The French dessert that inspired Prue Leith to become a cook

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There are moments in life when we face crossroads and make choices that will impact the rest of our lives. Sometimes what changes our path is personal. Other times, it’s pastries. In the case of Dame Prue Leith, it was the latter – and very specific.

Today, Leith is a celebrity chef and TV personality, known in part for her role on one of Netflix’s best cooking shows for the foodie in you. But at the same time, She lived in Paris and studied to be a translator, and that’s when she learned how to make a dish that changed her life: cherry clafoutis.

A classic recipe for cherry clafoutis is in Leith’s upcoming book, “Life’s Too Short to Stuff a Mushroom,” which means the rest of us can try this traditional French dessert anytime. In fact, her instructor, a woman for whom she worked as an au pair, deserves the gratitude of the many fans who have since benefited from Leith’s culinary expertise. As “The Great British Baking Show” judge states in her book: “Due to the combined influence of Madame’s clafoutis, the pâtisserie window in Fouchon, and the deliciousness of a jambon sandwich bought on the street, I changed my mind and became a cook.”

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Creating your own clafoutis

Cherry clafoutis is a baked dough-based creation that is similar to custard in that it is eggy, creamy, craveable, and customizable. Prue Leith’s version is packed with fresh cherries and often relies on vanilla (in extract form in your recipe, although you can also use pods or paste), however, you can swap in other fruits, add a little lemon zest, or even a little alcohol from a liqueur like kirsch. The slices can be served simply dusted with powdered sugar or paired with basic but bulletproof whipped cream.

Leith has a useful trick to make your clafoutis a little simpler to make. She places a piece of the washed and dried fruit in the mouth of an empty bottle with a narrow neck (think beer or soda) and, using a chopstick, punches it to remove the seed inside. There are some tasty ways to use up cherry pits before discarding them, and while this clever trick can save you some time and save you from having to buy your own cherry pit remover, these clafoutis might just change your life.

Read the original article about Chowhound.