Cream Puffs or Profiteroles

1/2 cup water
1/4 cup butter
dash of salt
1/2 cup flour
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
In a saucepan, bring water, butter, and salt to a boil.
With a wooden spoon, quickly add the flour, and beat over low heat until a smooth ball forms. (This should take about 1 minute).
Remove from heat and put in a clean mixing bowl and let cool for 3 minutes.
Beat in eggs, one at a time, and continue to beat until mixture is smooth and shiny.
Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls, 3 inches apart, on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
Makes about 8 large cream puffs or 12 smaller ones.
Bake in the preheated 425 degree oven for 15 minutes and then reduce heat to 325 degrees and bake an additional 20 minutes or until golden brown. 
Now turn off oven, take cream puffs out of oven and slice off the top third of each one. ( Do this to each puff, it helps all the steam to escape and dry the inside of the puffs). Place the pan back in the turned off oven, and keep the door ajar using a wooden spoon, and leave there for 10 minutes more to dry out the inside of each puff. Remove after 10 minutes and cool the pan on a wire rack.
When completely cooled, fill with your favorite fillings. (A few of my favorites are below).

Cheaters Strawberry Whipped Cream Filling:
1 cup sliced and diced fresh strawberries
1/4 cup strawberry preserves or jam
1/2 container of frozen whipped topping (8 oz size) thawed.

Mix strawberries and preserves or jam together well.
Fold into the thawed whipped topping until well blended.
Fill the puff and replace the tops and serve immediately.

Vanilla Cream Filling:

1 small box instant pudding, (flavor of your choice; I use French Vanilla).

1 cup milk
1/2 container of frozen whipped topping (8 oz size) thawed.

Mix instant pudding with milk until well blended and thickened.
Add whipped topping and blend until smooth.
Fill the puff and replace the tops and serve immediately.
(Don’t fill until ready to serve!  Filling too soon will make the cream puffs soggy).
If you would like to serve later, puffs can be frozen empty and thawed later to fill.

Enjoy! Élvez! Piacere! Gustirati! Radosť!

You also can use the Puffs at lunch time and fill with your favorite tuna or chicken salad.
There are endless fillings you can experiment with for yourself....have fun!