Eton Mess (V)

A traditional english poudding. The myth was that Eton mess was crweated when a meringue dessert was dropped accidently, and whatever was salvaged was served as a crushed meringue with strawberries and cream.

Meringue

Serves 6

Meringue
4 Egg Whites
225g Caster Sugar
1 tsp Cornflour
1tsp White Wine Vinegar

Vanilla Pod
284ml Double Cream
1 Punnets of Strawberries, cut the stems off
1 Punnets of Raspberries
2 tbsp Icing Sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 180/160 fan assisted. Cover a baking tray with a baking sheet.

2. Using an electric whisk (using a normal whisk is good exercise but takes a long time), whisk the egg whites until it begins to stiffen.

3. Gradually add the sugar while whisking the egg whites. Then when the sugar is used up keep whisking for about 5 minutes. Then add the cornflour and white wine vinegar. It should be stiff and if you tip upside down it should stay in the mixing bowl.

4. Spoon the meringue mix onto a baking sheet. Put in the oven for an hour and 40 minutes.

5. Put the double cream in a bowl then scrape the vanilla pod seeds into the bowl with the icing sugar. Whisk until the cream is stiff.

6. Once the meringue is baked brake up into small bits. Mix with the fruit and cream. Serve.

Hot Cross Bun Pudding (V)

A lovely Easter Sunday pudding. A variation of the classic bread and butter pudding with a few added extras. Either save time by buying the hot cross buns from the shop or go the extra mile and make them from scratch.

Serves 6

6 Hot cross buns
75g Caster Sugar
2 Handfuls of Sultans
2 handfuls of apricots, chopped
150g Marzipan
3 Eggs
250ml Double Cream
400ml Whole Milk
1 Vanilla Pod
Butter, to spread on the buns
Marmalade, to spread on the buns

1. Cut each bun in half and spread on butter and marmalade. Put into a large shallow oven proof dish.

2. On the hob heat the milk, cream and the vanilla pod for about 5 minutes. In a separate bowl mix the eggs and sugar together. Then mix the cream and egg mixture together.

3. Add the apricots, marzipan and sultanas to the dish. Then pour the cream mixture over the the hot cross buns and leave to the side for 10 minutes.

4. Put in the oven for about 40 minutes at 200/180 fan assisted. Serve

Custard (V)

A lovely accompaniment to my crumble recipe, pies and a lot of puddings.

Serves 4

3 Egg yolks
25g Caster Sugar
1 Vanilla Pod
2 tsp Cornflour
1 Pint Whole Milk

1. Put a pan on the hob and add the milk to the pan with the vanilla pod. Keep the vanilla pod in the milk until the milk begins to boil.

2. In a bowl whisk the egg yolk, sugar and cornflour.

3. Add the egg mixture to the milk while stirring. Keep over the heat and stir for about 5 minutes

4.  Strain the mixture into another saucepan and keep on the heat until the custard thickens.