Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Strwaberry Cream Puffs....For the FOURTH OF JULY!



I am convinced that strawberries are a delight no matter your status in life. Who can't agree on a perfect strawberry? Who can resist their red goodness, plucked straight off the plant? Their beauty adorns (and has for generations!) colorful kitchen linens and curtains, pillows and pictures, canisters and more. And why not? They're perfection.




In addition to the the bliss of eating as much as you want of the plentiful strawberry harvest in any number of ways: just alone, crushed with a bit of sugar, over ice cream, over angel food cake...you can really impress with many desserts made with these tart berries, in particular you will please almost everyone with this dessert: CREAM PUFFS IN A PAN topped with your garden-fresh sliced strawberries.


Garnished with strawberries, and drizzled with chocolate, on a base of the light cream puff pastry topped with a layer of vanilla pudding: it's heaven on earth. When you take a big pan of these to any potluck or picnic, you will not be embarrassed to be seen taking any of your dessert home: it will for sure be enjoyed and exclaimed over. Be aware that if you make these all alone at your house, the temptation will be way, way too much for you. You'll need help to resist the lure.




This dessert is best served fresh. KEEP COLD if not served immediately.

CREAM PUFFS IN A PAN
1 cup water
1 cup oleo
1 cup flour
4 eggs

3 c. milk
2 small boxes INSTANT vanilla pudding mix
8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
Cool Whip
Chocolate syrup to drizzle

Boil water and oleo. Add flour after removing from heat. Beat in eggs, one at a time, with a fork and spread on a well-greased jelly roll pan or sheet cake pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Let cool. Crust WILL BE UNEVEN.

While crust bakes, prepare filling. Beat together pudding, milk, and cream cheese. (Chill until crust is cool.) Spread over crust. Top that pudding layer with a layer of cool whip. Cut dessert into squares. Garnish every square with a strawberry half. Drizzle the whole dessert artfully with Hershey's chocolate syrup.

Grab a full cold glass of milk, or make a pot of coffee or tea and ENJOY!



The crust is bright yellow going into the oven...

It puffs up as it bakes and eventually looks like a freaky lunar surface...


The pudding mixture is DELISH and is a soft yellow...so creamy and dreamy...you'll have no trouble at all finding someone to lick the beaters!





HAPPY HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY to all of you!
Here's to our soldiers who afford this freedom to us.

10 comments:

savvycityfarmer said...

look at you in your cozy little apron ...
just made a SB pie .... mmmmm oh so yummy calories

Jeanette said...

That looks deadly delicious!

Cheyenne said...

I love your little apron!

I am so enthused to give this a shot....!! Thanks for sharing the recipe, my husband will be grateful. A real summertime treat!

Valerie said...

I know I will be making this for my sisters cook out on the 4th! Thanks for the recipe! Great photos too!(also, thanks for joining my blog) :)

XO,
Valerie

Mel said...

Mmmmm, strawberries, hubbies favorite, I will have to make this for one of our potlucks.... Otherwise we'd end up eating all by ourselves. ;)

Thanks for sharing,
Mel

aimee said...

"looks like a freaky lunar surface"----thanks for making me smile AND hungry for goodies today:)
Blessings ALWAYS,
Aimee

Vicki's Bit-o-earth said...

I have those bowls... and a collection of those green handled kitchen tools too! (: Strawberries just go with Independence Day, don't they!~ xxxVicki

FHCS said...

That's it Joni, I'm on my way! Save me a piece would ya? Alright, nevermind I'll try to make it instead. I love cream puffs and this looks easy. This will have to grace the table at our July 4th Party. Thanks, I was looking for something easy, quick and cool to make. Happy Fourth to you and yours!
Hugs, Dee

~from my front porch in the mountains~ said...

I have to go to town on Friday for my monthly shopping, and everything needed for this yummy desert will be on my list!
Yum-O :)

Hope the babe is doing well. Just think....last year on the 4th of July you had no idea the little man would be here!

What a blessed year your family has had!

xo, misha

Old Centennial Farmhouse said...

Ya'll this is easy, cool, quick and delicious and a crowd pleaser. I have always wanted to make it using old fashioned cooked pudding from scratch, and make my own whipped cream, and some day, I SHALL!

Happy FOURTH!
XOXO
Joni