Sherry Trifle With Brandy Custard Food

SHERRY TRIFLE WITH BRANDY CUSTARD

Steps:

• Put yolks and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat on medium-high speed until mixture is pale and thick, 2 to 3 minutes. On low speed, beat in flour and salt. Gradually beat in half of warm milk.
• Pour milk-yolk mixture into remaining milk in pan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking. Cook, stirring, until thickened, about 2 minutes. Pour through a fine sieve into a bowl.
• Transfer to an ice-water bath; let cool, stirring occasionally. Stir in vanilla and brandy. Place plastic wrap on surface. Refrigerate until ready to use, up to 3 days.
• Beat cream just until stiff peaks form. Fold into pastry cream. Place 7 ladyfinger halves at bottom of a 12-cup trifle dish; spread with one quarter of jam. Pour in one quarter of sherry. Spoon one quarter pastry cream on top. Sprinkle with one-third each almonds and amaretti. Repeat layering 3 more times (last layer does not need almonds and amaretti). Refrigerate 3 hours or overnight.

TRADITIONAL SCOTTISH SHERRY TRIFLE

Steps:

• Prepare custard according to package directions OR prepare homemade custard as follows: Whisk together the egg yolks, sugar and vanilla essence until pale and creamy.
• Heat the milk and cream together in a saucepan until boiling point then stir into the egg mixture.
• Once it is well blended, return to the pan and stir continuously over a low heat until the custard thickens.
• Pour into a dish and set aside to cool.
• Place the sponge in the base of a large glass bowl and spread with the raspberry jam.
• Mix the sherry and the Drambuie and sprinkle evenly over the sponge allowing it to soak inches.
• Next add a layer of raspberries and sliced bananas.
• When quite cool, pour the custard over the layer of fruit, spreading evenly.
• Next whip the double cream well, add sugar to sweeten and spoon on top of custard.
• Decorate with toasted almonds and/or slices of fresh soft fruit.

TRADITIONAL ENGLISH SHERRY TRIFLE - STRICTLY FOR THE GROWN UPS!

Steps:

• Split the sponges in half then spread each half thinly with raspberry jam.
• Sandwich each half back together and cut into quarters.
• Place in the base of three and a half pint (2 litre) glass trifle bowl.
• Sprinkle the sherry over the sponges and spoon over the partially thawed raspberries and their juice.
• Roughly crush the ratafia biscuits and sprinkle over the raspberries.
• Chill for 3-4 hours.
• Place the milk and vanilla pod in a small pan and slowly bring to just below boiling point.
• Transfer to a heatproof jug and leave to infuse for 10 minutes.
• Remove the vanilla pod from the milk.
• Place the egg yolks, cornflour and sugar in a bowl and whisk together.
• Whisk in the milk, then strain the liquid back into the rinsed pan through a fine sieve.
• Cook over a gentle heat , stirring constantly until the custard starts to thicken, being careful not to allow to boil.
• Cook gently for two minutes unit the custard is a thick pouring consistency.
• Quickly pour the custard into a cold bowl to prevent further cooking.
• Sprinkle the surface with a thin coating of caster sugar to prevent a skin forming.
• Set aside and leave to cool.
• Spoon the cold custard onto the raspberries in the trifle bowl, spreading to the edges with a palette knife.
• Gently whip the cream until it nearly holds its shape, then spoon three quarters of it on top of the custard and carefully spread to the sides of the bowl.
• Whip the remaining cream until it holds it shape.
• Pipe swirls of cream around the top of the bowl and decorate with flaked almonds and cherries, silver dragees or raspberries.

MARY'S ROYAL CHERRY TRIFLE

Steps:

• First, make the custard. Tip the caster sugar, cornflour and vanilla into a mixing bowl and add the eggs and egg yolk. Whisk with a hand whisk until smooth and blended.
• Pour the milk and double cream into a pan and heat gently until hot, but do not boil. Pour this over the egg mixture and immediately whisk until blended. Wash the pan to remove any scum from the milk and pour the custard back into the clean pan. Heat gently, stirring constantly until thickened. Don't panic if the custard starts to look lumpy as it thickens, just continue to heat and whisk until the custard is thick and smooth. Pour into a jug and cover the surface of the custard with cling film to prevent a skin from forming. Set aside to cool.
• Tip the stoned cherries into a pan with half the jam or conserve and cook over a medium heat for 5-10 mins until softened and saucy. Remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly.
• Spread half the slices of Madeira cake generously with the remaining cherry jam. Sandwich with the remaining cake slices, then cut in half. Pour the kirsch or brandy into a shallow bowl, dip each sponge sandwich into the liqueur, then arrange in the base of the trifle dish (you will need a shallow, straight-sided, 20cm round glass dish about 5cm deep). Line the edges of the dish first to create a stripy effect, then fill in the centre with the remaining sandwiches, pouring over any remaining liquid.
• Spoon over the cherries and any juice from the pan, then scatter over the broken biscuits. Pour over the cooled custard, then spread whipped cream over the top. Decorate with fresh whole cherries and chill for a few hours, or make it a day ahead and chill for up to 24 hours before serving.

CLASSIC TRIFLE

Steps:

• Put 750g frozen summer fruit in a pan with 200g caster sugar and 1 litre water and bring to a gentle simmer.
• Cook for 2 mins, then scoop out 6 tbsp fruit and 150ml juice. Now carry on cooking the fruit in the pan for 5 mins.
• Meanwhile, soak 9 sheets leaf gelatine in cold water to soften it. If you have a hand blender, blitz the cooked fruit or mash with a potato masher, then strain through a sieve into a large bowl and push through the pulp so just the skins and seeds are left.
• Squeeze excess water from the gelatine, add to the hot fruit syrup and stir to dissolve. Cool, then chill until on the point of almost setting.
• Make the custard according to pack instructions with 75g custard powder, 1.2l milk and 50g caster sugar to create a really thick custard. Cover the surface with baking paper while it cools a little.
• Pile 1½ - 2 cubed madeira cakes into a trifle bowl, spoon over the reserved juice and berries, then 4 tbsp sherry or cassis.
• Pour over a thick layer of custard, pushing it against the side of the dish to seal in the cake below. Leave to cool and set with a skin - this makes a barrier for the jelly.
• When the custard is cold and set, and the jelly is on the point of setting, spoon the jelly over the custard and chill until ready to complete.
• Whip 300 - 450ml double cream with 1 tsp vanilla extract and 2 tbsp icing sugar until just holding its shape, then spoon round the bowl over the set jelly. Scatter with 2 crushed amaretti biscuits and chill until ready to serve.