Saturday in Anneliese's Kitchen - A Critter Party

I was scrolling through my personal blog when I came across photos of the boys' critter party  

we had a year ago, just before some cousins moved far away. 

It was an event planned to balance the fact that the girls got a tea party.

The idea of doing something with turtle cream puffs came about from some I'd seen in a pastry shop

in Indonesia and I knew there would not be a boy who would not want to eat that kind of turtle. 

It continued into a safari theme, using simple dollar store props, rocks, garden greenery and

a cream puff caterpillar to add some variety.

So . . . you have probably figured out by now what to do . . .

I went to my basic cream puff recipe . . . for 10 - 12 turtles or caterpillars (or half and half)

• 1/2 c butter
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 c water
• 1 c flour
• 4 eggs

1. Bring butter, salt and water to boil in a small pot.
2. Remove from heat and quickly add 1 cup flour, stirring vigorously, until it completely loosens from sides of pot.
3. Beat in eggs, separately, with whisk - until smooth. It will slither about a bit, but keep stirring until each egg is mixed in well.

For turtles:

• Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 450 F
• Using a small glass, lightly outline a circle and place legs and head, using a baby spoon.
• Using a large spoon, place body in the center. Bake for 15 minutes, then turn down temperature to 350 F and bake another 25-30 minutes.

 For caterpillars:

• Add a knife tip of Wilton's moss green food coloring to pastry
• Fill a piping bag with pastry and press seven quarter to loony sized circles touching each other. Or just use a teaspoon, placing tiny cream puffs side by side. 
• Bake at 450 F for 15 minutes, then turn down oven to 350 F and bake 25 minutes.

For Filling: (you can use instant pudding or make this low sugar custard)

• 2 cups milk, divided
• 4 Tbsp flour
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup whipping cream, whipped and added later

1. In small saucepan, bring 1 1/2 cups milk to boil.
2. In small bowl, mix flour, sugar, 1/4 cup milk and egg yolks until well blended, then another 1/4 cup milk. 
3. Whisk into hot milk just as it begins to boil and stir until it bubbles. Add vanilla. Cool. Mix with whipped cream

Cut tops off turtles and slice caterpillars in half. Scoop mounds of custard into bodies. Decorate with melted chocolate. (Melt chocolate chips. Cool slightly and place in piping bag. Place each caterpillar on a cut-to-size piece of parchment paper so you can transfer them, without the feet falling off, onto individual plates.)

TIP: you can make the bodies ahead and freeze them. On day of party, fill them and refrigerate them uncovered so they do not get soft. You can also store them in a large fridge drawer. Dust lightly with powdered sugar if you like.

No girls allowed - except for Grammy!