Desserts

The French hostess is in the enviable position of being able to pop into her local pâtisserie when she needs to pull out all the stops with a grand finale pastry confection of great complexity or with a magnificent, multi-layered gâteau of various-flavoured creams and luscious fillings. So you’ll find none of those here. Instead I’ve chosen the sort of everyday puddings or tarts, usually fruit-based, that the regional cook or French housewife of reasonable competency has in her repertoire of well-tried recipes. All of them are personal favourites of mine as well, and I do urge you to try them you’ll find them a marvellous change from raspberry cheesecake or Black Forest gâteau (and so will your guests!).