When you have cherries, make Clafoutis!

Thursday 5 December 2013

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I am rather fond of cherries . . . when we lived down South in Kent, during cherry season the roads and byways were filled with local sellers plying their wares . . . fresh English cherries, served up warm in paper bags.   I could never get my fill.  Half of each bag purchased always disappeared in the car on the way home . . . as if by magic.

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Normally I would only eat these tasty little babies in season . . . I am a lover of seasonal eating, because usually these types of things really only taste wonderful when they are in season . . . the way they were meant to be eaten.   But when I received the latest and last installment of the  Ultimate Cookbook from the Sunday Times, I couldn't resist one final foray into cherry-indulgence for the year.   The Cherry Clafoutis recipe by Gordon Ramsay (from his book, Sunday Lunch) was screaming my name and I just had to make it.

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Over the past three weeks, and finishing this week, The Sunday Times has been  publishing a pull out Ultimate Cookbook as part of the Incredible Edibles Food Series, dedicated to food and dining.   This final week's focus is on the Dinner Party,  and you can get your copy of The Sunday Times Ultimate Cookbook:  Dinner party this weekend, on Sunday the 8th of December, featuring a wonderful variety of the finest and most delicious Dinner Party recipes brought to you by a great ensemble of celebrity chefs and restaurants from  here in the UK.

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I love Dinner Parties.  They are the perfect opportunity for you to really bring your culinary and entertaining skills to the forefront!  This lovely little pull out cookery book is filled to overflowing with delicious recipes . . . impossible to resist . . . and for the most part simple to prepare, because as we all know, part of the fun of entertaining is being able to enjoy the evening with your guests in comfort, knowing that you have done your best to plan and provide for them a delicious repast, from beginning to end . . . free from stress and pressure.

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You can pick from such tasty delights as Rowley Leigh's Parmesan Custards with Anchovy Toasts and Gizzie Erskine's delicious looking Beef Wellington, which is not as difficult to make as one would imagine!  Each recipe looking more fabulous than the last, it was really difficult for me to choose just one to prepare to show you . . . but I do have a rather sweet tooth and so the Cherry Clafoutis won out!

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*Gordon Ramsay's Cherry Clafoutis*
Serves 6

Cherry.  Clafoutis.   Need I say more?  A fundamental classic, done well.  Adapted from Gordon Ramsay's recipe in his book Sunday Lunch.  

50g ground almonds (9 1/2 TBS)
15g of plain flour (2 1/2 TBS)
pinch of fine sea salt
100g caster sugar (1/2 cup)
2 large free range eggs
3 large free range egg yolks
250ml of double cream (1 cup plus 4 TBS)
unsalted butter to grease
icing sugar to dust
300g fresh cherries, washed and pitted (about 2/3 pound)  

Whisk the ground almonds, flour, salt and sugar together in a large bowl.  Make a hollow in the centre of the mixture.   Whisk together the eggs, egg yolks and cream.  Pour this mixture into the hollow in the dry mixture.  Whisk together until the batter is smooth.    Transfer the batter to a jug, cover and allow to rest in the refrigerator for an hour or so, or overnight.    

Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5.  Butter four individual oven dishes, or one large shallow oven dish, really well.   Dust the base and sides with icing sugar.   Scatter the prepared cherries amongst the dishes, dividing them equally.   Give the chilled batter a stir, and then pour it over the cherries in the dish(es).  Stand the dish(es) on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes, until golden brown and risen.  Check to be sure the clafoutis have set in the middle.  If they haven't, then bake them for an additonal five minutes.   Allow to stand for 5 to 10 minutes before adding a dusting of icing sugar and serving warm. 

Don't forget to pick up your copy of The Sunday Times Ultimate Cookbook:  Dinner |Parties this weekend, on Sunday the 8th of December 2013, the final installment in a four-part series.  Featuring a selection of the finest recipes of the celebrity chef era.  The Ultimate Cookbook is part of  The Incredible Edibles Food Series dedicated to food and dining.  Many thanks to The Times for allowing me to participate in presenting this fabulous series to you.

Visit thesundaytimes.co.uk to subscribe and to find out more details about exclusive Times + chef events hosted at some of the country's best restaurants.


9 comments

  1. this looks so elegant, very yummy Marie, I never could stand watching Gordon Ramsay but I have to say he is getting easier to watch, he was always so hyper and agitated that I thought his food must show that, I found him annoying to watch but since the BBC station we watch is showing his cooking show where he is at home with his children I have kind of warmed to him, I still think he is hyper though, he needs to calm down a bit, he's always bouncing around, he talks too fast, maybe a nervous personality, lol, a great cook though and he loves his family thats clear to see, its very cold here, the wind is howling and its freezing rain / snow, hope its warm where you are,

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  2. Looks so tasty. Need to save this recipe and try it next summer.

