Cream Puffs

This is a huge batch that is great when serving a crowd.

3 cups water
1 1/2 c. butter or margarine
3 cups flour
12 eggs
Vanilla pudding (homemade, boxed--instant or cooked, or canned)
Confectioners' sugar

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Heat water and butter to a boil. Add flour and vigorously stir over low hear for 1 minute or until it forms a ball. Remove from heat and beat in eggs all at once; beat until smooth. Drop dough by scant 1/4 cupfuls about 3 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until puffed and golden. Cool. Cut off tops and pull out insides of puffs; fill with pudding (or use piping bag and squeeze mixture inside to fill.) Dust with confectioners' sugar and refrigerate until serving time.

To make eclairs instead of puffs:
Shape dough into finger shapes about 4 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. Bake and fill the same as puffs. Frost with chocolate icing:
Melt 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate and 3 teaspoons butter over low hear. Remove from heat and stir in 3 cups confectioners' sugar and about 6 tablespoons hot water. Beat until smooth. Spoon over the top of the eclair; refrigerate.