Greetings, dear SOUP readers! I am so pleased you have all managed to join me for this month's sugar-laden adventure! Yours truly is in a wonderful mood, and the Editors have done nothing this time to spoil it. Even Lugh seems to have been lulled into gentle obedience by our delicious theme for this issue. All the writers in the office seem to be grinning as bucket after bucket of Fortescue's precious ice cream mysteriously found their way onto our desks to stop us from melting in the sunshine streaming through our windows.
You can bet your sweet patooties that I was in a hurry to inform Momma Fox of the plan for our latest meeting, knowing that the pocket-sized miracle was sure to come up with something splendid. So much so that I had scheduled my visit for the very next day and had practically skipped down the cobbled streets of Ottery St Catchpole on the way to her cottage. When I had arrived, her door was already open, and the most amazing smells drifted on the light breeze that tugged at my favourite summer dress. Wrapping my senses in a glorious blanket of heaven that made my stomach growl and my mouth water.
Hurrying inside quickly, I had called out cheerfully to announce my arrival and was met by the sight of the whole cavernous kitchen filled with the widest range of fruits I had ever seen. All I could see of my wizened old friend was the tops of her fluffy ears behind a relative mountain of prickly pineapples. "Well, hello there, Miss Bouncy Button! Aren't you in a jolly mood today? Why don't you come and help me out of this mess? I swear I am going to curse my dear brother's underpants the next time I see him!"
Picking my way carefully over to her, I lifted Momma Fox onto a chair, a barely suppressed giggle on my lips. Having met the lady's brother once before, I could not say that I would not mind seeing him on the receiving end of such a punishment. However, composing myself professionally, I merely asked, "Oh dear, Momma Fox. Was he the one that sent you all these lovely gifts?"
My only reply was a quirk of a devilish grin and the day's parchment being pressed into my hand. Raising an eyebrow in surprise, I shuddered. Oh boy! While the Tropical Pudding looked divine, there was no way that I would be able to make enough to get rid of the piles surrounding me on every counter. Sighing heavily, I soon got to work. Not wanting to disappoint my favourite teacher.
Ingredients:
1 pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into chunks
100ml lime juice (about 3 limes)
(For the stock syrup)
500g caster sugar
1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
1 vanilla pod, split in half lengthways
1 cinnamon stick
To Serve:
1 ripe kiwi, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2 ripe cantaloupe melon, shaved into thin peelings
3 scoops mango ice cream
1 cup fresh whipped cream
Directions:
1. Put the pineapple into a muggle blender or food processor and blitz to a purée.
2. To make the stock syrup, put all the ingredients in a large pewter cauldron with 500ml water, slowly bring to a boil over a medium flame and stir anti-clockwise until the sugar has dissolved, then remove from the heat.
3. Next, tip the pineapple purée and the lime juice into the syrup and stir well. Leave to cool, then strain and churn in an ice cream maker, following the manufacturer's instructions. You can also use a long, gentle application of the Whisking Spell for around 10 minutes.
4. Transfer the mixture to a glass container and freeze. Just remember to check it every hour or so and break up the ice with a fork.
5. Once the sorbet is set, build your dessert in a tall sundae glass. Starting off with the mango ice cream at the bottom, you then add two scoops of the sorbet on top and press it down lightly. Next, you will need to smooth two tablespoons of the whipped cream over the top of the sorbet. Finally, add your fruit slices and shavings for decoration.
Many hot and tiring hours later, I had somewhat succeeded, though. Approximately 45 tall glasses now stood proudly before us among the largely diminished hills of tropical yumminess. Only one thought remained in my mind, however, and I voiced it shyly. "Ummm, Momma Fox? What are you going to do with all these desserts? You can't possibly eat them all?" All I received in return was a sly grin that left me in the dark.
So until next time, my dear ones, I hope we both find out where those treats ended up. Otherwise, it might drive me quite insane with curiosity! - Nikita