Crème Brûlée - K.I.S.S

Crème Brûlée is one of those classic French dessert recipes that people seem to insist on "enhancing": adding bits of fruit, nuts or - worse still - oatmeal! Crème Brûlée is Crème Brûlée. It is beautiful, it is perfect and it doesn't need fiddling with. So K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple Stupid)

Serves six
Ingredients:
500ml Double Cream
1 Vanilla pod
100g (4oz) caster sugar (plus extra for the topping)
3 egg yolks
2 whole eggs

Method:

• Pre-heat the oven to gas Mk1 (140C°/275°F)
  Pour the cream into a saucepan. Split the vanilla pod lengthways and scrape the seeds into the cream.


• Chop the empty pod into bits, and add these too. Bring to boiling point, then turn off the heat and put a lid on. Leave to infuse for five to ten minutes.


• Beat the sugar and all the eggs together in a large heat-proof bowl until pale and creamy.


• Bring the cream back to just about boiling point, then pour over the egg mixture, whisking all the time until thickened – (NOTE you don’t want it boiling otherwise the mixture will begin to cook)


• Strain through a fine sieve into a large jug, then use this to fill 6 ramekins about two thirds full.


• Place the ramekins in a large roasting tray and pour in enough hot water to come halfway up their sides.


• Place on the centre shelf and bake for 40 minutes to one hour, or until the custards are just set and still a bit wobbly in the middle.


• Remove from the water and allow to cool to room temperature.

When you're ready to serve, evenly sprinkle one level teaspoon of caster sugar over the surface of each Crème, then caramelise with a blowtorch. Leave to cool for a couple of minutes.

VERDICT: KISS & KISS MY PHAT ASS! FAB

Kota a.k.a. Bunny Chow SA Style

I had two of these whilst in SA. Its a lunchtime standard for kids in the township schools. It cost about R32 which is around £2.80 and this one consisted of the following;

Ingredients

• Russian - similar to German susage
• Chips - Fries
• Special - similar to palony
• Atchaar - mixed spicey vegetable pickle
• Ham
• Half of half a loaf of bread
  

VERDICT: HEART ATTACK INDUCING MEAL IN ONE, AND I WOULD BUY ONE AGAIN!!!

Vanilla Panna Cotta with Berry's

This creamy pudding, flavoured with vanilla seeds, is so simple to make, even a drunk blind tart could make this!

Ingredients
4 leaves Quick Dissolving Fine Leaf Gelatine
568ml pot Double Cream
200ml Semi-Skimmed Milk
175g Caster Sugar
1 Vanilla Pod, halved and seeds removed.
Serves: 6

Method

1. Soak the gelatine leaves in cold water for at least 4-5 minutes
2. Place the cream, milk, sugar and vanilla seeds in a pan with a heavy base
3. Slowly bring to the boil over a medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved
4. Remove from the heat then take the gelatine leaves one by one, squeeze out the excess water and stir into the cream mixture until dissolved
5. Rinse out 6 x 150ml pudding moulds with cold water but do not dry
6. Divide the panna cotta mixture between them
7. Cool and then chill in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours until set
8. To serve, dip the moulds one at a time into hot water for 10 seconds, then turn out onto plates
9. Decorate with fresh raspberries

VERDICT: ORGASMIC!!!!!!!!

Butternut Soup

My Boys HEART this soup!! Served with some garlic bread its yummylicious! Enjoy

1 fresh butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cubed
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 cups of chicken stock
Half a cup cream
1 tsp curry powder
A squirt of Worcestershire sauce
Salt and black pepper

1. Toss the chopped onion and garlic in a pot and sauté, don't burn or caramelise. They must be translucent but still white.
2. Add the peeled butternut and chicken stock and bring to the boil.
3. When the butternut is soft, mash (as in MASH, don't liquidise or pulverise!).
4. Add the other ingredients and stir.
5. Season to taste with salt and pepper

VERDICT: WE HEART IT!!

Mothers Day Disaster 102

DEVILS FOOD CAKE

HISSY FIT UNDER CONTROL - SCOOPED UP CAKE

HISSY FIT MOMENT

DEVILS FOOD CAKE - from the Magnolia Bakery cookbook

Ok Ok I know what you thinking "it doesn't look THAT bad" but honestly as I watched it overflow making my oven dirty I wanted to cry!!! Mohapi looked at me like I was crazy! I was throwing a hissy fit!! Poor child, thought his mom was going insane, all he had to say was "WOW"

After I regrouped I scraped what had overflowed into a heap (see pix) and said a few hail marys and an our father for good measure!!!

From disaster to triumph, cake turned out lush!! I used galaxy chocolate in the icing and the cake itself! VERY CALORIFIC!!! THAT'S how I Like It!!! This cake melts in my mouth, I think its to do with the folding in of the beaten egg whites???!!!

VERDICT - SOFT, MOIST HEAVEN!!! (I've been called THAT hehehe) Then I wonder why my booty enters the room 5 minutes after I've entered!!!

Mothers Day Disaster 101

CHOCOLATE CHIP PEANUT BANANA LOAF!!!

OMFG!!!! HORRID, VILE!!!

The black stuff are the chocolate chips btw! In its defence Jennifer Apple and Allysa Torey authors of the THE MAGNOLIA BAKERY BOOK do state the following "It's the peanuts that add a bit of crunch and texture to this breakfast and teatime favourite. A healthy treat that's not overly sweet - enjoy" TWO WORDS jump out at me BREAKFAST and HEALTHY!!! I should have steered well away from this recipe anything with peanuts in is a no no in my books remember my Strawberries and cream Meringue Cake !!! Mohapi spat it out and quit frankly I don't blame him! THIS CAKE IS SHIT!! WE DON'T EAT SHIT IN MY HOUSE!!

VERDICT - HATED IT!!!!

Happy Mothers Day - UK

The majority of the world celebrates Mothers Day celebrates Mothers Day on the 2nd Sunday in May, so to all the UK mummy's HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!

Now one would think I would not lift a finger on MY special day of rest and pampering, y'all obviously don't live in MY world! The life of a single mummy! I was expecting the usual grunts from my 14 year old, why do they think conversing is no longer necessary because they are hormonal?? Anywhoo my hormonal teen made me a card which read "To My Mother, if someone said to me your mom is the best I would be like "Yah Daym Skippey, Love B'One"" I was/am touched BLESS!! (btw if anyone can translate it would be much appreciated, lololol)) I must admit I would have been seriously pissed off if he'd just done the usual grunting! Mo "bought" mummy some cheapo smellies, notebook and a book marker, can't believe the school managed to buy all that with MY £3!!! I HEART ALL MY GIFTS!!

I digress, this singly mummy attempted baking on Mothers Day BIG MISTAKE!! WHAT A FRIGGEN DISASTER!!!!!! Check out my Mothers Day Disasters in the upcoming posts!!