Home Sweet Home

Friday I returned home after a week in Florida for spring break. I went to Disney World with my gent and had the best time anyone has ever had, I'm sure. I have to admit, though, that by the end of the week I was really dying to get back to the kitchen and prepare somewhat less meat-and-carb-y food. One dish in particular that I could have killed for was plain old minestrone.

Just boring old Italian soup with tons of veggies and beans. Mine has diced tomato, zucchini, green beans, onion, garlic, carrots, cannellini beans, green lentils, and roasted butternut squash. I also meant to use up the last bits of a couple nearly empty boxes of pasta, but I forgot. They might go into the leftovers though. In addition to the soup I made corn muffins with real corn(!) in them and some grated cheese. They were, of course, delicious.

The other thing I was craving in Florida was fruit. Just a simple, un-tampered-with piece of fruit that wasn't $2.50 for a single one. After going grocery shopping yesterday I ate a pair of gorgeous nectarines and felt a little better, but I felt ambitious to further glorify some fresh fruit. And so:

I made a plum clafouti. A clafouti is something between a very thick custard and a very moist cake, and it is studded with (usually stone) fruit. The one I made is just barely sweet, but a lovely desert (or breakfast) when served warm with a drizzle of honey and a dollop of yogurt.

Ripe Plum Clafouti

2 plums

6 Tablespoons dark brown sugar

2/3 C plus flour

1 1/3 C milk 

3 eggs

1 tsp lemon zest

1 T lemon juice

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 375. 

Butter a 9" round cake pan and arrange slices from the plums however you like on the bottom. Pour the lemon juice over the plums. In a mixing bowl, combine the sugar, flour, cinnamon, lemon zest, vanilla, eggs, and milk. The batter should be very loose. Pour the batter over the plums and put in the oven for 35 minutes or until the clafouti springs back when you poke it (doesn't dimple). It's that easy, and who doesn't like a desert that you don't have to feel guilty about eating for breakfast?

However, I will always remember my vacation as the best I've ever had. Great weather, great attractions, great experiences, and great company.

Oh, and one great big surprise:

Old traditions don't seem stupid anymore when you're involved in them.