A Truly Divine Dessert: Recipe from A TASTE OF HEAVEN

In her new book A TASTE OF HEAVEN (on-sale: August 6), Madeline Scherb takes readers on a delectable tour through the most unlikely foodie havens – monasteries in the U.S. and America that are producing mouthwatering food and drink. For some celestial cuisine at home, try this recipe for pear clafoutis, a classic French dessert with a light consistency from Brother Victor-Antoine d’Avila-Latourette.

BROTHER VICTOR’S PEAR CLAFOUTIS

INGREDIENTS
Unsalted butter for the baking dish
6 small ripe Bosc pears
3 eggs
½ cup granulated sugar
2 tsps. Cornstarch
1 ½ cups whole milk
2 tablespoons cognac or pear brandy
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
12 to 14 vanilla caramels unwrapped

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Generously butter a large 9×13 baking dish and set aside. Peel, halve, and core the pears and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar and cornstarch. Add milk, cognac, and vanilla and mix until well combined.
3. Pour a thin layer, about 1 cup, of the custard into the baking dish, tilting the pan to spread it evenly over the bottom of the pan. Bake in the center of the oven until the custard thickens and sets about 5 minutes.
4. Remove the pan from the oven and carefully arrange the pears cut down over the set custard.
5. Pour the rest of the custard over the fruit and sprinkle the nutmeg lightly over the top.
6. Arrange the caramels about 2 inches apart on the top of the clafoutis.
7. Return to the oven and bake until the custard is firm and starts to brown around the edges a bit, 40 to 45 minutes.
8. Remove the clafoutis from the oven and serve warm.

Tip: For an extra taste of heaven, use caramels from Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey. These caramels, produced by nuns from fresh butter and cream from local farms, have been lauded by U.S. News & World Report and the Food Network. They can be purchased at Trappistine.com.

Source: A TASTE OF HEAVEN by Madeline Scherb, p. 196

To get more information or to order a copy of A TASTE OF HEAVEN, please visit
Amazon.com , BN.com , or find your local independent bookstore.