One of my most favorite places on Earth is Julia’s kitchen at the Smithsonian. I adore Julia Child and feel inspired every time I go visit the place where she made food fun and accessible for everyone. Julia was a pioneer, she came into our homes and showed us not to take cooking so seriously. I am a little young for The French Chef, but have many memories of watching Baking with Julia and Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home on Saturday mornings with my mom. I have been reading a book called Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child, and have fallen even more in love with her. In some ways, I can see bits of myself in Julia. She had a hard time finding her way and I have often felt that I lacked direction during periods of my life. But for both of us, it was food that helped us find our way. On Wednesday, Julia Child would have been 100 years old. Happy Birthday Julia. You have no idea how you have impacted my life and the lives of so many others.
I was sent this sweet book called, Bon Appetit! The Delicious Life of Julia Child. I came into the bedroom to find Ava engrossed in this book. The art work is whimsical and tells the sweet story of Julia’s life. A perfect book for the young chefs in your life. Or the grown ups. I have read it a few times myself and always find something new and interesting that I missed the last time.
To celebrate Julia’s extraordinary life, PBS has asked that we cook a Julia recipe and share it on Twitter using the hashtag #CookforJulia. Take a picture and share it on the #CookforJulia Facebook page. As much as I love Boeuf Bourguignon, I knew that if I was going to celebrate Julia’s life, I needed to make profiteroles. When I figured out how to take 6 simple ingredients and end up with cream puffs, it was the first time that I really felt like I could cook anything. When you learn how to make the very simple pâte à choux, you can make so many things with it. Sweet and savory. I filled mine with whipped cream and poured chocolate sauce over. Some like to fill theirs with ice cream, but I love to use whipped cream. I have made these so many times, and in so many ways, and every time I think of Julia. I am so thankful that she wrote Mastering the Art of French Cooking, it gave me the confidence to make a fancy French dessert and from there, anything that I wanted.
1 cup water
6 Tablespoons butter
pinch salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup flour
4 eggs
whipped cream
chocolate sauce
Put the water, butter, salt, and sugar in a saucepan.
Bring to a boil.
Take the saucepan off of the heat. Add the flour.
Beat until everything comes together. Put back on the heat and beat vigorously until everything is off the sides of the pan. The dough will lump together and there will be a film on the bottom of the pan.
Put the mixture into the bowl of a mixer or a large bowl.
Beat until it breaks up a little.
Add eggs one at a time.
It might seem like it is not going to come back together, but keep mixing, it will.
Transfer the batter into a piping bag.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pipe drops onto the baking sheet. Moisten your finger with water to smooth out the peaks. You can brush them with egg wash if you are so inclined so they are shiny when they are baked.
Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes. They will be golden brown and puffed.
Slice the puffs in half and fill with whipped cream or ice cream.
Pour chocolate sauce over. Bon Appetit!
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 6 Tablespoons butter
- pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 cup flour
- 4 eggs
- whipped cream
- chocolate sauce
Instructions
- Put the water, butter, salt, and sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Take the saucepan off of the heat. Add the flour. Beat until everything comes together. Put back on the heat and beat vigorously until everything is off the sides of the pan. The dough will lump together and there will be a film on the bottom of the pan.
- Put the mixture into the bowl of a mixer or a large bowl. Beat until it breaks up a little. Add eggs one at a time. It might seem like it is not going to come back together, but keep mixing, it will.Transfer the batter into a piping bag.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pipe drops onto the baking sheet. Moisten your finger with water to smooth out the peaks. You can brush them with egg wash if you are so inclined so they are shiny when they are baked.
- Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes. They will be golden brown and puffed.Slice the puffs in half and fill with whipped cream or ice cream.
- Pour chocolate sauce over. Bon Appetit!
I am Bree. I love to cook. Even more than I love to take pictures.
[...] classic profiteroles. /* [...]
[...] [Happy Birthday Julia] August 12, 2012 By bakedbree Leave a Comment If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for [...]
[...] for lots of young and not so young cooks that appreciate her passion for food. The amazing blog Baked Bree shared this Profiteroles inspired by Julia Child for Julia’s 100 birthday. WOW! As Bree says [...]
Wow, you did a beautiful job with these! I’ve often thought of trying them…think I will now. I’ve loved Julia since the early days of TV watching ~ before the Food Network, etc. She was such an interesting lady and I think she truly loved cooking and having fun with it!
