Let’s Talk About Prunes!

Prune desserts have always gotten a bad rap. Back in the 1930s, legendary author Dorothy Parker wrote a short story, “The Bolt Behind the Blue,” where a rich lady pretends to be nice to a less well-off acquaintance who offends the wealthier woman’s sensibilities by describing her favorite dessert: prune whip with cherries.

But January is National Prune Breakfast Month! What immediately comes to mind in this case, of course, is a prune Danish pastry — my least favorite option in that category (followed, a close second, by any sweet roll with cream cheese in it). But there are more creative choices, like the tempting-looking Dark Chocolate and Prune Mousse, above. The recipe for this treat’s not complicated and includes a splash of brandy, which should probably be an ingredient in every prune breakfast delicacy.

There is no brandy, unfortunately, in the recipe for another morning picker-upper, as it were: Prune Butter, above. It’s not exactly visually exciting, but the author of the recipe insists that it’s good with peanut butter and “won’t make you poop” although, after staring at the photo for a few seconds, I find that statement to be impossible to believe.

Then again, maybe if you add cherries. — By Charles Ferruzza