Gazzers Red Gooseberry Puree

[gazza1960]

Its that time of the season when the "Marmite" of the fruit world is in abundance,a proper luv it or hate it fruit and yes you guessed it,im all for it, so with a deluge of red and green Goosies picked from the plot I like to make a puree from the Reds as to me they have a more natural sweetness.

I like to use this sauce over Mackeral as it breaks up the oily after taste,although Greens are more commonly used as they have a more sour taste.

But on this Occasion its Pud Pud and more Pud that I enjoy with the sauce.

INGREDIENTS

1lb = 450 grms of Red Gooseberries(topped and tailed)
1 tbsp. of caster sugar per 100g of fruit
200ml water
1 tbsp Brandy
Juice of 1/2 Fresh Lemon
3 tbsps Elderflower Cordial
1 tbsp runny honey
500ml Double Cream



Top and tail then wash carefully all the Red Goosies  !!!!!



Place Gooseberries ,caster Sugar,water,and bring to a steady boil then reduce heat to a low simmer for 10 mins or until the fruits have broken down.

Remove from Heat and set aside to cool



Place Cooked gooseberries over a muslim cloth into a large bowl and squeeze the fruit juice out.

I throw the skins and seeds away, but you may wish to liquidise them and
add to ice cream should you so wish.....or...the pulp can be added to Vodka with more sugar and after a years steeping the resulting liquer is tasty.

At this stage the fluid may be runny so we need to reduce this 400ml by half   !!!!!!!!!!



bring the fruit juice to a boil and reduce heat to medium,now add the Brandy,Honey,Lemon Juice and Elderflower Cordial,you may wish to add more caster sugar according to how sweet you like the final Puree.

Let this bubble away for a further 10 mins as we want a Gluey Puree that runs slowy off of a spoon.

set aside to cool completely..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Whip the double cream to stiff peaks and add 50ml of the Gooseberry Puree,now beat together ....taste ,.....if you want a richer cream mixture just add some more puree to taste.



A tall dessert glass makes for a fun eating experience as you can layer the Cream with the Puree and repeat till the glass is full.

Chill in the fridge and garnish with a few Red Gooseberries and some mint leaves.

Enjoy

Gazza

[gazza1960]

[Paulines7]

Mmmm, that looks lovely, Gazza. 

I have been waiting for my gooseberries to ripen but, unfortunately, the blackbirds have got there first and taken the lot!  All 20 or so plants are in pots at the moment as we had to move them to site the greenhouse.   Next year they will be in their permanent positions and under a net.  Fortunately I still have some left in the freezer.

I hope my blackcurrants don't go the same way.  I could throw nets over them but am concerned in case the birds get entangled in them this hot weather and cannot get out especially as I will be away for a few days.  I really love my blackbirds and get a lot of joy from them so would not want to harm them.  They are so friendly too and one in particular is so tame and always nearby when I am digging or weeding. 

[gazza1960]

Because I chill it for 10 mins the cream mixture reconstitutes and is a bit full on for Jude so I tend to serve it straight away if I can "keeps her a happy camper",although she does like it with vanilla ice cream as it breaks down the "Cream hit" !!!!!!!

yes Paulines7 I must be so lucky as we don't have any birds squabbling over our green or red goosies,or our raspberrys,the only things ive seen affected are a few stray strawberries on the paths....I know its not just us as we are surrounded with fruit growing Lotties and nobody complains of bird problems,that said,we live in concrete suburbia hense the only rural feel to our plot is the plot itself surrounded by busy roads.

I agree though cant be netting and harming the local Black Bird populous,especially if they are as tame as you say,I watch BB,s feeding in mums garden and for 2 years she had one with white feathers on each wing,so naturally it was christened "Whitewing" and would happily feed next to mums feet on her patio,then it seemed overnite he vanished and another all black bird appeared in its place and we mourned Whitewing as cats feature strongly in the area.....then blow me the Black ones feathers dropped and you've guessed it white ones replaced them,so we assume that its seasonal molt had slowed but now they are back mum is pleased that her Old friend is back in the garden,its a tonic Paulines7 as after Dad passed away last year mum has the garden visitors for company and will tell me everthing they get up too......ye gods we even had a Sparrow Hawk take a young starling off the water bath as they were cleaning,heaven help it if mum ever got hold of it......Nature makes such good conversation  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gazza