Thanks so much for sharing.
Pat
Pat recently posted..~ How do you like me now? ~
They are really, really easy to make. People are so impressed when you put them in front of them, but they are really simple to do.
You chose the perfect recipe. We are all better for knowing her.
I want to take a photo like yours. I love that first photo of that chocolate drizzling on the profiteroles. Yum.
thank you Madonna! I got lucky with that first shot! I was pouring with one hand and shooting with the other!
You make it look so simple and delicious, even though I would normally be intimidated by even the words “pate a choux”
Can’t wait to give this a try with some vanilla bean ice cream!
Maura @ My Healthy ‘Ohana recently posted..Pregnancy Update – 37 weeks
It is so easy! Do not be put off by the fancy french words.
When my husband asked me earlier this year if I wanted to visit DC with him, I told him there was just one thing I wanted to do. I was very disappointed to learn that Julia’s Kitchen was closed for renovations…but I went to DC anyway. All the more reason to return!
Karis recently posted..How to Freeze Herbs in Ice Cube Trays
That is a bummer. I hope that you come back, it is a great place.
Great post Bree!! I love Julia too and her kitchen exhibited at the Smithsonian simply capped off my first vacation to our nation’s capital… What a great way to pay tribute to a woman who has inspired so many..Great pictures!
Shelby recently posted..Russian Folktales & Ratmansky
thank you Shelby! I am so grateful to be so close to her kitchen now. When I need some inspiration, I know where to go.
These look beautiful Bree! Wonderful job
thank you Ashley!
I’ve made these once – SO good. And stunning photos. Now you’ve got me wishing I had some in front of me to snack on!
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel recently posted..Freezing Cherries
Thank you Rachel! So good, and so easy!
Wow, those are so beautiful. I just adore Julia. I cannot wait to see her kitchen in the Smithsonian. She is such an inspiration to us all. Happy Birthday Julia. These really are a wonderful way to celebrate her
Carla @ Carlas Confections recently posted..Fresh Friday: Purple Green Smoothie
Thank you Carla. Her kitchen is heaven on Earth. So organized. Everything has its place. Just like my kitchen. Can you hear me laughing?
So simple and beautiful! The first time I had profiteroles was in France, and since then, I’ve been hooked.
Have you read this article? It’s actually from the Smithsonian Magazine and talks about how Julia and Paul’s marriage really led the way for what we see as modern marriage today. I really enjoyed it:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Julia-Childs-Recipe-for-a-Thoroughly-Modern-Marriage.html
Katie @ Blonde Ambition recently posted..Meatless Monday: Curry Chickpea Fritters
No, but thank you for sharing that. I love their love story.
These look so good and your photos are absolutely beautiful. A great tribute to Julia!
Jennifer recently posted..Peach Dutch Baby with Wild Blueberry Sauce
thank you so much Jennifer!
you have a beautiful blog! now following you! a kiss
Thank you Claudia Annie!
Looks yummy. Quite the chef you are! That looks amazing! I’m not sure how healthy it is, but looks delicious!!:-) Definitely going to try this.:-)
thank you Chris! It was Julia’s birthday, I cannot think of a better occasion for a splurge!
Profiteroles are always good and these look so gorgeous too: a bonus!
Love that picture of your daughter: great light and colors! What’s the equipment you use for that one? (Besides the very obvious talent, of course!)
Denise @ TLT recently posted..Rice Paper Rolls with Shrimps and Avocado
thank you Denise! They are really, really easy to make too. I used my D700, and a 24-70 lens.
These look DIVINE, Bree! Pretty sure I’d eat a million of these in one sitting (not that that’s a bad thing
).
Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough recently posted..sifted words — (late) summer recipe roundup
No kidding! I ended up packaging them up and giving them to my grandmother’s bridge group.
Hello Bree, greetings from India! I just tried this recipe, and the profiteroles turned out just perfect. Thanks so much!
Hello Bree, I would love to try out this recipe soon! Could you tell me how many profiteroles would this recipe make? (:
I depends on how big you pipe them, but I got about two dozen.
[...] been there since they renovated Julia’s Kitchen, and it is even better than it was before. Julia’s Kitchen is one of my favorite places on Earth. I could sit in that exhibit all day long, Julia was so [...]