Sunday, August 31, 2008

Daring Bakers Challenge

This months Challenge was hosted by MeetaK of What's for Lunch Honey & Tony, who kindly choose Chocolate Eclairs! I'm a big fan, so I was excited about this challenge to say the least. 

I decided to wait until all of my family was having our annual end of summer gathering, mainly so that I wouldn't eat them all myself. The recipe we used comes from Pierre Herme, a famous French baker. Well as luck would have it, my brother-in-law has actually eaten Chocolate Eclairs in Paris at Pierre Herme's patisserie ! Why does this always happen to me? When we were making Dorie Greenspans Perfect Party Cake, which requires a French Meringue Buttercream icing, a family friend who just happens to also be a French pastry chef (!) stopped by that day! I mean really, can't a girl get a break! 

So I made the Pate a Choux which turned out wonderfully, and was remarkably easy as far as I am concerned. My eclairs baked up perfectly, but they required more time than the recipe called for, which always seems to happen to me. I decided to make a typical vanilla pastry cream, which I adore, and to top them with the traditional chocolate sauce. 

I enjoyed making the eclairs a lot, and I'm thankful to Meeta & Tony for picking such a great recipe so that I could test my baking skills yet again! Check out Meeta's blog for the recipe! 

Addtion: I was doing too many things yesterday while posting my challenge, and I totally forgot to put in that my brother-in-law loved my eclairs! He said they were just as good as any others that he has had, even in Paris - but I think he was just being nice!!  

16 comments:

Libby said...

So cute! I love the variation in size. You did a wonderful job!

Anonymous said...

What are the chances your BIL sampled these from the source? Crazy! I'm curious to know how your compared. I thought they were wonderful myself.

Mary said...

Beautiful photos. Cheers to your phenomenal looking eclairs!

The Irreverent Cook said...

Hi! Your eclairs look great =D Don't worry about the 'experts' I'm sure they said nice things about your baking though, right? =)

Anne said...

I love yours, they look so cute together!

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

Your eclairs and puffs look so neat and pretty.
What did your BIL say on sampling them, by the way? Very good, I'm sure.
Good Luck with your move.

iTink said...

So what was the verdict? Were they as good as Peire's own?
They look fantastic!

pixie said...

Too funny how people who can "judge" seem to pop around come challenge time! Still I think you more than meet the bar! congratulations!

Anonymous said...

You think you have it bad...I live in France! But I was lucky and the éclairs passed the test. :)

Amy J. said...

Lord have mercy, girl, those look awesome! Makes me want to make more eclairs NOW....like I need that! ;>

Clumbsy Cookie said...

They look gorgeous!

Unknown said...

Great job! Your eclairs are so pretty. And exciting news about your possible move...I know some people who live in Thailand and one who spent a summer there...loved it.

Dragon said...

Your eclairs are adorable. So cute!

Anonymous said...

Oh, the pressure... I don't envy you. :) But your eclairs look lovely anyway.
And I have the same experience. My baking always requires more time. I need to get an oven thermometer.
Jane of VeganBits.com

Jen said...

I had wondered what happened to you... your eclairs and cream puffs look beautiful and I will keep my finger crossed for Thailand.

Anonymous said...

Very cute! You did a great job and I am sure they tasted wonderful! We loved ours for sure!