Plum Sorbet With Sloe Gin Food

SLOE GIN FIZZ COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Place 2 ice cubes in a highball glass. Set aside in the freezer.
• Combine sloe gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Add ice; cover and shake until chilled. Strain into the prepared highball glass. Stir in club soda. Garnish with a slice of lemon.

PLUM AND RED-WINE SORBET

Steps:

• Stir together all ingredients and a pinch of salt in a heavy medium saucepan and cook, covered, over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until plums fall apart, about 25 minutes. Discard cinnamon stick and zest. Purée in batches in a blender until very smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Force purée through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding solids. Cool, uncovered, then chill, covered, until cold, at least 2 hours.
• Freeze purée in ice cream maker, then transfer sorbet to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden, at least 1 hour.

SLOE GIN FIZZ

Steps:

• Shake well with cracked ice all but club soda.
• Strain into highball/collins glass over 2 ice cubes.
• Fill with chilled club soda.
• Stir gently.

SLOE GIN

Steps:

• Wash and dry the sloes.
• Either pop them in the freezer for a week or so, until the skins after cracked, or use a needle or sharp skewer to make holes in their skins.
• Put the sloes into a large glass jar or bottle.
• Add the sugar.
• Pour on the gin.
• Add the cloves and essence if using.
• Seal the container.
• Leave the container for at least two months. Shake it every two or three days at first, then every week.
• Strain the liquid into smaller bottles. The longer you wait before this step, the better the drink will taste.
• Be warned - this is strong stuff! (Hic!).

GIN & TONIC SORBET

Steps:

• Put the sugar in a pan with 400ml water and warm over a low heat until dissolved. Increase the heat and boil for 1 min. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.
• Pour the tonic water into a bowl, add the sugar syrup, then chill in the fridge until cold.
• Once the tonic mix is cold, add the gin, lime and lemon zests and juice, and pour into a container, then freeze until just frozen - this will take about 2 hrs.
• Remove the just-frozen sorbet from the freezer and break up with a fork. Froth the egg white with a fork, then add both to a food processor and pulse to blitz together - do it quickly so it doesn't actually start to melt. Pour the mix back into your container and freeze until solid. Freeze extra slices of lemons and limes on a tray until solid. Serve the sorbet scooped into glasses or small bowls topped with lemon and lime slices

PLUM SORBET

Steps:

• Wash the plums, cut them in half and remove the pits. Cut the plums in quarters and cook them over low to medium heat with the orange juice for about 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Puree the plums in a blender or food processor and chill.
• Meanwhile, bring the sugar and water to a boil and simmer for five minutes. Add the syrup to the puree, along with about one tablespoon kirsch, and mix well. Cool and freeze according to the manufacturer's directions for your ice cream maker.

SIMPLE PLUM SORBET

Steps:

• Place the sliced plums, sugar, lemon juice, and salt in a blender and purée until very smooth. Push the plum puree through a fine mesh sieve to catch and large pieces of skin and discard them.
• Mix the Grand Marnier to the purée just before churning. Place the purée in an ice cream machine and churn according to instructions, for approximately 25 minutes. Serve immediately or place in an air tight container and put in the freezer for two hours to firm up.
• Makes a little less than one quart of sorbet.

PLUM SORBET

Steps:

• Halve and pit plums and in a large saucepan cook with remaining ingredients over moderate heat, stirring, until plums release their liquid and mixture comes to a simmer. Simmer mixture, stirring, 5 minutes and cool slightly.
• In a blender purée mixture in 2 batches and pour through a fine sieve into a bowl. Chill mixture, covered, until cold, about 2 hours. Freeze mixture in an ice-cream maker. Transfer sorbet to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden. Sorbet keeps, covered and frozen, 1 week.

PAN-FRIED VENISON WITH SLOE GIN & PLUM SAUCE

Steps:

• Press the juniper and lots of black pepper onto the steaks. Heat the butter in a frying pan until foaming, add the plum quarters and the steaks. Cook to your liking, turning halfway through. Remove and keep warm.
• Tip the chopped plum and garlic into the pan juices and cook, stirring, until softened. Pour in the sloe gin, allow to sizzle, then add the hot stock. When the plums are really soft, press the mixture through a sieve to remove the skins. Try to get as much pulp through as you can, as this will add flavour and body to the sauce. If it's too thick, add a dash of boiling water.
• Put the steaks on warmed plates, top with the plum quarters and spoon round some sauce. Scatter over the thyme and a little black pepper. Serve with Fennel Dauphinoise (see 'Goes well with', right) and wilted spinach.

PLUM SORBET WITH SLOE GIN.

Steps:

• In a blender combine all ingredients and blend until uniform. There will be flecks of peel.
• Pour this into a cake layer pan.
• Freeze for about one hour, and then mix with a fork.
• Every half hour, keep mixing with a fork to break up the ice crystals.
• This takes about 3 hours to freeze.
• Serve.