On Saturday afternoon (I actually thought it was Sunday, hence the dishtowel, until Sunday morning arrived and I realized it was Sunday), I made a blackberry clafoutis with the blackberries and gorgeous organic eggs that Andy and his sister, Jen, who was visiting for the weekend, brought me from the downtown farmer's market.
I used Ina's recipe for Pear Clafoutis and left out the pear brandy, sprinkled some sugar over the blackberries (those guys were sour!) and used half-and-half instead of heavy cream. Clafoutis is one of my favorite things — somewhere between a pancake and a custard, it's creamy and sweet but not too sweet, and with that sort of eggy taste that just makes me happy. Also, it's pretty. If you have a Polish pottery pie plate, definitely use it here (I think mine was from Marshall's).
By the way, if you'd like to make a set of these embroidered dishtowels, here is the post that points you to the free download with the days-of-the-week images. My binding tutorial is here. For the record, we use all seven of these dishtowels constantly in our little pleasant kitchen, and my original plan to keep them permanently in the living room, and not let them anywhere near the kitchen or a dish — I got over that the first time I went to reach for a new dishtowel and found the regular ones all in the laundry. These dishtowels seem very, very relieved to be used, and are, I can safely say, no worse for the wear. Make them, use them, love them.
I told my friend Sarah that she has to go see Julie & Julia with me when it comes out August 7. I read the book several years ago when it first came out and I absolutely loved it, and Sarah has actually met Julia Child. I have to ask her to tell me the story again. I'll report back.
I put the clafoutis on the windowsill to cool, because that's what kitchen windowsills are for. Pies, clafoutis, and cats, sitting watching the garden grow.
you and your clafoutis...YUM!
I am so looking forward to that movie too. I am in the process of reading both books that it is based on . I read them on and off and it is a joy when I pick them up. It will be nice to see what Meryl brings to the movie. I am off work.. ;-( but am taking advantage of the time to do "fun" things. I love the way you put Portland in such a cool light...
Dottie.
I can't wait for my blackberries to ripen. I usually make lots of jam. This time I'll definately save some to try this! It looks wonderful. I also can't wait to get stitching some days of the week towels for my Mother. Your designs are so cozy and sweet. Thank you! x
Mmmmmm! I am so excited to see this movie I could cry!
Beautiful clafoutis! Can't wait to see the movie. Still use Julia's cookbook. Remember watching her show-yes I am THAT old! Received my second pillow-love Christmas in July. The hammock for two looked more like Noah's Ark. Could not get it tight enough. It continued to drop to the ground when one small person (not me) sat on it. So the pillows will find another spot in the next few days. Thanks for the beautiful work that you put into your pillows.
You must read My Life in France by Julia Child. I just finished it, and it is a wonderful acoount of how Julia learned to cook and how she became a "cookery bookery" author as well as tv star. It will take me a long time to finish another read as good as Julia's memoir. The movie is also based on this book, as well as Julia and Julie.
Oooh I might have to try this x
I can't wait to see that movie! Thanks for telling me there was a book. Didn't know that. This dessert looks totally yummy!
I love love love your blog -- these photos of the food have really inspired me to take photos of my cooking. I am also feeling the need to dust off my sewing machine!
Your blog has been chosen to receive the "One Lovely Blog Award"
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Oh..this looks so yummy!!!! I just placed an order for the towels. Can't wait to make 'um!!
That looks absolutely delicious! And even if it wouldn't taste good, it really looks good on photo ;-)
I haven't made a clafouti yet this year, must add it to the to-do list! I like cherry clafouti, but the mr. loves cherries, so there are seldom any left for baking before he eats them all.
Have you read My Life in France by Julia Child? I love that the movie is based on both books, because honestly, I love the Julia one a bit more :o)
oh, it's beautiful! And - noting the above comment - My Life in France is sitting in my summer reading pile at this very moment. I can't wait to get to it!
I always made cherry clafoutis before - blackberries are a good idea. I will have to try them - I can see them all ripening up in the garden and along the hedgerows.
Pomona x
Your blog is like a kitchen window for me... a place where lovely things wait to be appreciated.
I have to admit to never having made a clafoutis, but LOVE, LOVE, LOVE reading it's name when I go through the "American desserts" chapter in Joy of cooking. Do you have that book?- you must!- it's my always-go-to-it cooking read. I often get inspired by the pretty full color cook books, but come to Joy for the tried-and-true, will-never-fail recipe and explanation. But, I love that chapter for the names and descriptions- slumps, clafoutis, brown betties, crumbles, cobblers. Such fun! :-)
Time for me to put a clafoutis under my belt! I have about a zillion blueberries from picking the other day (already made one lattice pie!)- think a blueberry clafoutis would be good?
I've been meaning to ask you about your embroidery... Have you been working on any projects recently? What is the status of your book?
Lovely post!
You've combined two of my favorite things together - clafoutis and blackberries. Unfortunately, there are no brambles on my property and the cost of store bought blackberries is outrageous, so I'll settle for a cherry clafoutis made with cherries from my neighbors orchard.
I'm looking forward to the movie.
- Suzanne
Your post made me want to run home, bake my grandmother's apple pie, and put it on the window sill! Then I remembered that it's 105 here so I don't think the pie would "cool" so much as continue to bake to a crisp.
how i love thee clafoutis, even with your awkward clumsy name.
i will make you.
with blackberries like alicia has done.
and then.
i will eat you.
the end.
Yum! Save me some ;-)
We've been having unseasonably cool weather here (well, the high is only 90) so I actually got off my butt and made a blackberry cobbler this week. Great minds think alike!
Looks delicious! I agree - the movie looks like a must-see. My youngest daughter and I are planning to see it together. I read the book also and just adored it too. Great to know a bit more about her. What an influential woman.
I am so impressed with the blackberry clafoutis..! Also love the Polish Pottery, so perfect for the clafoutis. Can't WAIT for the Julia Child movie, I even love the trailer! I know I will want to buy that one on dvd.
You are not going to believe this, but that is the very same dish towel I am working on now. I was a little nervous about making my own binding but it worked great and I even did it without the little binding maker thingy. I just pressed it and it worked. I've made the dutch oven design, the mixing bowl and now it's the Polish lady. I think she's my fav! I have to credit you for giving me the inspiration to get back into sewing~something I haven't done in a long time and I am loving it.
THANK you from the bottom of my heart.
xo, mary
Looks absolutely delicious. It would be strange for people to think that when you live in the country blackberries are hard to find, but..I can attest to that. As we have a nursery, they are SO discouraged and I am a bit reluctant to forage the roads where they spray.
Having said that, your words about placing the pie/clafoutis on the window sill reminded me of one of my favorite books as a child...one that my mother read to us over and over again because we loved it so.
I Googled LAZY LIZA LIZARD and found it...in the book the pie gets set in the sill. I remember so many of the words, but...whoo hoo, do you think I could buy the book today at nearly $500.00? I'd give almost anything to find out what happened to that beloved, and scary book!
Cheers to you and the pie cooling on the window sill and thanks for the wonderful memories.