Eclairs

Okay, here is the eclair recipe I promised a few people. Seriously, it doesn't get better than this, people! I could die happy choking on one of these little lovelies. Oh, and I usually double the batter recipe and the chocolate drizzle recipe.

Eclair Batter
1 cup water
1 cup flour
1/2 cup butter
4 eggs

Heat over to 400 degrees. Heat water and butter to a rolling boil in a saucepan over med-high heat. Turn heat to low and stir in flour with a whisk. Stir constantly over low heat or until mixture forms a stiff ball.
Remove from heat and beat in the eggs all at one time until smooth and no longer runny in areas.
Drop dough in a tube shape (or pipe it from a pastry tube) on baking sheets covered with baking parchment paper and bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden, nearly weightless, and hollow sounding when tapped gently. Cool away from any drafts.
*Tip: Gently poke an end of each eclair with fork tines once they are removed from the oven to allow hot air to escape so it will dry and fluffy on the inside rather than wet and gooey.

Eclair Filling
(This should make enough to fill a doubled eclair recipe)
1 large package or instant vanilla pudding mix
2 1/2 cups cold milk
1 1/2 - 2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup confectioners sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
(this is a weird recipe. . . I do a lot of it to fit my own personal taste)

Combine pudding mix and milk in a seperate bowl. Beat cream until peaks form. Beat in confectioners sugar and vanilla. Beat again until stiff peaks form or until thick. Fold pudding into whipped cream. (I fold it in bit by bit until I think the taste is just right. I don't like it too pudding-ey so I usually withhold some of the pudding and use more cream.)
Once consistency and taste is what you want, slice an opening along the side of the cooled eclairs and fill with cream filling.

Chocolate Drizzle
(I double this.)
2 squares of semisweet chocolate
2 tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp hot water
1 cup confectioners sugar

Melt chocolate and 2 tbsp butter in saucepan over low heat. Stir in 1 cup confectioners sugar and 1 tsp vanilla. Stir in hot water, one tablespoon at a time until icing is smooth and has reached you personal desired consistency. Remove from heat, cool slightly, and drizzle over filled eclairs. . . unless you're like me and you want to douse your eclairs in chocolate. That's good too.

Refrigerate until serving and then, if you have no self control (like yours truly) eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and as a midnight snack.