Fun desserts

Eclair and cream puffs are some of my favorite pastry dessert.  I like the soft airy texture of the pastry and the cream filling is delectable, and the added sweetness of the chocolate coating of eclairs is such an added bonus and the caramel toppings on the cream puff just pull everything together.

So when I was craving for these desserts I research some easy recipes and it really turned out easy, though it's a bit involve.  I discovered that the dough for eclair and cream puff are basically the same, it's a French dough called "pate a choux", only the eclair is piped into a log and cream puff round.

here is the recipe for the Pate a Choux that I tried (i got the recipe from foodnetwork.com)

• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• Pinch salt
• 5 eggs

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a saucepan, over high heat, whisk the butter and milk together, until all the butter has melted. Bring the liquid up to a boil. Whisk in the sugar. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Slowly stir in the flour mixture and continue to stir until the mixture forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan. Remove from the heat and turn into a bowl, of an electric mixer. Beat the dough on medium speed and add theeggs, 1 at a time. Continue beating until the dough no longer looks slippery. Remove the dough from the mixer and cool. Place the dough in a pastry bag fitted with a round tip and pipe out 3-inch logs (round mounds for cream puff) onto a parchment lined baking sheet, about 2 inches apart or use a large spoon and spoon them onto the baking sheet. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F. and continue to cook for 25 minutes. Do not remove the sheet from the oven until the rounds are firm to the touch. Cool the shells before filling.

For the Cream filling I tried this recipe it's a vanilla cream

Basic Cream Filling

2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup confectioner's sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

In a chilled large mixing bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until almost stiff.  (This cream is good enough to fill the pastry but I want to take it to the next level :) )

Vanilla Cream

1  1/2cup
1 package (1.5oz) instant pudding mix
1/2 tsp almond extract

In a bowl whisk 1 1/2 cups milk, pudding mix and almond extract for 2 minutes.  Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Fold in 4 cups of whipped cream.


Assembly

Eclairs - piped in cream and dipped the top of the pastry in melted semi sweet chocolate

Cream puffs- cut a slit in the puff and pipe in the cream and dip the top in caramel.   

My new baby

I finally got my 2009 Christmas present. Josh wanted to give a sewing machine last year for Christmas but I hold off for a while. The wait pays off since the Brand I'm interested last December had a latest version that's marked down in Amazon.com. This is Brothe SE 450 sewing and embroidery Machine.

I had fun trying the different stiches

the embroidery machine is so cool too.

Josh and Joy in the kitchen

A few weeks back Josh went home with bag full of Indian spices and fresh curry leaves from work. His friend from the office gave it to him.  So we decided to cook chicken curry using the spices.

some of the ingredients.  The green leaves are fresh curry. The yellow stiff is curry powder  for chicken  curry dish.

Indian cinnamon bark and cummin seed

Josh cooking! a very rare occasion.

ready to eat.  It was really good curry... we grilled some naan  too.

The finished dish tasted good.  The fresh spices really made the difference.

I have to ask Josh where he got the curry recipe and post it here.

frozen banana

Thank goodness I discovered chocolate dipped frozen banana! It's simple to make, delicious taste like ice cream but healthier. It's rich in Potassium and minerals that is good for proper functioning of the heart and kidney.

Ingredients:

medium ripe bananas divided in two (make sure that the banana is not so ripe)
chocolate chips
nuts

Cut a banana in half and put skewer or Popsicle stick on the end, place in a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Freeze the banana about 1- 2 hours. Melt chocolate in a double broiler or microwave (see package instruction). Remove the bananas freezer and immediately dipped in the melted chocolate.  To control the chocolate instead of dipping I spread the chocolate on the banana then sprinkle it with nuts. Then return the banana in the freezer.  I like to let the banana sit for a few minutes before bitting into it, it makes the banana a little softer.  Love it!

the essence of a woman

I love watching the Miss Universe Pageant, I once dreamed of being a beauty queen. My most favorite portion of the pageant is the Question and Answer.  In 1994 Miss India was asked "What's the essence of a woman?", this question stuck in my mind well probably because Miss Universe pageant was held in Manila that year.  Today while at work while the babies are napping I find myself contemplating and this question  popped in my head.  I vaguely remember Ms. India's reply as " the essence of a woman is being a mother and being a wife."  When I came home I google her answer and this is her exact response, "Just being a woman is God's gift. The origin of a child is a mother, a woman. She shows a man what sharing, caring, and loving is all about. That is the essence of a woman."

