A scuola di cucina "Cream puffs"

Isabella ha ormai 16 mesi, speravo di poter ritagliare un po` di tempo per i miei vecchi hobby un po` prima di oggi, ma stando a casa l'impresa risulta pressoche` impossibile! Percio` quest'anno con l'approvazione del maritino abbiamo deciso che almeno una serata a testa la dedicheremo a noi stessi. Tra corsi di fotografia e cucina alla fine ha prevalso la gola ed ecco qui il risultato della mia prima lezione. 

Cream puffs, enclairs, crema pasticcera alla vaniglia, cioccolato, al caffe, arancia, limone, e ancora cream puffs al formaggio.. Tutto cio` solo per la prima lezione, mi aspetta un inverno dietetico :PPP

Isabella is already 16 months old. By now, I was hopping to have more time for myself and my old hobby, but if I stay home with her it's almost impossible: she needs and want a lot of attentions. That's pretty much why, Max and I have decided to get one free-baby-night each and enjoy our freedom as best as we can. First, I was looking into Photography class but then my sweet tooth pushed me versus Baking class.
During the first lesson we made Eclairs and Cream puffs, plus different delicious custard cream (white chocolate, coffee, vanilla) to use as a filling. The class was great, plus gave me the kick to challenge myself on trying the recipe at home.
Saturday morning I prepared all the ingredients on my kitchen counter and left the house to enjoy the sun with my little one. Once home in the evening, everything was ready to start, I went step by step pretty fast. Here my cream puffs!



1 cup water
8 tbs butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup flour
4 eggs
If you have a Thermomix, go ahead and use it, it will make your life a lot easier. If this is not the case, you could also use e kitchen Aid, or hand mixer. 
In a saucepan bring to boil: water, butter and salt. Once the butter is melted and the water boil, turn off the heat and add the flour. Stir the mixture and bring it back to medium heat to dry out the pastry. Turn off the heat and let it cool. 
Beat the eggs and using a mixer incorporate the eggs one at the time. Using a pastry bag with a large round tip (1/2") make the puffs on a baking sheet cover with parchment paper. I found this website very useful to understand every single step.
I cooked my cream puffs for 15 minutes at 400 F, then I lowered the temperature to 375 F for other 30 minutes. They come out nice and gold, but they weren't completely dry inside. I tuned off the oven, I made a little cut with a sharp knife on the side and put the puffs back in the oven. Enjoy!!!

Zucchini Flowers

Last day at the market I couldn't resist, even if the zucchini's flowers are very expensive around here I had to buy them.
In Sardinia during the summer season they are pretty cheap and they are sold at the market all the time. I love to eat them stuffed with mozzarella cheese and anchovies, coated with a light batter and fried.
If you are lucky to find them, try them and let me know your thought!!!!

Recipe
canola or sunflower oil to fry
12 zucchini's flowers
12 small cubes of dry mozzarella
12 anchovies
Open carefully the flowers (without breaking the petals) add cheese and anchovies and gently turn the petals almost to close the little package.

Batter 
1 egg
1 pinch of salt
1 cup milk
Flour, general purpose
Whisk well and add flour until you get a batter very similar as consistency to the pancake batter. Let the batter rest for 15 minutes.

Coat the flowers with batter and fry them in canola or sunflower oil until golden.


L'altro giorno al mercato mi sono stravizziata! I fiori di zucchina qui negli States costano tantissimo, circa un dollaro per fiore, ma considerando il fatto che non si trovano quasi mai, dovevo comprarli!
In Sardegna si trovano durante la stagione estiva, e sono molto meno costosi.
La mia ricetta preferita? riempirli di cubetti di mozzarella e acciughe sott'olio, immergerli nella pastella e friggerli.

Ricetta
Olio per frittura,
12 fiori di zucchina
12 piccoli cubetti di mozzarella
12 acciughe
Aprire delicatamente i fiori, aggiungere la mozzarella e le acciughe e richiudere i petali.

Pastella
1 uovo
un pizzico di sale
1 tazza di latte
Farina 00 quanto basta.
Sbattere l'uovo con il sale, aggiungere il latte e uno/due cucchiai di farina. Mischiare bene con l'aiuto di una frusta. Non ci devono essere grummi. Aggiungere piu` o meno farina fino ad avere una pastella "che scriva". Far riposare per circa 15 minuti.

Immergere i fiori nella pastella, e friggere con olio ben caldo.