Plum Sorbet With Black Currant Liqueur Food

BLACK-PLUM SORBET WITH HONEY AND THYME

Steps:

• Dissolve the sugar in 1/2 cup water over medium heat. Once the sugar is dissolved, remove the pan from the heat and add the thyme sprigs, pressing them under the surface of the syrup. Allow them to steep for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, peel and pit the plums, chopping them coarsely as you do. Combine the plums, about 1/3 of the skin, the ascorbic acid and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth.
• Remove the thyme sprigs from the syrup and stir in the honey until dissolved. Pour 1/2 cup of the honey-thyme syrup into the plum mixture and process until blended. Taste the mixture; it should be sweet, but not intensely so. If plums were underripe, you might need to add a little more syrup. Pour mixture into a bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before churning in an ice-cream maker. Set up to finish in the freezer.

BLACKCURRANT & MINT SORBET

Steps:

• Make a syrup by stirring the sugar with the boiling water until dissolved, then steep the mint sprigs in it until cool, about 15 mins. Discard the mint.
• Cook the blackcurrants in the syrup with the glucose for about 5 mins until the fruit is soft. Whizz in a food processor, then strain into a bowl through a sieve (not nylon), rubbing with the back of a ladle or spoon to remove the pips. Stir in the lemon juice and cool.
• Freeze in an ice-cream machine according to manufacturer's instructions until it becomes a thick slush, then scoop into a freezer container and freeze. Or pour into a shallow freezer container and beat 3 or 4 times as it freezes. Before serving, allow to thaw and soften for about 10 mins, then serve with sprigs of fresh mint.

PLUM LIQUEUR

Steps:

• Prick the plums very well and put in a jar or bottle with the sugar. Cover tightly and leave to stand for 2-3 days or until the juice runs freely.
• Pour in the gin and cover tightly. Leave in a warm place for about 2 months.
• Strain, squeezing out as much juice as possible, and pour into sterilized bottles and cork tightly.

BLACK CURRANT DRIZZLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Butter a 2 pound loaf tin and line with baking parchment, allowing the ends to drape over for easy removal.
• Put the butter, caster sugar, flour, eggs and vanilla into a large bowl. Beat together with an electric whisk until pale and creamy, about 5 minutes. Spread one third of the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the black currants.. Dot another 1/3 of the batter over top of the currants. Spread over carefully. Sprinkle another 1/3 of the black currants over top. Finally spread with the remaining batter, reserving the remainder of the currants for after.
• Place into the heated oven and bake for about one hour, until risen and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Remove from the oven.
• Place the remainder of the currants in a bowl along with the granulated sugar. Add the lemon juice and stir in with a fork, lightly mashing the fruit just a bit.
• Take a skewer and poke holes all into the top of the cake. Spoon the fruit,sugar and juice mixture over top evenly. Allow to cool completely before removing from the pan. The top should be set and crisp. Cut into slices to serve. Eat within a few days. (So NOT a problem!!)

PLUM SORBET

Steps:

• Combine plums, orange juice, sugar, and orange peel in a blender.
• Use the puree button on your blender until it is smooth.
• Pour the mixture into a freezer safe dish, and put in your freezer for about 4 hours.
• About half an hour before you are ready to eat it, puree it one more time in your blender.
• You should keep it in the freezer until you're ready to eat.

PLUM SORBET WITH BLACK-CURRANT LIQUEUR

Steps:

• Stir sugar and 1 cup water in small saucepan over medium heat until sugar completely dissolves. Boil until syrup is reduced to generous 1 cup, about 6 minutes. Chill simple syrup until cold.
• Puree plums in processor until smooth. Pour mixture through medium-mesh strainer set over 4-cup measuring cup, pressing on solids to extract as much pulp and liquid as possible. Discard solids in strainer. Stir chilled simple syrup and 1/4 cup crème de cassis into plum puree. Transfer to ice cream maker and process according to manufacturer's instructions. Spoon mixture into freezer container; cover and freeze until firm, at least 2 hours and up to 4 days.
• Scoop sorbet into 4 dessert glasses or small bowls. Drizzle with additional crème de cassis, if desired.