"The best times you are going to have in life are at the dinner table and in bed." Old Italian saying. So relax, and enjoy the simple things!

29.1.14

Paris-Brest: Cream Puff Ring #French Fridays with Dorie

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Paris-Brest: Simple Living and Eating


"A giant cream puff, who cares?" was my first thought about making the Paris-Brest. I wasn't even the one who was going to make it. The honors go to my pastry chef daughter.

 I thought the story of the dessert was charming.. made to resemble a bicycle wheel to be served at the end of a race from Paris to Brest that has been taking place since 1891… yes, but it was still just a cream puff.
http://gccfla.org/brevet/brevets.html
http://gccfla.org/brevet/brevets.html

 Quelle surprise! This dessert was nothing short of orgasmic… a simple puffed pastry dough filled with vanilla pastry cream, who would have guessed it would bring so much pleasure. The cream was not too sweet, not too much vanilla flavor…a perfectly rich consistency. The pastry.. light and buttery with a little flake to it, but not sticky.. just a wonderful eating experience. 
filling the Paris-Brest: simple living and eating
 We didn't even have almonds on ours because of my daughter's nut allergy. I kept cutting another little piece…an another little piece, until the wheel disappeared.
paris-brest: simple living and eating

 Thank goodness there was a little bit of dough and cream left over to make cream puffs.
cream puffs: simple living and eating
I can assure you these quickly disappeared too…

 Here is a Paris-Brest Recipe… but if you want Dorie's, and you do, you really do… get the cookbook: Around My French Table.
Note: As a member of French Friday's with Dorie I am not allowed to print the recipe. I invite you to take a look at this wonderful cookbook "Around My French Table" if you are interested in this or any other recipe I review. 



Click here to see how the other Dorista's did.





This post is shared on the following food/craft parties: 


Tuesday Food:
Hearth & Soul Blog Hop @ 21st Century Housewife
Totally Tasty Tuesday @ Mandy's Recipe Box
Show Me What You Got @ Our Delightful Home
In & Out of the Kitchen @ Feeding Big & More
Tuesday's Table @ Love in the Kitchen
Tasty Tuesday #Anyonita Nibbles
Share your Stuff Tuesday @ Table for Seven

Wednesday Food:
From Dream to Reality @ DYI Dreamer
 Wednesday Whatsit @White Lights on Wednesday 
Fresh Foods Wednesdays @ Gastronomical Sovereignty
Wonderful Food Wednesdays at @ All She Cooks
Look What I Made @ Creations by Kara

Thursday Food:
Full Plate Thursday @ Miz Helen's Country Cottage
Thriving on Thursdays @ Domesblissity

Friday Food:
Foodie Friday @ Home Maid Simple
Friday Favorite (DYI too) @ Simple Sweet Home
Foodie Friday @ Rattlebridge Farm 
Weekend Potluck @ Sunflower Supper Club
Friday Linky Party @ The Pin Junkie 
Freedom Fridays @ Love Bakes Good Cakes
Inspiration Spotlight @ Dear Creatives

Posted by at 12:00 AM
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59 comments:

  1. They look absolutely DELICIOUS !!
    With me around they'd all disappear in seconds :)

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    1. It was a marvelous thing while it lasted.

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    1. I hope you get a chance to try this Victoria.

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  3. Diane, love the look of this recipe. read you bio. keep bees and make honey. so cool. do you sell or share it? Peter @Feed Your Soul Too

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    1. We haven't had enough honey to sell, though the local market would love to have some. These last few years have been bad for bees. We will be tapping our maple trees soon. We got a lot of syrup last year. We are having a cold winter with is good for syrup.

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    1. Make this Adelina. You won't regret it… unless you are alone at the time and you end up eating the whole thing.

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  5. Dear Diane, MY mother made cream puffs for holidays when I was little. It always was such a treat. I have never attempted to make these. I know just how delicious these are. I understand just another little bite...
    I must really give these a try.
    I hope you are feeling much better.
    Blessings dear and keep warm and cozy. Catherine xo

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    1. Thanks Catherine,
      My energy is still low but I have recovered. Please, please give this a try... if you like cream puffs you will love the Paris-Brest.

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  6. That's looks so yummy and divine! =]

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    1. It was divine… truly a heavenly dessert.

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  7. It really was tasty wasn't it! Glad you enjoyed and thanks for indulging my choice this month!

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    1. You are awesome Mardi for suggesting this… I would have never guessed from reading the recipe that it would taste soooo good.

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  8. Your daughter is quite the little baker, it looks delicious. I have only had individual cream puffs, I have never made a large ring before. I might have to try that, it looks so pretty!!

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    1. She had trouble piping the ring… we probably didn't have a large enough piping tip. She ended up rolling it out… but the ring makes a beautiful presentation. You should try it.

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  9. Glad you enjoyed this more than you expected. I like custard, so I was in.

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    1. I never think much about custard… but I loved this filling. I think a lot of times store bought is too sweet.

