Thursday 17 July 2014

Gooseberry Fool

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    I think this is the first time I've put a recipe on my blog. As you know I'm not given to the domestic arts. My English family is prone to offering guests lunch or tea on the lawn. A practise I whole wheartedly endorse. In my cousin's beautiful garden I was treated to Gooseberry Fool. An indulgence I hadn't experienced in years. As Susan at e-i-e-i-omg  has put a call out for gooseberry recipes I thought I would share with one and all.

    2 cups whipping cream
    5 cups (1.25 L) gooseberries
    2 tbsp (25 mL) orange juice concentrate
    3/4 cup (175 mL) granulated_sugar (approx)
    Mint leaves (optional)

    Combine berries with orange juice concentrate (water will work just as well); cover and cook over low heat stirring occasionally, for 25 to 30 minutes or until very tender. Using potato masher, mash berries; pass through food mill or puree in food processor and press through sieve to remove skins and seeds. Return to saucepan.

    Stir in sugar; simmer for 3 to 4 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Taste and add more sugar if desired. Refrigerate until chilled (important)

    Whip cream into soft peaks-fold into chilled puree.  Eat with a heaped teaspoon to prolong the pleasure.

    Garnish with mint if you want to be fancy.
    You can use 1-1/2 cups (375 mL) greek yogurt  instead of cream and it is still good-just not quite as divine.

10 comments:

  1. yummy! I haven't had gooseberries since I was a kid. They used to grow by the lake we used to swim at. I noticed some at the store but ouch they were expensive. I will have to search for a patch of the free ones!

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  2. I'm glad you posted this!!! My goodness does that just look divine in every way!!! I will have to give this one a go!! Happy weekend pal! Nicole xo

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  3. I have currents and got it into my head maybe they were gooseberries as they're green so I ate one today. Nope, they're currants. When green they're terrifically sour. Then I got to wondering why the people on Coronation Street are forever accusing one another of thinking they are a 'gooseberry'. Susan? Can you elucidate?

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    1. Fun question Mary. To be a gooseberry is to be the third person on a date. If two guys are in bar and one of them successfully chats up a girl, his friend becomes a gooseberry and feels a bit awkward. Sometimes a person will accompany a couple on a date, gooseberry fashion if they want to break up the relationship. Other times they will turn down an invitation because they don't want to be a gooseberry.

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    2. Thanks for the explanation. I had been stumped!

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  4. I've noticed that recipes called "fools" inevitably involve fruit and whipped cream. Wise like Shakespeare's fools I think.

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  5. Ooh, I've had blueberry and a strawberry fool but gooseberry sounds really quite interesting. While they can still be had, I think I'm going to try your recipe -- thanks for sharing!

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  6. Gooseberries are such an exotic looking fruit. Are you getting ready for the garden tour? I want to go this year, but we might not be in town that day. I would love to ask questions because my garden has been giving me so much trouble this year. - Margy

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    1. I have to miss the edible garden tour. I remember seeing a creative netting system last year, which I believe is on the tour again. I really wanted to get another look and some advice on recreating it.

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  7. I couldn't eat what's in that cup without becoming sick but it might be worth it.... Looks so delicious!

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