CREAM PUFFS WITH CHOCOLATE CREAM AND STRAWBERRIES

FOR THE CREAM PUFFS:
1 cup water
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, cut into 3 pieces
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
5 eggs
FOR THE GARNISHES:
4 cups (about 1 1/4 pounds) sliced stemmed strawberries
1/2 cup mini chocolate morsels
Powdered sugar
FOR THE CHOCOLATE CREAM:
3 cups prepared chocolate pudding*
2 cups sweetened whipped cream**
FOR THE STRAWBERRY SAUCE:
2 cups (about 3/4 pound) whole stemmed strawberries
Powdered or granulated sugar

TO MAKE THE CREAM PUFFS:
Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease and flour 2 baking sheets.

In medium saucepan, bring water, butter and salt to a boil; remove from heat. Using spoon, vigorously stir in flour, all at once, until mixture pulls away from side of pan. Cool 2 minutes.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each, until smooth and shiny. Form 8 mounds, dropping by rounded 1/4 cupfuls, 3 inches apart, onto prepared baking sheets. Using moistened fingers, gently smooth tops.

Bake 35-40 minutes or until crisp and well browned; remove from oven. Cut a small hole into side of each cream puff to release steam.

Turn off oven; return cream puffs to oven 10-15 minutes to dry and crisp. Remove from pan; cool on wire rack. Cut off top third of each cream puff. Using fork, remove and discard soft interior.

TO MAKE THE CHOCOLATE CREAM:
In medium bowl, fold together pudding and cream until blended; cover and refrigerate until ready to fill.

TO MAKE THE STRAWBERRY SAUCE:
In blender or food processor container, process strawberries until smooth; sweeten with sugar, as desired.

TO ASSEMBLE:
Drizzle 1 tablespoon strawberry sauce onto each of 8 individual dessert plates. Place 1 cream puff bottom in center. Fill each with rounded 1/2 cup chocolate cream; top with 1 tablespoon chocolate morsels and 1/2 cup sliced strawberries. Spoon 1 tablespoon strawberry sauce over berries; close with cream puff top. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, as desired. Add sweetened whipped cream, if desired.

*One large package (5-5.9 ounces) chocolate pudding mix makes 3 cups prepared pudding. Prepare pudding as package directs.

**To make 2 cups sweetened whipped cream, beat together 1 cup whipping cream, 2 tablespoons sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, if desired, in mixer bowl until soft peaks form.

TO MAKE AHEAD:
Cream puff shells may be made ahead. After cooling, freeze shells in freezer bag or airtight container. Before using, heat in 325-degree oven 8-10 minutes or until crisp.

Makes 8 servings
Source: California Strawberry Commission