Why am I writing about this stuff? Well I have lots of thoughts about my role as a woman and studying "Becoming a Woman of Excellence" (by Cynthia Heald) makes me think about that a lot.  "What is my essence as a woman?"  this is the question I have in mind but I think I'm not satisfied with the idea Ms. India and all other woman who thinks the same and don't say that the idea is completely wrong.  I'm not a feminist I just want to think deeper and better understand God's plan for me.

Here are my thoughts... Let's define the word essence, in Philosophy, essence is the the attribute or set of attributes that makes an object or substance what it fundamentally is, and which it has by necessity , and without it loses its identity. If motherhood is the essence of being a woman then a woman who can't bear a child or even is not fit to care for a child will forever not find her essence and be at lost of her purpose of existence.  If a woman's essence is to be a wife then unless one woman is married she will deem not fulfill her very essence. The reality is that even if God created woman to be able to bear child and be man's ally I think being a mother or a wife is not the very essence of a woman.

I know that God created woman to be man's helper and were commanded to pro-create, and God set this in every woman's heart.  But if this is what defines a woman, why did God allow some women to be infertile or called some to be single for life and not have a husband. Does this means that God created some woman that forever in their lifetime will never know her very own essence. If a woman was fundamentally created to be a wife and mother then those that can never be a wife or mother will cease to not to find her purpose and forever loses her identity. Is she a lesser woman compared to those who has a husband and children?

I believe that a being a wife or mother is not the ultimate purpose of a woman, it is not the essence of a woman.  I find my answer to the question "what's the essence of a woman?" In  Ps. 148, Isa 43:6-8; 46:11 Eph 1:3-14, Rev 4:11, 5:9 it is clear that I was created for God and for His pleasure... to worship God and bring him pleasure.  God created everything in earth for his pleasure, he created man to subdue the earth to lead it in giving glory to God. God's passionate for his glory so He appointed a man to rule the earth to bring Him glory. But the man needs help and is not good alone so then God created a woman to be man's helper in leading his creation's to give him glory. So it is ultimately for God's glory that he created woman, second is to be man's ally then 3rd to be a mother.  If it is not for God's pleasure he would have not created the earth, then there's no use for a man to subdue it much more for a helper. So the most foundational principle is the glory of God. This truth is a comfort for me because I find my purpose in God not in my role.  It is a comfort that even if a woman won't find a husband or bear a child, she will still exist knowing that she's fulfilling her essence her purpose in life, that is to worship God.

Thrift Store Finds

I'm a sucker for good buys and I usually don't buy unless I'm getting a good bargain.  I was like this since I was young, I love to get the most from our money.  I want to be a good steward of the hard earned money that my hard working husband makes.

Today I dragged Josh to go to thrift stores here in Houston. I love going in thrift store because you can really  find good stuff in there for reasonable price and the fact that every time I buy I actually help a cause is a big plus.

There are three store I like to go to and they are Blue Bird http://www.thebluebirdcircle.com/ResaleShop.aspx, Salvation Army Family Store and The Guild Shop http://www.theguildshop.org/Items_By_Department.php?view=thumbnailList&category=3.  Among the 3 i liked the Guild Shop most.

here are our finds this day...

a wicker ottoman for $15

a console table for $60

and a small table that Josh loves.

it has an interesting material on top and we love the design

Revamping a Table

I'm now in the process of re-arranging and redecorating our living room.  The way I originally arranged our living room set makes our living room so cramped. I removed the loveseat to make some room but that means less sitting when there's guest. I also want to replace our current coffee table since it's to big, I tried selling it in craigslist but no taker yet.  To solve both the sitting and coffee table dilemma I decided to revamp the old coffee table we got from Josh's parents house.

our living room

This is how the old table look like. The photo makes it look good but it's actually needing repainting. We got this table from Josh's parents storage to temporarily use as dining table when we first moved to our new apartment 2 years ago.

So this is how I revamp this old table.  I bought a home decorating fabric in Jo-anns around $10, some upholstery tacks $5, and foam $15.

I first I cut the foam to fit the table and covered it with the white thing used in quilting (i forgot what it's called) and to secure it I just stapled it under.

Then I placed the fabric making sure I have an allowance to cover the table entirely and to be able to tuck under.

I chose a 1/2 inch long brass tacks with flower design.  The design of the fabric has flower patterns which is perfect for the tacks placement I have in mind.  

I hammered the nail into the fabric and foam and it created this interesting detail and texture.

I tucked the excess fabric under table using a staple gun.

I have excess tacks so I evenly nailed it around the rim of the table.

The finished table/ottoman. So proud of this project.

This can be a table and an extra sitting.  (our wall is next in line to be decorated, I just hanged the canvas there, I hope to eventually paint on it.)