“Food is a central activity of mankind and one of the single most significant trademarks of a culture.”
I am fascinated by what Katie ate … what she ate all winter, summer and in the seasons in between! Do I sound obsessed? Well maybe I am, but since the word sounds rather harsh, I shall stick with ‘fascinated‘. You might have guessed. Yes indeed, I have a new favourite blog on the block, and this one is an utterly charming one – What Katie Ate, ‘all the way from Sydney‘; a ‘foodie photography blog’.
I discovered her photography quite a while ago googling for pictures for the Daring Bakers Pavlova Challenge, and I was completely smitten. I love the old world rustic charm her pictures offer, very retro and very classic. They instantly struck a chord with me, and dragged me into their realm. I was lost amidst her foodie pictures for a long time, with recipes that seemed to take a new meaning. Food here meant so much more…
A bookmarking frenzy followed, but I soon got involved with work at home and completely forgot about the recipes until I luckily found the very last batch of plums in the market a week ago. Yes, the very last as now they are truly gone. A cherry chocolate clafoutis from What Katie Ate was high on my list, the recipe easy as could be from Julia Childs Mastering The Art of French Cooking. At the very bottom of the post, I read that any stone fruit would work; you could see me SMILE!
I made Olive Oil Schiacciata from her blog last week, and some Triple Chocolate Toblerone Muffins day before yesterday. I wanted to make the clafoutis as well, but was dog tired that day. A quick check of the ingredients late at night had the men in the house peering over my shoulder telling me how hungry they still were, and that the dessert looked so good. There was no escape, and as promised, I had the clafoutis going yesterday morning.
A dessert as simple as this is not to be given the pass. It takes all of ten minutes to put together, about 30 minutes of baking, and 10 minutes of cleaning up. What luxury! Oh and of course, about an hour extra to take pictures, but then, that’s the joy of food blogging! What is food without pictures???
I made individual servings in ramekins I had picked up from Sydney a couple of years ago. Maybe they were a little smaller than regular ramekins, and I had some batter remaining so I filled up a few mini molds too, adding my last few frozen cherries to the plums. Luckily Katie mentioned that the clafoutis deflates pretty soon, so it was a race to get the pictures, but the puffiness was gone within 5 minutes of the blighters being out of the oven. The little rum baba molds really puffed up beautifully, and I am bummed I couldn’t get a decent pic of those… Well, whatevah!!
So here we are, with a final au revoir to my favourite fruity season. Come back soon please!
Notes to self: Don’t forget to add some sugar on top next time. That vanilla sugar would have done these some good. Also, if the plums are tart, like mine were, remember to add 2-3 extra tbsp of sugar. Another thing, don’t over-bake the custards. I should have really taken the rum baba molds out 5-7 minutes before the rest, as they got ever so slightly rubbery. A smattering of chocolate chips would have added to the indulgence, and next year I might substitute 1/2 a cup of milk with low fat cream.
Chocolate Plum ClafoutisMinimally adapted from What Katie Ate500gms plums, pitted and chopped
1/2 cup of plain flour1/4 cup of good cocoa powder {I used Valrhona}A pinch of salt2/3 cup of vanilla sugar1 1/4 cups of milk1 tsp pure vanilla extract3 eggs, room temperatureMethod:Preheat the oven to 180C. Grease either one single 10-inch flan/pie dish, heavy cast iron skillet/frying pan, or 6-8 individual flan dishes.
Pit and chop the plums. Arrange in the dish cut-side facing upwards. At this stage, an optional extra is to include a handful of chocolate chips in with the cherries.
Put the flour, vanilla sugar, cocoa and salt into the processor and whiz for 10-15 seconds to mix. Then add the eggs, milk, vanilla extract and process again till well mixed into a batter, about 30 seconds.
Pour the batter carefully over the fruit. Sprinkle a tbsp of castor sugar {a handful for a single large dish} on top and bake in the oven for approx. 20-25 minutes for small ramekins, or an hour for 1 single large dish.Note: This can also be made with plums, pears, peaches or any stone fruit you like. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream if you like.♥ Thank you for stopping by ♥
Don’t miss a post 
Also find me on The Rabid Baker, The Times of India 
I've never had a chocolate and plum combination, but like you, I love all stone fruit. Will be bookmarking this for summer! And Deeba, we love your food photos too! I especially noticed and appreciated the bunch of jasmine flowers in the watering can. Lovely!
Deeba, another delicious recipe from you. I am counting down the days before stone fruit is in season here again. When plums are in full swing, I'll have to give this a go! Sounds delightful! I had to check out that blog, What Katie Ate. I've not seen it before. The photographs are so lovely!
A heavenly combination! Those clafoutis are awesome.
Cheers,
Rosa
Such beautiful images and the clafouti looks amazing. I have some plums in the kitchen right now. Am thinking this is where they are heading. Very lovely indeed.
love love choc clafoutis with cherries – next time you have to try it with tahini as i did in my recipe. if you need tahini let me know i can send you jar. i love the pictures!
yummy! looks like so tasty! I'll try to make it soon.
