Rachel’s Organic Ice Cream Bombe Recipe!

I was recently sent a box full of Rachel’s Organic yogurts. Amongst the new flavours were some old favourites, so I decided to try out one of Rachel’s new seasonal recipes to share with out all. Here’s how I got on!

I loved the sound of this recipe as soon as I read it, ice-cream, fruit and Rachel’s, what’s not to love! As we had family coming to share in our new year festivities it seemed like the perfect time to give this recipe a try. It was absolutely amazing! The sauce came out a little too thick (and rather less photogenic) but it tasted sensational and I think this wondrous little pudding will become a firm family favourite.

What You’ll Need

200g dried fruit (sultanas, sour cherries, cranberries, blueberries)

6 tbsp brandy or dark rum (optional)

2 tbsp dark brown sugar

350ml double cream

300g Rachel’s Greek Style Bio Live Natural Yogurt

100g Rachel’s Low Fat Vanilla Bio Live Yogurt

200g frozen berries (raspberries or mixed summer)

For the sauce:

200g cranberries, fresh or frozen

100g caster sugar

1 tbsp cornflour

2 tbsp water

Step 1

Soak the dried fruit in the alcohol (we used Brandy) and leave overnight. Tip. Rachel’s suggest that you can also microwave the fruit on high for 2-3 minutes if you’re short on time.

Step 2

Line a 2 litre pudding basin with clingfilm, leaving enough overhang to cover the pudding completely.

Step 3

Whip the cream and yogurts to soft peaks, add the frozen berries (we used raspberries) and stir. Add the soaked fruit and mix well.

Step 4

Carefully spoon into the pudding basin, pushing the mixture down and leveling off the surface. Cover with the leftover clingfilm. Place in the freezer overnight.

Step 5

Before serving remove the pudding from the freezer to allow it to thaw slightly. Then invert the basin onto a plate to release the pudding. Peel off the clingfilm.

Step 6

To make the sauce place the cranberries and sugar into a saucepan and gently heat until all the sugar has dissolved. Mix together the cornflour and water and gradually add to the cranberries and sugar. Allow to thicken and then remove from the heat. Pour the sauce over the bombe and allow to trickle down (I got a little over enthusiastic with the sauce as you’ll see in the picture).

For more yummy recipe ideas from Rachel’s Organic visit www.rachelsorganic.co.uk.

Happy New Year!

Alright I know it’s still technically 2011, but I thought I’d just take a moment to wish you all a very happy new year!

The Christmas season may not be over for another 6 days,  in fact my son asks me everyday which day of Christmas it is and what that means, but most of us are probably looking forward to new year celebrations and gatherings this weekend.

After the children were born staying up until midnight became a distant memory and we had to look for new ways to ring in the next year. Much like Christmas Day my family has developed it’s own traditions and customs. Over time this evolved into a family party that is almost like a miniature Christmas. We eat lovely food, play humorous games and give little gifts. My kids even count down the days and become very excited, proving that quantity of gifts or their size has little to do with childish anticipation 🙂

This year we also took inspiration from our new Christmas tradition and have made an awful lot of biscuits in the shape of feet! This was initially thought out because I was given some gorgeous metal cutters in the shape of a footprint. The idea is that it also represents the tradition of ‘First-Foot’. I don’t know if I will be able to convince my brother to visit again on New Years Day (as the only dark haired male) but at least if I can’t we have a mini nod to this old tradition.

If you are looking for a last minute New Year craft I have also written a tutorial for the Boden Community which was posted up today. This is to make my New Year Promise Pots (another tradition).

Have a wonderful time whatever your plans and I’ll see you all again in 2012!!

Happy New Year!

The festive season seems to have whirled by as usual and here we find ourselves in a brand new year! I can’t say that I’ve made any resolutions, I learnt many years ago that just because I decided something at new year, it didn’t make me any more likely to stick to it. But new year always feels like a fresh start, time to rethink or restart. My house is often the lucky recipient of new paintwork or rearranged furniture at this time of year for that very reason.

But first on my agenda this year has been the beginning of a big sort out. I’m something of a hoarder so this is always a mammoth task. But in my usual spirit of reusing/recycling I like taking something new and giving it new life. This time it was an old ripped pair of jeans. The denim had got to that stage where it was lovely and soft to the touch, so even though the jeans were no more we couldn’t resist using the fabric again. Above is my new needle case, finally I will have organised needles!

My daughter also got a new skirt (seen above) and bag (her name will be sewn on in due course). The bag is a particularly whimsical one as it’s made out of the old jeans pocket.

Never one to leave someone out my son also got a new bag (again name to follow). He is going to keep some of his character cards in here. So happy child as he has a new bag and happy Mummy as his cards are kept together 🙂

I hope the new year begins the start of fun times for all of you as well.