Easy Julia Child Dessert Food

JULIA CHILD'S BERRY CLAFOUTIS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter a medium-size flameproof baking dish at least 1 1/2 inches deep.
• Place the milk, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla, salt and flour in a blender. Blend at top speed until smooth and frothy, about 1 minute.
• Pour a 1/4-inch layer of batter in the baking dish. Turn on a stove burner to low and set dish on top for a minute or two, until a film of batter has set in the bottom of the dish. Remove from heat.
• Spread berries over the batter and sprinkle on the remaining 1/3 cup granulated sugar. Pour on the rest of the batter and smooth with the back of a spoon. Place in the center of the oven and bake about 50 minutes, until top is puffed and browned and a tester plunged into its center comes out clean.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar just before serving. (Clafoutis need not be served hot, but should still be warm. It will sink slightly as it cools.)

JULIA CHILD'S REINE DE SABA (QUEEN OF SHEBA) CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Set the oven rack in lower middle level.
• In a saucepan over low heat, melt the chocolate in the rum or coffee. Set aside. In a mixing bowl, cut butter into.
• pieces and cream it. When soft and fluffy, add sugar and beat 1 minute. Beat in egg yolks until well blended.
• In another bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Beat in cream of tartar and salt and continue beating until soft peaks are formed. Gradually beat in 2 tablespoons sugar and continue beating until stiff, shiny peaks are formed. Blend melted chocolate and coffee or rum into yolk mixture, then add almonds and almond extract.
• Stir a quarter of the egg whites into the chocolate using a rubber spatula. Scoop the rest of the whites over chocolate and, alternating with sprinkles of flour, rapidly and delicately fold in the egg whites. Turn batter into buttered and floured 8-by-1 1/2-inch round cake pan, tilting it in all directions up to the rim all around. Set in preheated oven. Bake 25 minutes.
• Cake is done when puffed to the top and a toothpick inserted 2 to 3 inches from edge comes out clean. The center should move slightly when the pan is gently shaken. Remove pan to a rack and let cool 15 minutes. Unmold onto rack. Let cool 2 hours before storing or icing.

JULIA CHILD'S HUNGARIAN SHORTBREAD BY CHARLES

Steps:

• The Jam:.
• Place rhubarb, sugar& water in a saucepan.
• Split the Vanilla bean and scrape the soft seeds into the pan, (keep the pod for further use in another recipe).
• Bring to a simmer over low heat, cook stirring often until the rhubarb is soft.
• Cool the jam.
• Shortbread:.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder& salt together, set aside.
• In another bowl beat the butter until it is pale and fluffy.
• Add the egg yolks& sugar and beat until until the sugar is disolved and you have a light mixture.
• With you mixer on low speed slowly add the flour mixture, mix ONLY until the ingredients are incorporated.
• Turn the dough out on you cutting board, cut in half and form each half into a ball, wrap each ball in plastic wrap.
• Freeze the dough for at least 30 minutes.
• Assembling& Baking:.
• Preheat oven to 350F with rack in center of the oven.
• Remove one ball of dough from the freezer and grate the dough into a 9x12" baking pan (use large hole side of your 4 sided grater).
• Pat the dough- don't press it, so it gets evenly spread in the pan getting right into the corners too.
• Spread with the Rhubard jam (or jam, preserve of your choice).
• Grate the remaining ball of dough on top, pat gently so it is evenly spread.
• Bake for apprx 40 minutes or until it is golden.
• As soon as you take the pan from the oven dust the shortbread with confectioner's sugar and cool to room temperature on a rack.
• Cut into bars.
• The size& shape is up to you.
• It is nice served with a dab of whipped cream.