Stunning photos! Looks so ladylike and sophisticated. And the clafoutis looks gorgeous – wouldn't mind a big helping of that on our chilly Spring day.
Never had the combination with chocolate and i love this one. Looks so so good. I wish i would grab one frm my screen.
These look unbelievable! Gorgeous!
lovely recipe and gorgeous pics deeba…i love teh rustic look of the pictures here…lve teh dark shade…BTW, u forgot to mention the quantity of plums in the recipe…
So beautiful! There was a shock of surprise at the combination of chocolate and plums and then a YES resonating from within. Thank you Deeba! …Susan
I love the clafoutis and I love the ramekins you used to make them. Gorgeous!
Chocolate and plum sounds yum. And your photos just melt my heart everytime Deeba. Thanks for pointing out the new blog, I'd never been there before, very lovely!
How you spoil us with your delectable treats and beautiful clicks, Deeba! Especially love your idea to bake some in those metal molds.
Chocolate Clafoutis! Thanks for sharing! I will certainly be trying that soon.
And I needed to say good job! I recently discovered your site and have been pleasantly surprised the frequency of your posts. And, the frequency of creative food. Thank you and keep up the fun.
A lovely chocolatey way to say goodbye to stone fruit! You can see the gooey chocolate running down the side of the moulds.
Ok, so many would assume that I am posting to the wrong site. I RARELY cook, and have NEVER baked. Oh, wait, yes, I tried my hand at baking cookies about 8 years ago. They turn out to be quite yummy, but I never felt the urge to bake again. However, I stumbled onto your site and absolutely love your photography and the presentation of your exquisite, and apparently scrumptious desserts. Keep up the wonderful, & inspirational, work.
Oh Deeba, this is a lovely take on the clafoutis. I've never seen a chocolate & plum combination before, but it looks utterly yum.
Oooh waw, Deeba! You are on a bakingb high!!!
These chocolate fruit clafoutis look amazing & mighty pretty too!
Kisses from Brussels to you!!
This looks so pretty and yummy! I just started viewing your blog, and I've got to say, I absolutely love your photography and the effort you put into taking them =)
-Ruby
I truly love cherries! And this clafoutis combination with chocolate is genius. Your presentation is really inspirational, well done
These look divine! And your photos are stunning as always.
This is definitely one I have to make! Luscious! And Deeba your photographs and styling are getting better each and every day! These are amazing! xoxo
And ok, ok, I'll come and stay for one month, okay?
Chocolate clafoutis —yum! I love your photos!
These look so gorgeous Deeba. I am free to do as I wish today so it looks like picking plums is in my future.
I've never tried clafoutis. Bu, now that you've made it with chocolate, I don't know how I can resist. Nice use of the plums too. Scrumptious.
I just love your photos…so beautiful and whimsical. They always transport me to another pace. Lovely recipe to boot!
Clafoutis is one of my all time favorite dessert… A chocolate one is just about irresistible! Beautiful photos too.
Wonderful combination.. I really like this recipe .. the pictures are gorgeous as always … I am bookmarking this recipe as i love clafoutis….YUmmm!!!
Pavithra
http://www.dishesfrommykitchen.com
Hey Vindee, long time! Love the new look and the food styling and props continue to be outstanding!
Chocolate and plums…how would have thought! It looks utterly amazing! A must try!
These plum clafoutis are outstanding because they have all I love: chocolate more fruits
Cheers,
Gera
Your posts are always inspiring, but this one is serenely beautiful! Sounds like a perfect end of summer dessert.
This looks fabulous! your pictures are so gorgeous. I love this recipe the plum and chocolate pairing sound great.
This looks fabulous! your pictures are so gorgeous. I love this recipe the plum and chocolate pairing sound great.
This looks fabulous! your pictures are so gorgeous. I love this recipe the plum and chocolate pairing sound great.
What a lovely blog Katie has, Deeba. Thanks for telling us about it.
Now I love clafoutis, all kinds, but never thought to make a chocoalte one! Fabulous.
what a lovely dessert and awesome retro pictures; I have never tried pairing chocolate and plums but I can imagine it and it sounds good, tangy and smooth and rich.
Love your photos! I can't wait til plums come into season here. Oh, and am a big fan of Katie's blog too
I've never even seen a chocolate clafoutis, let alone make one. Your version looks amazing!!
Your drool worthy bakes bring me in here ever so often. Well, actually, I come in here to feast my eyes on the pics:-)) The dessert sounds chocolate heaven..
I love clafoutis too , and am a lover after baking recently:-)
Love the addition of chocolate !
Deliciously delightfull!!
Loved ur little ramekins,the flutes are so pretty and the the height jus rite!!
Where did ya pick them and wat brand are they?
These pictures look absolutely gorgeous! Do you have a new camera?