Thursday, March 29, 2007

Spontaneous! (kinda)

I know, we all know, that all things spur-of-the-moment or even those carefree, 'why not, one more won't matter' evenings go out the window once a baby shows up and starts waking you up every single day at 5.45am. But it has been 3 years since me and Robert agreed to do something without talking about it at great length. But today we agreed that next week, we are going to New York for 2 nights. Just us. Robert has a one hour interview with some old-git band which includes his flight and a swish hotel. So I just need to get a cheap flight, do all next week's work (2 recipe features both writing and testing!) over this weekend, get my hair done, lose a stone and record the Easter Saturday episode of Saturday Cooks (honestly, it is usually live) on Monday and then on Tuesday hello grandparents, goodbye Scrap. Really, really not sure I want to go after all. I don't think we've talked about it enough.

Anyway, here's a recipe for an idiots' pudding that came out surprisingly well. Whizz up some berries (lots in season now) with a bit of icing sugar until smooth. Cut the cardboard off a 750g carton of vanilla ice cream and chop it up roughly with a large knife. Turn into a bowl and mix with some more berries a packet of smashed up biscuits, like gingersnaps and half the sauce. Tip into a a cling-film lined loaf tin and freeze overnight. Serve with rest of sauce drizzled over.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good for you! New York seems as far away as the moon for me right now.....enjoy.

And...if you get the chance, whilst filming Saturday Cooks, to say hello to Jean Christophe Novelli and/or James Martin on my behalf with big kisses, please can I ask you to do so! The only reason I watch UKTV Food is to catch a glimpse of Mr Martin! And to see if I can catch an old episode of The Best of course!

Anonymous said...

SCREAM! how very exciting! have you got a gourmet tour lined up? have you been to ny before? oh it'll be wonderful and springy and bright blue skies and crisp and cold - perfect walking weather... have a FABULOUS time xxx

Rob said...

I'm thinking, Peter Luger's, Sparks, The River Cafe and Otto. And a hotdog on Washington Sq. Which is quite a lot of food in not a very long time...

Heidi said...

New Yooik!! That's only, like, the most AMAZING thing ever. you'll have a fabulous time!

thanks for the idiot pudding. i'll make it on sunday to have after our roast dinner.

Anonymous said...

Looks a good pudding but I had to read the recipe twice - the first time I thought you had to cut the cardboard up and mix it with the berries!

Tony said...

I love New York. Had a great time when I went earlier this year. Try and plan out some shopping - really cheap and try and see a bit of Central Park as well as all the nice bars and restaurants.

Silvana said...

Snodgrass, you are right, my idiots' recipe was badly written. In my defence, as I was writing it, I was being distracting by Elton John's terrible singing at his awful party on the telly but yes, I could have switched it off.
Anyway, did I mention that I'm going to New York next week?

Nunhead mum, I promise you, you would not want to kiss either of those boys. No.No.

Anonymous said...

Why not? Halitosis? Wandering mitts? Intruige! I really need to know now but am worried about asking you to reveal all! Can you do it in code?

Anonymous said...

Elton's latest wailings are enough to put anyone off.
I've just been and bought 5 cartons of fresh berries, a tub of Cornish ice cream and will be pudding-making later on.
Hope you enjoy New York!

Silvana said...

Snodgrass, how was your pudding?