by request, from "The Cookery Year" by the Readers Digest

Clafouti Limousin

A clafouti is a sweet pancake batter baked with fresh fruit. In the Limousin province of France, where the pudding originates, it is traditionally made wih black cherries.


Preparation time: 15 min.
Cooking Time: 30 min.


Ingredients (for 6):

1 1/2 lb black cherries
3 eggs
3 level tablespoons plain flour
salt
5 level tablespoons caster sugar
3/4 pint milk
1 tablespoon Dark Rum (optional)
2 -3 level tablespoons unsalted butter

Method:

Remove the stalks from the cherries, stone, wash and drain the fruit thoroughly. Beat the eggs lightly together in a bowl; blend in the sifted flour and a pinch of salt before adding 3 tablespoons of sugar. Heat the milk until lukewarm and gradually pour into the egg mixture, stirring continuously. Add the rum if used.

Butter a wide, shallow fireproof dish thoroughly. Put in the cherries, pour the batter over them and dot with the remaining butter. Bake in the centre of an oven, pre-heated to 425 Fahrenheit (mark 7) for 25 - 30 minutes. When the dish is cooked, the cherries will have risen to the top and the batter will have set like a baked custard.

Sprinkle the pudding with the remaining caster sugar and serve lukewarm.