Ellen's Eclair Ring

Inspiration:
My sister Ellen made this for us over the holidays using the recipe of a family friend.


Ingredients:

Dough

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup flour
  
• 4 eggs

Filling

• 2 3-oz packages instant French vanilla pudding
• 1 9-oz Cool Whip
• 1 t vanilla
• 2.5 cups milk

Topping

• 2 squares semi-sweet chocolate (melted)
• 2 T butter
• 2 T milk
• 1 c powdered sugar
• 1 t vanilla

Instructions:

1. Make dough-- heat butter and water to rolling boil. Stir in flour at once over low heat. Beat until ball is formed, and take off heat. Beat in eggs one at a time with mixer. Spoon onto a cool pizza pan to form circular shape with a hole in the middle. Bake at 400 degrees for 45-50 minutes. Cool away from drafts.
2. When cool, split horizontally and fill with filling. Place top layer on filling and spread with topping.

Notes: This is an impressive dessert for parties, and it isn't too hard to make. (Easy for me to say... I didn't make it this time!)

I'd love to figure out a way to make a vanilla custard filling that doesn't use pudding mix or Cool Whip. I'll be working on it, but if you figure it out, let me know!

Ellen and I were also discussing adding fresh raspberries to the filling, which would be a nice addition.


Tim's Rating: 9.75/10
Liz's Rating: 9.5/10

Ellen's Artichoke Puffs

Inspiration:
My sister Ellen made these over the holidays using our aunt's recipe.


Ingredients:

• 1 lb. package of puff pastry sheets
• 2 cans artichoke hearts, drained
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup chopped green onions
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Swiss cheese

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
   
2. Chop artichoke hearts, add remaining ingredients and mix well.
   
3. Cut each sheet of puff pastry into 15-20 squares. Press puff pastry squares into mini muffin tins that have been sprayed with cooking spray. Fill 3/4 full with artichoke filling.
4. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown

Notes:
These can be prepared ahead of time and frozen! Freeze in the mini muffin tins, then pop puffs out into a large plastic bag. You can place the frozen puffs into mini muffin pans and bake from frozen, adding 5 minutes to baking time.


Liz's Rating: 8.5/10
Tim's Rating: 9/10