Hot Fudge Cream Puffs - It's a Detroit thing

[kevin313]

My brother and his partner we in town over the weekend and we spent some time celebrating our childhood by making hot fudge cream puffs. These treats were sold at Sanders - a longtime confectionary here in Detroit. We can't have these without warmly thinking of our sweet mom who would often treat us to a trip to the Sanders lunch counter. While we miss mom every day of our lives, we feel her spirit when make good things to eat like this...

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Recipe and more at link:

Making Cream Puffs for Sanders Hot Fudge!

Any Detroiter - of a certain age - can probably recall moments of great delight while sitting at their neighborhood Sanders lunch counters. ...

cavalcadeoffood.blogspot.com

 

[nurdlinger]

I grew up in Detroit and remember Sanders very well. When I was in college, I worked as a student civil engineer for the city, on survey crews. One year our party chief was plagued by a stomach ulcer, and treated it by drinking several milkshakes a day. He demanded that these come from Sanders, so in the course of the summer I learned where every Sanders in Detroit was. I could find the nearest Sanders location no matter where in the city our work took us.

 

[petek]

Wow those are incredibly simple and easy to make. I would never have thought that at all. My mom was NOT a cook/baker in anyway shape or form of the word, she just wasn't. She was/is English, nuff said LOL. However I do remember her making creampuffs once when I was maybe 6 y.o. and that was probably the reason. Once, never to be repeated.

I don't ever remember us going or seeing a Sanders downtown in Detroit and come to think of it now, if there was one in fact, I can well imagine my dad and made sure I never did, diverting my attention elsewhere and walking us past it very quickly. LOL. He would do something like that and I probably can't fault him cause I loved candy. My most distinct memory is spending seemingly happy hours riding up and down on the escalators and elevators in Hudsons while my mother and sisters looked at dresses and other boring stuff. Dad would disappear, probably for a beer somewhere and then we'd all meet up on the ground floor at the elevators and head off somewhere else.

 

[nurdlinger]

I don't ever remember us going or seeing a Sanders downt

When the chief went to the Sanders downtown, we parked on Griswold St. between Fort and Lafayette and waited in the truck. It's forty years ago, and I don't remember the details any finer than that.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Kevin,

I've said this before, but I LOVE your videos. They are just so warm and entertaining to watch. You have a great on camera presence.

Having grown up in Detroit as well, AND my father having treated us to Herb Alpert's music on many occasions, this video was a truly special retro-treat. Not that long ago I found a CD of Herb's greatest hits which I have really enjoyed.

We visited Sanders on many occasions, just like you did. When my Dad was traveling, which he did often, Mom would take us to a Sanders after dinner for a treat. Seems like I often had an eclair? Not completely certain, but when we moved to Denver in 1977, many of our Rochester neighbors found reasons to come see us and to visit Colorado. They usually brought goodies to us from Sanders and at times my Mom still gets the same fudge sauce. I'll have to make these puffs soon and surprise the folks for dessert.

Thanks once again Kevin!

Gordon

 

[kevin313]

The downtown Sanders was the flagship store, and it was located on Woodward Avenue just north of Michigan Avenue on the west side of the street. On the main floor it was all retail - cakes, candy, breads, packaged ice cream (who remembers Sanders making Vernor's flavored ice cream?? OMG was it good!)

There was a cafeteria on the lower level. There you could get soups, light salads and sandwiches. They had the old fashioned toasters that only toasted the bread one side at a time, so when you got a sandwich on toasted bread, the outside was toasted but not the inside of the bread. It was great!

Gordon - thanks for the kind words. We have a lot of fun doing these little videos and it gives us a chance to use our fabulous appliances!

 

[nurdlinger]

Woodward Avenue just north of Michigan Avenue on the west si

That's pretty close to where we would park. El Jefe could have easily walked to there. A Google Map view of the area today shows it quite different than it was in 1969.

Re. Vernors: My favorite thing from Sanders was a milkshake made with Vernors syrup. Not every counterperson would agree to make such a thing, but it was worth the effort to ask.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Wow! Blast from the past Pete - I remember Vernors floats with vanilla ice cream (which could have easily been Sanders).

I saw Vernors in a local grocery the other day. I will have to reinvent that one!

Thanks for the idea!

 

[maytagbear]

Vernors?

Vernor's ice cream???

Vernor's milk shakes????

Oh, my freaking word!

Vernor's is absolutely one of my most favourite things to drink, ever and forever. Even the sugar free version is pretty darn good.

Nice video, Kevin. I know those as profiteroles, and "cream puff" to me has pastry cream for a filling, however the difference is just words. Another good ice cream for them would be pistachio with chocolate sauce.......

Lawrence/Maytagbear[this post was last edited: 10/3/2011-15:39]

 

[gansky1]

Mmmmmm. Carbs and chocolate. Nothing bettah!

Terry.... can we make these next weekend? Mmmmmm.

 

[norgeway]

Question???

What on earth is Vernors???? Never heard of it.

 

[maytagbear]

Vernors?

It is, Hans, simply the best gingerale that was ever made.

It does not burn like Blenheim or Reed's.

It was originally an "only in Michigan" thing.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[nurdlinger]

Vernors floats with vanilla ice cream

In Detroit, back then, (and maybe still) this was called a "Boston Cooler".

 

[petek]

We always had Vernors at home. Really gingery almost as much as ginger beer which I love as well. I couldn't get it when I moved out west, nobody had ever heard of it, but it's back in my fridge now. Along with the Faygo red pop.

 

[mixfinder]

Dirty Old Potato

There a Scandahoovian bakery in Seattle near the Space Needle that sells potatoes.  The eclair shell in made in the shape of a potato.  It is then filled with pastry creme and a skim coat of the creme is applied to the oustide of the shell.  The sticky shell is them rolled in a mixture of cocoa and powdered sugar so it looks a lot like a potato from a distance.  AMT kitchen felt the perfect pate chou is made in a processor.  I did it once but its a lot of rubber scrapering to get it off the blade and out of the work bowl.  I use a hand mixer in the cooking vessel and it is truly one recipe that you can't over beat.  The stretchier the pastry the more volume it will achieve from the steam while baking.  Kevin you are wonderful to take the time to share so many classics with us that are soon to be forgotten by a generation that never learned to make them.  Bon Appetit!

 

[petek]

I made these this morning (creampuff version)

I hadn't done much of any cooking/baking in months if not a year or more almost so earlier this afternoon I figured why not. All I needed was some whipped cream and had all the other ingredients. I did cheat and use my KA hand mixer when adding the eggs, you know,, live better electrically and all.

Now this recipe is waaay easy, anyone and I mean anyone can make these even if you've never baked anything before. It literally takes only a few minutes to put together before baking They'd be good for fried egg/bacon sandwiches as well in the morning..

As well yesterday I made Kevnins kapusta (sauarkraut). Turned out great and not a lot of work really, just watching and adding water as it cooked

 

[kevin313]

So glad that you made these - ain't they easy? You're right - they make for great breakfast sandwiches....Ralph and I like them with ham and eggs and jelly!

Happy that the kapusta came out well, too!

 

[nurdlinger]

Found this on another site I read

It's undated but I suspect it is from the 1940s. An earlier, calmer time. Can you imagine ordering your lunch two days in advance?

 

[petek]

I wonder if they used "New Era" potato chips.