Homemade Eclairs, Chocolate Glazed with Vanilla Custard

Homemade Eclairs

Yesterday I went down to The School House and made lunch and eclairs for the girls.  It is fun for me to get out to the country once every couple of weeks to pop-in and enjoy the fun work environment.  It is also fun for me to put the blue kitchen to work.  

Emma and I first attempted the eclairs a couple of weeks ago before she went back to school after Christmas break in preparation for the Valentine's Collection.  We'd been watching The Great British Baking Show and been drooling over the eclairs they'd made.  We whipped these up and they were some of the best things I've had in months.  The luscious pastry cream filling, the chocolate glaze, the overall gooey-ness.  Just so yummy and not as heavy as our typical treats - brownies and cookies.  

They hug the line between breakfast and dessert, so would be a great choice on Valentine's Day as a special treat in the morning.  Make the shells and custard the day before (shells can be kept in a ziplock and custard in the refrigerator), then fill and glaze them in the morning.  

Supplies Used :

Large Disposable Pastry Bags

Large Baking Sheet

Parchment Paper

Vanilla Pastry Cream Custard

I make this first, then let it cool in the refrigerator while I made the eclair shells.

5 egg yolks

3/4 cups of sugar

1/3 cup of cornstarch

1 1/2 cups of scalded milk*

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla

In the bowl of a mixer, beat egg yolks and sugar for 4 minutes, then add cornstarch.  *Pour milk into a glass measuring cup and heat in the microwave for 2 minutes until steaming.  With the mixer on low, slowly pour in the hot milk mixture a little at a time.  Transfer the milk and egg mixture to a saucepan and cook on low heat for 5-7 minutes until the mixture thickens.  It should be bubbly and thick.  When it thickens, use a whisk to mix and cook for 2 more minutes while whisking.  Stir in the vanilla.  Pour into a glass bowl, cover with plastic wrap directly onto the custard (so a skin does not develop) and put in the refrigerator to cool for 1 hour.

In the meantime, prepare the shells, below.

Pate Choux Dough*

This is a universal dough that can be used to form cream puffs or eclairs.  It comes together quickly and is fairly fool-proof.

1 cup of milk

1 stick of butter

pinch of salt

1 cup of flour

4 eggs

Heat the milk, butter, and salt over medium heat until scalded. When the butter is melted, add the flour all at once and beat it with a wooden spoon until the mixture comes together and forms a dough. Cook, stirring constantly, over low heat for 2 minutes. The flour will begin to coat the bottom of the pan. 

Dump the hot mixture into the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the eggs one at a time and mix until the eggs are incorporated into the dough and the mixture is thick.

Spoon the mixture into a Pastry Bag.  Pipe 4-6" pieces onto a Large Baking Sheet lined with Parchment Paper. 

Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes, or until lightly browned, then turn off the oven and allow them to sit for another 10 minutes, until they sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.  Set aside to cool before filling.

*adapted from The Barefoot Contessa

When they have cooled, put the pastry cream in a 18" Pastry Bag with the end cut off.

Carefully separate the eclairs and pry open (this will be easier than you think - they are naturally hollow) and pipe in custard.

Chocolate Glaze

2 tablespoons of butter

2 tablespoons of cocoa powder

2 tablespoons of milk

1-2 cups of powdered sugar

In a pourable glass measuring cup, microwave butter and milk for 1 minute.  Add cocoa powder and microwave for 1 more minute until it is bubbling and thick.  Add powdered sugar, mix well until the sugar is melted in.  Add as much powdered sugar as you would like to get consistency that is pourable/spoonable, but thick. 

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Nantucket Original Custom Paintings

8x10 canvas in wide gold frame, 

Remember when I launched the Fresh Home Collection at the beginning of January and I remarked how I crave the sea this time of year?  Last week we had a snow day and I took the opportunity to do a little day dream painting.  I painted a misty, grey washed out view from the bluff walk in 'Sconset on Nantucket.  We visited there last summer (read post here) and fell in love with the feeling of being there - on the edge of the world, removed from everyone, surrounded by the ocean, misty salty air and sweet smelling roses.

This series of paintings will be created on an on demand bases.  Orders should be placed by February 1st for this Nantucket Series, other series to follow.  

Each painting will be custom painted, so natural variations will occur.

