Possible Clues:

• This is a surprise filling in small fish pudding
• Flannel cook squeezes well!
• An old-fashioned sweet pudding; insincere compliments
• Full of goodness, cook tripe
• Dish of eggs and sugar
• Versatile comedian holding surprised expression -- it's pretension
• Meaningless ceremonies and flattery
• What a surprise, cutting into cook's oatmeal pudding!
• I'm surprised, taken in by cook's empty compliment
• Claptrap