June 22 is National Chocolate Eclair Day! The eclair is a wonder of a dessert originating in France. It’s made using choux pastry, which is filled with cream and topped with chocolate icing.

Most often, eclairs are served as dessert, but I’ve heard of them being eaten for breakfast too.
If you feel like celebrating, make your own eclairs with Emeril’s eclair recipe. He uses a real cream filling — not instant vanilla pudding (as found in long johns).
Are you going to eat an eclair today?
(Image via stock.xchng)

Who doesn’t love Peeps, those marshmallowy Easter treats? New this year are chocolate mousse-flavored Peeps. Though they aren’t traditional, they do make a festive holiday dessert, such as this one the people at Just Born, inc. (the makers of Peeps) were kind enough to share with us:

PEEPS Chocolate Mousse Dessert
Ingredients
— 1 pkg. (8 ct.) PEEPS Chocolate Mousse Flavored Marshmallow Bunnies
— 1 pkg. of chocolate flavored instant pudding mix — see package for
additional ingredients
— 16 oz. Cool Whip
— 1 …read more

There’s something very elegant about a layered pear or apple tart that makes such a dessert a perfect ending to a festive holiday dinner. This recipe from the people at Whole Foods Market is a non-dairy, vegan variation of the French classic–with the distinctly American addition of cranberries.
Cranberry Pear Tart
Dough
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons non-hydrogenated, non-dairy margarine, chilled
1/4 cup soy milk, chilled
4 Bosc pears (about 2 pounds)
6 tablespoons non-hydrogenated, non-dairy margarine, divided
7 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
2 tablespoons potato starch
1 cup fresh or frozen whole cranberries, coarsely chopped
To prepare the …read more