Dear Bing

Ok. So, I enjoy cherries..those gorgeous red, perfect, taut-skinned, tart-sweet cherries.

This is the time of year, where I get to eat the beautiful bing cherries..and not in a lady-like dainty way...I think..I'll only eat a few this time..yet, I end up eating way past polite capacity as I sit on the leather club chair, my legs criss-cross applesauce style, a bowl in my lap FULL of them. My husband thinks I'm crazy. But, good cherries are only in the grocery store for a few weeks. He just doesn't get it... he doesn't appreciate fruits at their peak freshness.

Cherry Clafouti Batter
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons granulated white sugar
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Plus
1 pound fresh sweet cherries, pitted
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons granulated white sugar

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and place the rack in the center of the oven. Wash the cherries, remove the stems and pits.
For the Clafoutis Batter: Place all the batter ingredients in your food processor. Process for about a minute, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Once the batter is completely smooth, let it rest while you prepare the fruit.
In a large 9- or 10- inch heavy nonstick ovenproof skillet melt the butter over medium heat making sure the melted butter coats the bottom and sides of the pan. When the butter is bubbling, add the pitted cherries, and cook until the cherries have softened a bit and are coated with butter (2 - 3 minutes). Then sprinkle the cherries with the sugar and cook until the sugar has dissolved and turns into a syrup (1 - 2 minutes). Pour the batter over the cherries and bake for about 20 minutes or until the clafoutis is puffed, set, and golden brown around the edges. Do not open the oven door until the end of the baking time or it may collapse. Serve immediately with a dusting of confectioners sugar or softly whipped cream.
Serves 4...unless you're in my family..then it serves 2.

I just finished watching the tribute show to Billy Mays. It got me at the end! I tried not to cry, but it didn't work.
R.I.P. Billy Mays.