Sunday, May 16, 2010

Sweet Sunday: Chocolate Eclair

This is a tale of love lost and rediscovered. You see, when I was young, I embraced the creamy goodness of chocolate éclairs with all my heart. But as I got older, other goodies beckoned -- creme brulée, sticky toffee pudding, cupcakes... well, you know the story. I turned my back on the lowly éclair and plunged into the goodness that awaited.

Fast forward twenty-odd years or so. I'm standing in the local Tesco's, clutching a £10 note in my hand. I'd used up the other £9 and I had £1 remaining for the all-important dessert (because I couldn't go back home without one, naturally). Scanning the shelves, my heart sank. Everything was at least £2 -- but wait! What was that? Four éclairs for a pound? I grabbed the packet. They looked rather forlorn, pushed back on the bottom shelf, but éclairs were better than nothing. Or so I thought.

But oh, OH! When I bit into the first one after dinner, I remembered straight away why I liked them so much. The rich cream, the light pasty... and the chocolate! Perfect!

Please forgive me, éclair. How could I have forsaken thee, for so long? Never again, my love. Never again.

41 comments:

  1. Am now yearning for a chocolate eclair. Yum.

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  2. Oh, a creaming chocolate eclair for breakfast sounds delicious.

    Mason
    Thoughts in Progress

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  3. Yummy! Agree with eclair for breakfast. Today had left over eaton mess (strawberry flavour), with a banana, and a sprinkle of chocolate chip cookies (crumbled).

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  4. Oh the choices! I love the picture you painted of having barely enough money to buy any sweets, and then the gates of heaven opened up and viola! Eclairs!
    Love it. Happy Sunday!

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  5. Not sure I've ever had one - and since I no longer eat chocolate, I guess I never will.

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  6. These have always been my absolute favorite.

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  7. Evil Tesco to tempt you with 4 for a £1 eclairs!! LOL!!!

    awww but they are such a classic - welcome back to the fold!!

    :-)

    Take care
    x

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  8. Oh I love these, and I haven't had one in sooooo long. mmmmm. :)

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  9. Sweet tooth, I got one too! Solid chocolate is my sin. Milk-chocolate.

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  10. Yummy chocolate eclairs! I also love the gooey creamy stuff inside.

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  11. Hahaha! Man, I love dessert. Best part of a meal, ever. I don't know if I've ever had an eclair though... :(

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  12. You are so wicked! Now, I'll have to hunt up an eclair. I once loved them, too.

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  13. I remember eating chocolate eclairs for breakfast. yummy. I think you're forgiven now, after spreading these sweet words!

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  14. They're just so darn good, aren't they? :) YUM!

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  15. ahh...sweet sunday, LOVE IT! I am a rare female who does not like chocolate, but after reading this...I'm going to have to try harder. yumm...

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  16. I am so glad you discovered you still loved them! Seems like when I taste something I used to love, it doesn't measure up and I'm let down because my tastes have changed.

    Helen
    Straight From Hel

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  17. All is forgiven. The Eclair is ready to take you back again too.

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  18. I haven't had an eclair in eons! I'll have to fix that :)

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  19. p.s. it's totally settled. I'm starting the crapantasy genre ;)

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  20. Just catching up on my blog-hopping a bit, Talli, and saw your book cover. My favorite color...nice design...as a person who is often attracted to books first by their covers, I'd definitely take this one off the shelf to read the synopsis.

    As for eclairs, that photo makes my mouth water...and there's a donut and pastry shop not too far away...see you later. :)

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  21. Mmm... I've never had one, but they look delicious!

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  22. Mmmm, eclairs. Your description makes me want to go to the bakery and buy one or six right now. Every time I go to the store I resolve to be more sensible and buy more fruits and vegetables. But I still can't resist the chocolate. At least when I eat chocolate covered strawberries I don't feel so guilty.

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  23. If you've never had one, you must go get one right now. That's an order.

    Alexandra - looking forward to reading your new Crapantasy novel! :)

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  24. I want one now. Oh! how you tempt with the sweets. :)

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  25. Good thing I'm still stuffed from lunch.

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  26. Sitting here, passing time until dinner, I read your post and my mouth was literally watering at the thought of an eclair. But it's Sunday, the village shop is closed, so I guess I'll have to do without. Shame.

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  27. Oh my, your posts are going to make me fat! Now, I need to find a donut or something.

    CD

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  28. Talli,
    I'm beginning to see the logic in a creme filled eclair. I had 1 on Friday and it was scrumptious. Then I decided to try 1 w/ custard filling & for some reason it tasted like lemon rather than what's known over here as vanilla pudding which is the usual flavor for custard. Who knows, something went wrong w/ that batch.

    By the way, that's an excellent deal you got! :)

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  29. Those boxes of four eclairs for not much money are absolutely fatal. 'Oh, they're so light, they're so light, surely they're diet eclairs - I'll just have one more.'

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  30. I love your Sunday posts. :) And now I'm off in search of an eclair.

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  31. It's been awhile since I've had one. This post made me want to change that...(Hugs)Indigo

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  32. Oh how that sounds and looks so good! I have been sugar free now for over a year, would hate to mess it up now!

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  33. I adore eclairs and often buy a box when I'm roaming M&S food hall (and secretly eat the lot before anyone else gets home).

    X

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  34. Uh oh; now the cravings have begun!

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  35. I love sticky toffee pudding. I make sure I have some every time I'm in England. :) You're making me homesick...

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  36. TeeHee - never again, my love, never again. Ha! Perhaps you should open a pastry cafe/indie book store.

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  37. Now I'm not going to be able to stop thinking about eclairs!

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  38. That looks so delicious! Chocolate is my all time favorite. Yummy!
    Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

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Coffee and wine for all!