1885. FRENCH BACON, HAM and PRUNE PIE

makes 4 servings


10 pitted prunes
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
¼ cup warm water
1½ cups minced ventrèche bacon or lean salt pork with rind removed
1 cup minced cooked ham
2 medium onions, minced
½ cup minced Swiss chard or spinach leaves
1½ teaspoons chopped fresh chervil, or ½ teaspoon dried
1½ teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon, or ½ teaspoon dried
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
4 large eggs, beaten
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
3 tablespoons butter

Place the prunes in a saucepan with enough water to cover, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, and simmer gently 30 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover, let stand for 15 minutes, and drain. In a small bowl, combine the yeast and water, stir, and let proof for 10 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, combine the bacon, ham, onion, Swiss chard, chervil, tarragon, and flour and stir well. Whisk in the milk and eggs, add the prunes, yeast mixture, and salt and pepper, and stir well. Rub the sides and bottom of a large, deep ovenproof skillet with the butter, heat the skillet over moderately high heat about 2 minutes, pour in the batter, and cook for 1 minute. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake the pie till golden brown, about 40 minutes. To serve, loosen the pie with a spatula, transfer to a heated platter, and cut into 4 wedges. (The pie is also good served at room temperature.)


bacon recipe courtesy of: The Bacon Cookbook: More than 150 Recipes from Around the World for Everyone's Favorite Food by James Villas. Wiley, 2007