Chisăliţă Moldoveneasca

Ingredients:

 500 g plums (fresh or dried)

 150-200 g of sugar

 1 cinnamon stick (optional)

 1-2 cloves (optional)

 Grated rind from a lemon (optional)

 2 liters of water

 100 g corn flour (for thickening, optional)

 Instructions:

 Preparation of plums:

 If you use fresh plums, wash them well, remove the pits and cut them into halves or quarters.

 If using dried plums, soak them in warm water for 20-30 minutes to rehydrate a bit.

 Boiling:

 In a large saucepan, add the water and sugar and bring to a boil over medium heat.

 When the water starts to boil, add the plums and stir gently.

 If you want the flavored quisalita, add the cinnamon stick, cloves and lemon peel for extra flavor.  You can add all of them or just one of them, according to your preferences.

 Thickening (optional):

 If you want a thicker batter, towards the end of cooking, add the corn flour "in the rain", stirring continuously to avoid the formation of lumps.

 Let the stew cook for another 10 minutes, until the cornmeal is well cooked.

 Completion:

 Reduce the heat to low and let the quisalita simmer for 20-30 minutes, until the plums are well cooked and the syrup has thickened slightly.

 Service:

 Chisalita can be served both hot and cold.  It is delicious plain, but also with cream or yogurt for a contrast of textures and tastes.  You can also serve it with crackers, toast or even over pancakes.