"...the scent of the roses and the blooming privet, the light, the salty breeze, and the overwhelming feeling of slowing down and being removed from the rest of the world was hard to capture.  It was breathtakingly beautiful in both a natural and manicured way.  Everything surface was either lushly green, blooming, or weathered wood, stone or shells.  The homes feel comfortable and well worn, removed from time and trends in the most lovely manner.  We loved it and will return soon."

Shop all options in the Fresh Home Collection >

You can see some of the texture of the paintings here.  I love using acrylic for seascapes because I love the glisten and shine it gives to ocean views.

5x7" unframed canvas only, $50

5x7" framed in gold, $150

8x10" unframed canvas only, $150

8x10" framed in gold, $300

16x20" framed in gold, $500

Shop all options in the Fresh Home Collection >

Walking | Simple Pleasures

I'm going to start a new blog series on "simple pleasures."  It falls under my "everyday occasions" category, but it is also something different.  In our lives that seem to get bigger and busier, I try to keep a habit of lavishing in simple pleasures.  Good cups of coffee, getting up early, lighting candles, steamy showers, bubbly baths, slow Saturday mornings, nice pajamas, fresh sheets, and daily morning walks.  All of these things are simple, tiny and mostly easily attainable, but could be overlooked or forgotten in hectic schedules.  So this series here to remind all of us of the little moments that make big impacts.  The first in the series is absolutely essential for me everyday.  I would love to hear about your favorite little everyday moments.

.....

Daily Morning Walks

I have walked (almost) everyday for 12 years.  Before that I did lots of various "workouts" from aerobics classes (that's what they were called 20 years ago...), yoga, running, etc.  Nothing really stuck for me or added anything to my life except to check the fitness box - not that I was even that 'fit.'

It all changed for me when I got Mr. Darcy.*  He was a puppy and he needed walks.  Lots of long walks. I found what started as a new daily chore has become my lifeline.  I have to walk everyday, no longer for Mr. Darcy, but for myself.

My walks are when I do my best thinking.  Almost instantly when I leave the house, I can feel how it opens my head, clears my mind and lifts my mood.  Literally, just steps outside of our drive I take that big deep breath and feel refreshed.  If I'm ever feeling at a creative impasse, or struggling with something (as simple as a new product idea, blog post or as complex as a tough relationship), I know I can always contemplate it most clearly on a walk.  I always come back from a walk full of energy, ideas and happiness.  My lungs are full of fresh air, my posture is improved, my body feels leaner and stronger and my head is clear.  Life can be so simple sometimes.



My favorite time of day to walk is early each morning as the sun comes up.  In the wintertime, our schedule is a little off as the sun is coming up at about 7:45.  Emma gets up at 7am and leaves for school by 8am, and I don't want to miss time with her in the morning, so my walks get pushed to 8am in the winter.  But soon, I'll be back on schedule, leaving the house at 6am and being back home by 7am, catching the sunrise at about 6:30.  Sunrise in the middle of the summer can be before 6am, and can be as late as 8am in the winter.  You know things like this when you are a morning walker.

This year, I've incorporated walking to my favorite coffee shop into my early morning walks.  They open at 6:30.  It takes me 30 minutes to walk there and 30 back, so being out of the house at 6am is always my goal so I can be back in time for Emma to wake up.  It is a 3 mile loop for me and I always come back warmed up from walking and coffee and it feels great.

To be up, outside before anyone else and to witness the sunrise on a daily basis is so special.  On most days, it is my motivation to get up and out early - to catch the sunrise.  In the warmer months, we often take sunset walks as a family.  I'm trying to pass on my love for walking to Emma, as it has been such a saving grace for me.

My minimum temperature is about 15 degrees.  I bundle and even wear ski pants if necessary.  It is amazing how toasty you get after walking about 10 minutes outside in the cold.  I always come back sweating and red cheeked - perfect start to a winter day.

The other benefit of walking outside is getting to observe nature.  We don't live next to a great park or have any trails to walk on, so I rely on finding the prettiest natural spots I can in our neighborhood.  We walk along a creek that lines a golf course where we observe ducks and ducklings, and watch the water freeze, thaw and observe the life that happens around it.

