by Lisa Kerrigan
We have talked previously about quickie main meals but what about a quickie dessert? What is the trick to throwing together a dessert when you simply don’t have the time to bake?
Keeping a supply of ice-cream or sorbet in the freezer is always handy as that can be dressed up beautifully. Candied fruits such as clementines and citron are superb grated over ice-cream. Stick a piece of light and crunchy almond bread (available at good food stores) into the side and there you have it.
If you want something a little richer, heat equal amounts of dark couverture (lindt or caillebaut are the best) with thick cream until the chocolate melts and pour over rich vanilla ice-cream. For a toffee sauce warm one cup of brown sugar with half a cup each of butter and cream and boil gently for five minutes. Double the quantities and both these sauces will keep in the fridge for a couple of weeks. You can then gently re-heat or use cold.
Fresh fruit, a rich selection is available in summer, is always a great standby. Sprinkle halved and seeded peaches with brown sugar and stick under the griller for five minutes until bubbling and serve with cream or ice-cream.
Thread pineapple and strawberries onto a skewer, roll in sugar and bar-b-que for a few minutes.
Dip black and green grapes in lightly beaten egg white and castor sugar and freeze. Use to garnish other fruit or just to nibble after dinner.
Place stoned cherries, strawberries and blueberries into a pie dish. Pour over a mix of eggs, cinnamon, brown sugar and cream and grill until bubbling. Sprinkle with icing sugar and serve.
Fresh passionfruit over ice-cream is also simple and delicious, as is watermelon or honeydew. Keep some biscotti or almond bread in the pantry and hey presto you have a sundae.
Bananas tossed in a pan with cream and brown sugar are to die for, and of course you can also toss over some macadamias, pine nuts or almonds that you have lightly toasted in a pan. Grated coconut (fresh or dried – toasted or un) is also delicious with fruit and ice-cream.
Keep those basics in the cupboard and you will always have dessert at the ready.