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  3. In all honesty Laurie, I can't stand to watch Gordon Ramsay most of the time. He reminds me too much of my ex, however having said that I have found his series Kitchen nightmares compelling. He sure knows how to bring a restaurant up to scratch, and darn it, the man can cook!

    Dan, I think you will like it. It's a great recipe!

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  4. I love cherries. One of my favorite fruit. I tend to eat them fresh but will take them any way I can get them.

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  5. I never enjoyed him until I caught a few episodes of his Home Cooking show with his family..A different man..not sure of the name of the show..

    His other shows..I found him so mean..Couldn't watch..
    He CAN cook and is great at it..
    Now Jamie on the other hand is so fun to watch..his family too..he made a turkey Wellington yesterday..yum!

    This looks festive even Marie.

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  6. Me too Ramona! I love my cherries.

    Monique I think what I have disliked about Gordon all along is his volatile personality and the swearing. I don't think it's necessary, but then again maybe I don't live in the real world. Having said that though, he knows his onions and is a fab cook. How much of that harshness he shows in his normal shows is for the camera who knows. He's probably a really nice bloke in real life!

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  7. I made this and it's absolutely delicious!
    Let me also say.....I LOVE Gordon Ramsay! He can teach me to cook anytime! I watch all of his cooking shows ever made!! I have ALL of his cookbooks (along with many other talented Chefs) and his are always displayed on my cookbook holder proudly on my counter! I have tried so many times to get tickets to watch Hells Kitchen taped in Los Angeles since I live only an hour away, but the wait list must be huge!When I need to figure out how to make something for a special occasion or to just make something I usually cook "Gordonized" and better, he is the one I look for inspiration in my many cookbooks or blogs with his original recipes. Last night I made spaghetti and meatballs for a dinner party for friends, so what did I do?.....I found Gordon's recipe for his meatballs and my guests RAVED about them and wanted the recipe!!! I told them to look up Gordon's recipes after much thought of telling them it was a secret where I got the recipe! But who could not share his delectable and awesome recipes! THE MAN KNOWS HIS FOOD AND IS A MICHELIN STAR CHEF!!!!
    Yes he can be abrasive on his Hells Kitchen TV show....but...I think it's done entirely for the advancement and learning of the future chef he will be picking to run one of his restaurants! It's NOT all entirely done for ratings! He rips apart people on kitchen nightmares too...only to make them better! He is only there to make them BETTER! If he was Mr easy going and never blew up he would not be able to make the point that they need to improve and get their act together! The contestants would think they were great and carry their arrogance into the new job he gives them, Gordon would be doing them a huge injustice in not making them better and strive for excellence!!!, And as harsh and cruel as some think he is.....it is done with intent to push them to their best, and if they can't cut it he cuts them one at a time until he finds the BEST chef who will not only run his restaurant as the head chef...but he has a reputation to live up to as a Michelin Star chef to turn out and mold the BEST chef ever! It's a direct reflection of him, his experience, and how he trains and guides them...and if he employees and picks a complete 0... It will make him look BAD! Gordon has high expectations and it can be seen in the quality of his food, success of his restaurants, and exudes himself and his pride through the people he trains to employee in HIS own restaurants! EVERY chef he has trained from Hells Kitchen and other various place goes on the be the best Chef ever with him to thank for their success and some become Michelin Star Chefs themselves! To be trained and employed by him would be the hugest compliment ever...and that person would know they are the best and trained by the ultimate best!!,Someday it is my ultimate goal to meet the man who has taught me through his TV shows and cooking courses to cook and be better at it myself, to meet the extraordinary man who inspires me to be better at anything I do everyday and not settle for mediocre, and thank him for every thing he has done to bring the art of cooking and passion for it out to all of us! So....don't hate him for how he may seem vulgar or over the top...he is striving for excellence in every one he teaches! I think the man off the TV cameras is a giant TEDDY BEAR who loves life, has a passion for cooking and teaching it to everyone, and is the most loving husband and father ever! What could make a better man period!!!! I love you Gordon Ramsay for making me a better cook and teaching me to have a passion for it to not settle with mediocre food, and most of all.....to throw out the damn microwave!!!! Real, flavourful cooking with love is what I have learned from you Gordon! God Bless you and your extraordinary talents and may you cook and live on in all of our hearts and kitchens forever!!!

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  8. Marie....how do I get the recipes I love and want to save into my recipe box? They seem to say printable recipe but I do not see a spot to save them to my recipe box?
    Christine
    Can you also print more of Gordon Ramsay's awesome recipes?

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  9. Not sure what you mean about saving to your recipe box Christine? I do have a printable recipe option, and of course you can pin them. I can tell you are a big fan of Gordon's. I was a Ramsay for many years. 22 to be exact. All I can say is the temper, bullying and swearing must be a family trait that I am not very fond of. :-)

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