In the next couple of months, I'll watch tiny buds appear on the trees and get excited to see their progress each day.  I'll notice as more birds appear each morning and their songs increase.  I'll rush home to share the quince and daffodil report to Mike and Emma in March when I see the first ones appear, or in September when I notice the first maple tree begin to turn.  Such simple things.  All things that are within our grasp each day if we take the time to look.

In preparation for this post, I did a little looking around for great walking quotes.  Here are some that resonated with me.

All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.  -Friedrich Nietzsche
An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.  -Henry D. Thoreau
The most ancient exercise and still the best modern exercise.  -Carrie Later
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.
The sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise, and of all the exercises walking is the best.  -Thomas Jefferson
Thoughts come clearly while one walks.  -Thomas Mann

There is also so much data on how healthy a daily walk is - mental health and physical health.  Reading the results to these were so fascinating - like mood-lifting depressed patiences as much as medications can do, adding seven years to your life (!!) and curbing sweet cravings.  I'd include the stats (you can find them here), but I really wanted this to be more of my testament.  Also, when I try to motivate myself with longterm goals it doesn't really work for me.  I am more of an instant gratification person and that is what walking does for me - instantly I feel better for the entire day.  That's what keeps me getting up every morning because I know I will feel great immediately.

Do you walk?  I'd love to hear the benefits you get from walking.

Gold Leaf Frames, Mat Boards & Botanical Prints | Gallery Wall Favorites

Gold Frames, Botanicals & Photo Mats

I first located these frames when I created a botanical gallery wall in our guest room (tour here and photos below).  Since then, I've added them to almost every corner of our home.  Some have botanicals like those in our hearth room, and some have photos like the gallery wall going up our stairs.  I haven't always been confident in my wall hanging skills - trying to determine scale, mats and genre is an acquired skill on which I'm still working.  But I have managed to create a couple of corners in our home that just work and work because of the framed prints.

This corner in our living room is one of my favorites and this new look with the Antique Narrow Mats (meaning that they are oversized mats for our narrow small prints that mimic the proportion of the frame) and the tonal seaside coral prints.  It all just works with our neutral room.  The gold is the perfect bit of elegance to keep this room feeling special but not overly fussy.

The Frames, Mat Boards & Botanical Prints are all back in stock in my store.  

All Botanical Prints & Frames

Shop Pillows & Throws, here >

This gallery wall going up our stairs is a favorite.  This is where I pull in different types of frames (besides my beloved gold leaf) but they are all coordinating.  I update/rearrange seasonally (just a couple of them that are most dominant) to give this spot a new feel.  This was our arrangement for the Summer - beach photos, whales, and some paintings and sketches to make it feel more eclectic.  

Our hearth room framed collection has grown from four (two on each side of the fireplace) to eight (four on each side).  Just adding four more prints has completed this room - I love it. 

Forgive Christmas photos!  Taken last month when I added them : )

Before (and out of focus!)

Here is the Before with just two on each side.  Using the Wide Narrow Mats keeps the space from feeling cluttered and still gives it a nice fresh look, but completes the space.

Now feeling more complete and finished.

I recently found a new spot to display a botanical collection in our powder room.  These are 8x10" frames with 5x7" prints.  They were the perfect addition to the bathroom... even though it was very difficult to get a great shot of them.

8x10" Gold Leaf Frames

8x10" Creamy Photo Mat Boards

5x7" Botanical Prints

Sometimes you need small prints and sometimes you need oversized prints like I used here in the Guest Room.

This is my favorite collection to use in bedrooms - they are very sweet.  Emma's room is the only one without and botanicals right now... but I'm thinking of adding a collection of 5x7 minis in her room in a set of nine this spring.  Shop Botanical Prints >

I wanted to take you back to the Living Room this summer to show how just changing the botanicals can take this spot to a completely different place.  What feels understated now with the tonal coral prints feels vibrant and fresh here during the summer.  But same gold frames : )

This our from Our Bedroom, and features Whale Prints - even though I put these up for the summer, I've kept these here all year long.  Love soft navy accents in our bedroom.

The School House can't escape the gold frames (I mean, do I have a problem?!?!).  Here is a big collection of botanicals above the sofa.  You can see more photos of the School House as it was set up for the Autumn Open house, here >

Shop the Frames & Botanical Prints Collection, here >