Interesting things I found along the way-you never know.

Monday, May 5, 2014

An Irish dessert


When I was in Ireland I stayed in a small Bed and Breakfast just outside of Kerry, dating back to the early 1700. The family has owned the tavern now B&B since 1734. They served this dessert one evening and I ordered it every night until we left.
Irish Blackberry Soup w/ Buttermilk Custard
This is not a quick or fast recipe, but it is so worth the time.
Ingredients for the Buttermilk Custard:
1 package unflavored gelatin
¼ cup cold water
1 cup buttermilk
1 ¼ cups heavy cream
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions for the Buttermilk Custard:
1. Put the unflavored gelatin in a medium microwave safe bowl, add the cold water and stir to combine. Place bowl in microwave and cook for 20 seconds or until gelatin is completely dissolved and mixture is clear. Set aside.
2. Meanwhile, heat the buttermilk and heavy cream together in another medium microwave safe bowl. Add the sugar and stir until completely dissolved. Cook on high for 2 minutes and stir well.
Add gelatin to the hot buttermilk mixture and stir until completely dissolved. Pour through a fine strainer and fill four to eight small, individual molds. Transfer to the refrigerator and chill for several hours until set.
Ingredients for the Blackberry Soup:
1 pound blackberries, about 3 half pint size boxes
1 teaspoon orange zest
½ cup fresh squeezed orange juice, from one large, juicy orange
2 tablespoons lemon juice, from l lemon
½ cup sugar
2 tablespoons blackberry (or raspberry) liqueur
2 tablespoons orange liqueur
Instructions for the Blackberry Soup:
1. Put the blackberries, zest, orange and lemon juices in a large pot on the stove. Add the sugar and stir. Simmer very gently for 5 minutes until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and let cool. Once the mixture has cooled, transfer to a food processor and blend until smooth. Pour through a fine strainer, stir in the liqueur. Cover and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
2. When ready to serve, run a thin, sharp knife around edges of custard containers. Place custards, one at a time into a shallow bowl containing about 1 inch of hot water. Allow container to sit in hot water for 10-15 seconds, then invert onto a shallow serving bowl. Holding container firmly in place, give it a vigorous up and down shake to loosen custard. Repeat several times if needed till custard is released onto plate. Spoon the Blackberry Soup all around and garnish with a single blackberry and a mint leave, if desired.