Éclairs or Cream Puffs

When I was in middle school, the school bus used to drop me off at a tiny strip mall several miles from my house. My parents both worked, so I usually had an hour or so to occupy before they could pick me up. I spent most afternoons hanging out at the mall’s little bakery, where I was introduced to my first éclair. It was the size of a hot dog, full of supersweet, thick vanilla custard and dripping with a chocolaty frosting. I loved it because it was so unlike anything I’d ever had before,