I was watching the Great British Food Revival on iPlayer the other day, the third programme in the series featured Raymond Blanc talking about Trout and Mary Berry praising Dairy Ice Cream.
The programme is worth watching, if you can access the BBC iPlayer. Mary made some delectable dairy ice cream which she then used in an inspiring Baked Alaska.
I was immediately transported back to childhood meals, Baked Alaska made frequent appearances at Sunday Lunch, and I realised that my mother had had a pretty impressive repertoire of puddings.
I have to admit that I had never made a Baked Alaska, but spurred on by Mary Berry's wonderful example and my own happy memories I thought I would attempt one.
Obviously the best place to look for a recipe was the one I had just watched on the BBC. Mary's recipe is on the BBC Website, you can find it here.
I baked a simple one layer fairtrade vanilla Victoria sponge. Once it had cooled, I made some fairtrade vanilla dairy ice cream. I spread some homemade Blackberry and Apple Jam on top of the sponge and then, having filled a pudding basin with ice cream, I inverted the bowl over the jammy sponge releasing the ice cream and forming a perfect mound. The cake and ice cream where popped into the freezer while I made the meringue.
When the meringue was ready, I grabbed the cake/ice cream and covered it with meringue. Again the pudding was put into the freezer.
Once we had eaten our meal, I put the pudding into the oven to cook the meringue.
It was wonderful, evocative of those 1960s and 70s childhood meals, and such great fun to eat. The only change I would make would be to use a lighter, perhaps fatless sponge, next time I make a Baked Alaska.
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| The meringue was beautiful and golden, soft and Oh! So! Perfect! |
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| My ice- cream maker it may not be fancy, but it does a superb job |
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| This recipe was a wonderful way to test the whisking ability of my lovely new K-Mix. I had to whisk the ice-cream and the meringue 10 stars for each part! |
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| Whisking eggs and sugar for the ice cream |
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| Adding cream |
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| Mixed perfectly |
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| And finished in the ice-cream maker |
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| Into the pudding basin (which I lined with cling film) |
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| The sponge cake |
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| Beautiful Blackberry and Apple Jam which I had made during the summer in Brittany |
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| Ready for the meringue (which I forgot to photograph being made!) |
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| Just out of the freezer, before the final 10 minutes in the oven (I made sure there were no gaps) |
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| The pudding needs to be served straight from the oven |
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| I was very pleased with the way it sliced - a fabulously retro pudding! |
Oh that is stunning, what a great job you made of that, Mary and your Mum would both be proud!
ReplyDeleteyou have OUTDONE yourself sweetheart... this is simply glorious!... I feel I may have to have a go myself... just stunning!!!
ReplyDeleteI was not aware of this dessert. The look of it is impressive! I'm not sure about hte taste of the marengue, though... how was it?
ReplyDeleteThanks Janice and Dom, it was such fun, I think I'm going to try a lot of puddings my mother used to bake :-)
ReplyDeleteRose it works really well, you have a lovely (not too crisp) meringue and when you cut in the ice-cream is still cold- it has a real 'wow' factor!
This is a wonderful retro recipe - I remember making this at school and was (and still am) amazed that the ice cream never melted. Love it! Must see if I can get to watch this series on my computer.
ReplyDeleteI missed all of the series bar this one particular episode, I was also taken by Mary's retro pud. Your Baked Alaska is certainly very impressive ... and may I go so far to say as even better than Mary's!!! (Sorry about that Mary, but I still love you)
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to see the whole step-by-step process too, the hardest thing, I think, is having to eat the whole pudding one one go?! It looks wonderful, the perfect Baked Alaska, Mary Berry would be proud!
ReplyDeleteYum. I've often thought about making a Baked Alaska but never risked it! There was a time when I would always order this for dessert in a restaurant if it was on the menu. You've inspired me to try.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have ever made a baked Alaska before, but seeing yours really makes me want to have a go. I do love collecting retro cookbooks but strangely just for reading and admiring their gaudy food styling which I just love.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful idea, and so fun too!
Baked Alaska is my Sons favourite desert. I have to admit I have always used shop bought ice cream. I have never got around to buying a ice cream maker, storage space is a bit of a problem.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous baked Alaska Jude, and so well swirled too! I hope you enjoyed lunch today with Laura, Nazima and Helen! Karen xxx
ReplyDeletethis looks amazing! I've never made Baked Alaska and now it's time I did - don't you just love Mary Berry!
ReplyDeleteMary x
Baked Alaska is the ultimate retro pud! I used to have it all the time when I was younger but I haven't had a Baked Alaska for ages...and I've never tried to make my own...I might have to give it a go! Yours looks fab :-)
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