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One of my favourite things to do is entertain. I have this need to feed people and have them smile back at me across the table or from across the living room when they take a bite of something I have cooked for them. It probably stems from some odd form of insecurity...Freud would have a hey-day with me and oral fixation theories I suppose.

The most simple way to entertain (which is a necessity when you have a rather rambunctious 5-month old in need of almost constant attention) is to have people over for coffee. For me this "course" doesn't mean simply plunking down a pot of coffee on the table and saying "enjoy" to my guests. Oh no, not the domestic goddess. :)

Recently I had my in-laws over for coffee and although I had more than a week's notice I didn't make anything in advance to serve my guests alongside their warm, delicious beverages. I had had enough of baking chocolate delicacies (although my brother-in-law is one serious chocolate-lover) and decided that the pears sitting on my dining room table would be perfect used in a dessert.

So that morning, before rushing out I baked a delicious clafoutis - pears and cinnamon and cream and maple syrup...oh so good and so lusciously scrumptious. Just warm from the oven it made me not want to leave the apartment (but I had to). Room temperature, a few hours later with guests, accompanied by some deliciously strong coffee, it was the perfect late morning snack.

Filed under:   Family   Sweets

Related Recipes   Pear Clafoutis

Comments:
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Nov 7, 2006:	johanna (www.thepassionatecook.com) I will have to try this with apples soon... one of Max's first words (he uses them sparingly!) was applepie and over the last few weeks he's been saying "mama cook applepie"... better oblige to avoid a tantrum ;-)
Nov 6, 2006:	peabody (http://www.culinaryconcoctionsbypeabody.com/) Great looking dessert. I so need to bake something with pears.
Nov 5, 2006:	Diane (http://www.easysoutherncooking.com) This looks yummy. It looks almost too perfect. Can't wait for Internet3: tastenet Thanks for a wonderful blog.
Nov 4, 2006:	Vero (http://www.thatcanadiangeek.co.uk) Would help if I included the link, wouldn't it?? (I'm just too excited) http://www.vanilledemayotte.fr/
Nov 4, 2006:	Vero (http://www.thatcanadiangeek.co.uk) Hi Jen, I just came across this entry on Clotilde's blog (from Choco & Zucchini) and had to share with my fellow Canadian foodie in case you haven't come across this yet! This little online shop sells vanilla pods, straight from Mayotte, near Madagascar. I just bought 20 pods for
Nov 4, 2006:	Uncle Brave I tell you, even though your brother-in-law is a supposed choco-maniac, he must have found these treats tasty and not-too rich, and the pear slices dry and crunchy- overall a good accompaniment to a cup of of coffee... er, I mean, I would IMAGINE he would have. I mean, when serving something next to cofee, it is important that it not overpower it, but instead serve to provide a substantial and just-sweet-enough dunking texture. And this looks good, too.