cream puffs look so great! I'm so glad you extended the deadline... The 14th is my wedding day!
ReplyDeleteWOW!!this is great..thank you for sharing this one.Happy Birthday!!
ReplyDeleteFunny how 40 seems old when you're on one side of it, but young on the other side. Too bad we don't appreciate how "young" we are until a few years have passed.
ReplyDeleteThose cream puffs are little works of art.
Those puffs look delightful!
ReplyDeleteHappy 39 and 8/12 :)
have i mentioned how awesome and generous this is? i think i have, and i intend to do it again for each giveaway. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy to you! I love cream puffs and your pastry cream both the chocolate and vanilla please me and my fiance - I am going to try these this week-end. Thanks and enjoy your week!
ReplyDeletei want some of those cream puffs right NOW!
ReplyDeleteplease enter me in your giveaway, thanks :)
They look so yummy, thank you for the coffee jello that you brought to LHQ btw, they were very delicious.
ReplyDeleteHappy 39th & 8/12, from one librarian to another :)
ReplyDeleteThe cream puffs look amazing - I'm so inspired to take those baking class now....
(ayounglibrarian@gmail.com)
Next time you have a little baking party, I wanna join via Skype :)
ReplyDeleteThese bites remind me of my beloved BEARD PAPA cream puffs. We don't have Beard Papa in Colorado but you're inspiring me to try my hand at making these at home!
ReplyDeleteyum!
ReplyDeletelivingoffproceeds@gmail.com
happy early birthday!!
ReplyDeleteI love how you got it down the 8/12 into cents. You are too funny.
ReplyDeletehelcho@msn.com
i want a sur la table voucher :)
ReplyDeleteYour cream puffs look divine, I bet they would be terrific with ice cream!
ReplyDeletecookienurse@gmail.com
Cream puffs and challah bread. Say no more! I also love filling cream puffs with chicken or tuna salad for a more savory taste. YUM.
ReplyDeletesulkygrrl (at) gmail (dot) com
Those cream puffs look so delicious!
ReplyDeleteYum - LOVE cream puffs!
ReplyDeletecarmencooksblog at gmail dot com
Are you going to post the recipe for the cream puffs?
ReplyDeleteSur la Table is my numero uno kitchen gadget store. plus their classes are often very unique and have local flavors
ReplyDeletethese cream puffs look great! i'd love to win :)
ReplyDeleteWhat perfect little cream puffs!
ReplyDeletecream puffs have been on my to do list for a while now. Yours look so delicious!
ReplyDeleteI've always been too intimidated to try cream puffs. Yours look gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeletebecki_sue@comcast.net
What an awesome way to celebrate your upcoming bday! Looking forward to the countdown...so exciting!
ReplyDeleteI saw this photo this weekend and about dropped everything to make some! I adore cream puffs!
ReplyDeleteI love that you are making your upcoming birthday loads of fun!
Yummy! So very, very jealous. Those look so yummy! So highly unfair when I am longing for an afternoon snack. littleredlupine@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteYummy! Nice info on vanilla paste.
ReplyDeleteThose cream puffs look amazing!
ReplyDeleteTracey
tlm24x@gmail.com
Yum! Cream puffs look delightful!
ReplyDeletehow fun and generous of you. happy early birthday!
ReplyDeletesonges1 at gmail
I love that you're a pro baker and still have people come over to teach you things. You're so fab, Mary!
ReplyDeleteare you going to posting the cream puff recipes?
ReplyDeleteI love making cream puffs! mmm
ReplyDeleteHappy almost 40th Birthday!!! Great Give-a-way!!
ReplyDeleteThe cream puffs look SO good!
ReplyDeleteHappy early birthday!
Wow those look gorgeous! I hope at some point you'll post the vanilla cream recipe. That's my issue.
ReplyDeletehappy 4/12 month early birthday!
Thanks for the giveaway! I am impressed with your cream puffs, have always wanted to try them but have never done it. Happy pre-birthday!
ReplyDelete--Kate
keb02138(at)yahoo(dot)com
Happy almost birthday!
ReplyDeleteQuestion - how long do these stay fresh for?
Baking and Mistaking #98, I have no idea. We, um, ate them all. :) I have had them the next day and they were fine as long as they were refrigerated. Thanks for visiting, and the pre-bday wishes! - mary the food librarian
ReplyDeleteHappy 39 8/12 Birthday! I love your blog and just last week made the lemon berry bundt cake! It was a hit!
ReplyDeleteAnd the countdown continues! Happiness to you in this final chapter of your 30's. Forty isn't bad-I have to say that since I'll be 41 in Nov!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday and happy eating!
ReplyDeleteHAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! Love your blog everything you make is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI just celebrated (?) my 50th, so I know how you feel. The cream puffs look great.
ReplyDeleteThose look delicious---mmmmm chocolate pastry cream!
ReplyDeleteYour choux pastry is absolutely perfect! Happy 39 8/12! We're almost exactly the same age. I'm at 39 7/12.
ReplyDeleteI love cream puffs, these look darling!
ReplyDeleteThe cream puffs look yummy!
ReplyDeleteThose look amazing! I now have an urge to go and make some! Happy 39 8/12!
ReplyDeletegraphic.j.gray@comcast.net
Happy Almost Birthday! :D
ReplyDeletelil_ninja123(at)yahoo(dot)com
I like 8/12s better!!! Your cream puffs are beautiful. Wish mine would come out 1/2 that well.
ReplyDeleteTake it from one that is already in "that" club, 40 is definitely the new 30, and you will be in fantastic company. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy 8/12th b-day Mary, and enjoy those delicious looking cream puffs!
My husband loves profiteroles. Happy early birthday again!
ReplyDeleteI love your birthday countdown! Hahahaha! True, 40 is the new 30. I can't say no to pastry cream. Moreover, I can't say no to cream puffs. Especially these cream puffs that are perfectly leavened. They are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYou have a great year waiting for you. Happy Early Birthday!
My wife will kill for these puffs with chocolate
ReplyDeletemmmm they look delicious!
ReplyDeleteCream Puffs look divine!
ReplyDeletethey look absolutely delectable!!!
ReplyDeleteDiane
lilaznjewel@yahoo.com
happy early birthday! Those look so good! I am kind of scared to try to make bread or cream puffs like this. Those look really delicious!
ReplyDeleteOh a side note, my mom is taking a pastry chef class. She apparently brings delicious treats home but since I'm in LA I totally miss out :( ha!
Again, happy early birthday!
The bread looked fabulous! Let's celebrate your birthday when we are in SoCal for Christmas!
ReplyDeleteHappy (early) 40th!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing with us: the giveaway and your wonderful blog!
Fabulous!
ReplyDeleteooo cream puffs are awesome. Now I want to go out and get some! Yummy! Cheers!
ReplyDelete