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  10. This was tasy - it is always nice to be pleasantly surprise, isn't it?

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    1. I was more than pleasantly surprised. I was shocked. That can be good to when it involves dessert.

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  11. People seemed to love the cream puffs as much as the wheel. The fact that this wasn't too sweet was what endeared it to me. I don't want to taste 'sugar'. I want to taste custard. This one really delivered.

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    1. I couldn't agree more.. which is why I usually don't like store bought cream puffs. Way too sweet.

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  12. Glad you ended up making this! Sounds like it was a hit!

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    1. Super surprised… planning on making this again for Easter.

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  13. Now that you say it, you're right, this wasn't all that sweet. Surprising, really, but probably why I liked it more than I expected. How funny that you kept eating slices until it vanished. Your daughter did a great job on this one.

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    1. She really had a hard time working with the dough and piping it. Kept getting air bubbles. But I told her this was truly a challenging thing to make. She doesn't seem to realize what a high level she bakes on for her age. I will let her know you were impressed. Thanks.

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  14. It sure can be addictive, can't it? I made cream puffs, and I keep sneaking them out of the kitchen. So tasty. Lovely work by your daughter - a job well done!

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    1. I would have really had a hard time controling myself if my daughter just made cream puffs. You notice more when a large wheel disappears than little balls.

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  15. Well worth the work when you end up with a delicious treat!

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  16. Your daughter always amazes when you show off her baking! That looks just delicious!

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    1. Thank you so much. I am in awe of her skills.

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  17. I am so impressed with your daughters talent! That was quite a grown-up project to take on…she definitely aced it!! It was amazingly delicious…loved the custard filling because it wasn’t too sweet! Great post! Happy weekend, Diane! And high five to your daughter!

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    1. She was almost in tears trying to pipe the dough. I am trying to make her realize that this is a professional dessert to make, not easy for anyone. I am letting her know about all compliments. Thanks so much.

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  18. Wow, Diane, she is quite the talented young lady. What an accomplishment to just get it made let alone have it look beautiful and taste delicious. And, besides that, she is pretty handy with the sword! And why didn't Mom have the right-sized tip? I feel lucky that I waited to bake this because I can use all the suggestions learned from everyone this week. However, I just cannot wait until springtime to make this - going to give it a go next week. Again, an inspirational effort by your daughter.

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    1. I got so many great tips, pun intended, for this recipe too. I hope my daughter will attempt it again for Easter, or maybe I'll give it a try.

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  19. Your daughter did a fabulous job! I think I would have liked it with the vanilla pastry cream even better, but Bill liked the chocolate just fine :)

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    1. My son who is normally a "chocolate only guy" loved this... so try the vanilla Bill might suprise you.

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  20. Your daughter is a very talented baker! Congratulations! I really liked this one but I like all sweets anyway it was tricky but really very good!!

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    1. True.. very tricky.. I'm glad she stuck it out, though I would have been happy with cream puffs.

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  21. This looks amazing! There's nothing better than French pastry cream and choux pastry!

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    1. I agree... the only other thing we made like this was eclairs... and they were incredible too.

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  22. I am so impressed by your daughter's skills! This is beautiful. I didn't bother piping the pastry cream. She did a great job.

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    1. She feels a lot better about the job she did on this pastry after all the great compliments from the Doristas.

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  23. I love cream puffs too much! A whole ring of cream puff might just be too much! Mmmmmm
    http://woodsofbelltrees.com/

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    1. Oh tell me about it... that ring disappeared much to quickly and I couldn't blame it on the kids.

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  24. What success for you! Great to have a daughter that can help out in the kitchen too :)

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    1. Thanks we all have our specialties in my family, I'm savory, my daughter's desserts, and my husband is the bread baker... my son eats.

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  25. This looks amazing. The one time I tried making cream puffs didn't work so well but this makes me want to try it again.

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    1. They don't always look great, but they still usually taste delicious. Micha you should try again.

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  26. Cream puffs are one of my absolute favorite things, they make me think of childhood. My dad used to make them by hand. So good! Love your blog, found you over on Weekend Potluck :)

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    1. You have a pretty cool dad... making cream puffs that's awesome. Thanks for visiting Jessica.

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  27. Your Paris-Brest Cream Puff Ring looks beautiful, Diane! There's nothing like a proper pastry like this :-)

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  28. Oh my I wish I has these right now!! Would love for you to come over and join our link party that just started! http://mommyondemand.com/happiness-homemade-6/

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  29. Another winner Diane! Wish I could come taste test. Stopping by as co-host of Happiness is Homemade Link Party

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    1. This really was a winner and a surprise... so incredibly tasty. Thanks so much for coming by.

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  30. Seriously looks amazing!! Was it hard to make? I have never made cream puffs or a pastry like that. Inspired to try. Thanks for sharing @DearCreatives party and hope to see you again soon. Theresa

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  31. This looks so delicious :x I think I could eat it up in no time!

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