Pink Gooseberry Peach And Elderflower Soup With Vanilla Ice Cream Food

PINK GOOSEBERRY, PEACH, AND ELDERFLOWER SOUP WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Pull off tops and tails of gooseberries and halve berries lengthwise. Transfer berries to a 1-quart heatproof jar or a heatproof bowl. In a small saucepan bring wine, water, elderflower concentrate, and sugar to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved, and pour hot syrup over berries. Cool mixture. Chill mixture, covered, until cold, at least 2 hours, and up to 6.
• Peel peaches and cut into very thin wedges. Gently stir peaches into berry mixture and divide among 6 soup plates. Thinly slice basil and sprinkle over soup. Scoop ice cream into soup.

GOOSEBERRY CREAM & ELDERFLOWER JELLY POTS

Steps:

• Put the gooseberries in a frying pan with 25g of the caster sugar and gently heat until tender, but not pulpy.
• Put the cream and remaining sugar into a small pan, bring to the boil, then simmer for 3 mins. Take off the heat and stir in the gooseberries and any pan juices. Divide the mix between 6 glasses and put in the fridge until they firm up - this will take about 2 hrs.
• To make the elderflower jelly, soak the gelatine in a little water. Warm the cordial in a small pan - when you see it steaming, remove from the heat. Squeeze the gelatine leaves to remove the excess water, then stir into the hot cordial until they are completely melted. Add 100ml cold water, then transfer to a small jug.
• Carefully pour a layer of the jelly mix on top of each glass of gooseberry cream - get the jug as close as possible so you don't disturb the cream. Transfer the little pots to the fridge and chill for at least 3 hrs or until the jelly is set. Serve with biscuits, if you like.

GOOSEBERRY & ELDERFLOWER YOGURT ICE

Steps:

• Tip the gooseberries and sugar into a pan with 2 tbsp water. Heat gently to dissolve the sugar. Increase the heat and simmer for a few mins to soften the berries.
• Remove from the heat, carefully tip into a food processor and whizz to a purée. Add the elderflower cordial and whizz again. Taste to check that the purée is sweet enough and has enough elderflower flavour - remember that the flavour will be diluted by the yogurt, so it needs to be quite sweet. If not, add a sprinkle more sugar or a splash more cordial and whizz again. Mix the yogurt and milk until smooth, then add the purée and mix again.
• Pour the mixture into an ice cream machine. Churn until frozen - about 2 hrs.
• Pour the frozen yogurt into a container and freeze for at least 3 hrs. Will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months.

GOOSEBERRY AND ELDERFLOWER ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Top and tail the gooseberries, wash them and put them in a saucepan with the water and sugar; cover and bring slowly to the boil, stirring occasionally to a pulp.
• Keeping the heat low, simmer the gooseberry pulp, uncovered, for 5 minutes; allow to cool slightly then put in a blender and process until smooth; sieve to make a smooth puree and set aside to cool.
• When the puree is cold, add the elderflower cordial and cream; mix well and check the sweetness, adding a bit more sugar if required; pour into a plastic container and freeze for at least 8 hours or overnight.
• NOTE: allow the ice cream to soften for 10 minutes before serving.
• The original recipe instructs you to process or whisk the ice cream when partially frozen, re freeze then repeat in order to break down any ice crystals that may form; I must confess that whenever I see this instruction I always ignore it and have never had a problem with grainy ice cream: I'll leave the choice up to you, but of course it will increase the preparation involved.

GOOSEBERRY & ELDERFLOWER FOOL

Steps:

• Wash the gooseberries thoroughly, top and tail them, then place in a wide heavy-bottomed pan with the sugar, cordial and lemon juice. Simmer over a gentle heat until all the gooseberries have burst.
• Lightly crush with a fork, tip into a bowl to cool and chill for at least 2 hrs. This can be done up to 2 days ahead.
• Lightly whip the cream to a soft dropping consistency, then swirl in the cooked gooseberries to give a rippled effect. Spoon the fool into glasses and chill until you are ready to serve.

SAUTEED PEACHES WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Melt butter and sugar in large skillet over high heat until just beginning to brown.
• Add peaches, stirring until tender, 5 minutes.
• Stir in liqueur.
• Remove from heat.
• Scoop ice cream into eight serving bowls.
• Spoon peach mixture evenly over ice cream.

GOOSEBERRY ICE CREAM

Steps:

• To make the purée, put the gooseberries and sugar in a pan with 4 tbsp water. Heat gently, stirring, then bring to a simmer and cook until the fruit starts to burst. Tip everything into a food processor and whizz until puréed. Push through a sieve to get rid of the pips and skin. Cool.
• Put the eggs and sugar and vanilla in a large bowl and whisk until pale. Heat the milk and cream to just below boiling then pour onto the eggs, whisking all the time, until completely mixed.
• Clean out the milk pan then pour the custard back in. Heat gently, stirring all the time with a wooden spoon, until the custard thickens and can coat the back of the spoon. Cool and chill.
• Mix the gooseberry purée with the custard then churn in an ice-cream maker until thickened. Put into a freezerproof container and freeze until needed.