… well this week has been quite something hasn’t it? I guess many would think that a food blog is not the place to mention the terrible events of last Saturday in London Bridge but I consider my blog a personal space and have often reflected the way the weekly events have affected my life. Plus I think it would be hard and perhaps remiss of me to ignore them. As much as we all eat and drink we also all live in this world and as a Londoner I can tell you that these recent events have affected me greatly. These are the streets where we play. Where we conduct our everyday business. The places where we eat. Even more poignant for a food-lover, Borough Market is the cool epicentre of food innovation with its incredible stalls of international goods. It’s the first place I send any visitor who loves food and wants to explore. It has a resonance for us that simply brings it all closer to home… and whilst we hear the amazing stories of heroism and resilience – and I truly believe we are a city and a nation where the phrase ‘keep calm and carry on’ is more than just a meme, it’s our national motto, I also cannot help but to take a second to deeply feel the shock and terror. It would be foolish to think that I remain unaffected and that I don’t see it in the eyes of the humans around me as I get on the tube and continue my day to day life. Like many of us I’m sure, I play out scenarios in my mind… what would I do… where would I go… how could I help…? I guess what I’m learning about myself is that whatever has happened or will happened, I am here, writing this at my desk in Central London, almost oblivious to the police sirens blaring up from the streets, about to go home on the tube and will probably pick up some delicious grub on the way home to boot! I am, after all, a Londoner.
strawberry and apricot frangipane pudding
this pudding is like a bowlful of summer… it’s light and fruit and sweet and so easy to put together. I think it’s also quite unexpected to serve a pudding in the summer when fresh fruit is in abundance and a simple fruit salad would suffice but that’s what I adore about this. Plus, this pudding makes very good use of those punnet’s of strawberries that look great in the supermarket but in fact taste all spongy and gloopy when you get them home. It’s also incredibly easy to knock together, is charmingly gluten-free and can be served warm with ice-cream or chilled with cream, both to stunning effect.
- 200g butter – room temperature
- 200g golden caster sugar
- 3 large free-range eggs
- 200g ground almonds
- 100g strawberries – quartered
- 4 apricots – sliced into wedges
- the finely grated zest and juice of half a lemon
- 2 tablespoons Fage Greek Yoghurt
- 1 teaspoon Neilson-Massey Vanilla Bean Paste
I greased a 20cm fluted ceramic pie dish and pre-heated the oven to 160C
beat the sugar and butter together in a large bowl until light and creamy… and stand mixer will do this in 4 minutes, a hand held electric whisk will do it in 6 minutes and a wooden spoon will do it in 8 minutes.
add the eggs and 1 tablespoon of ground almonds and beat in, then add the rest of the ground almonds and gently beat in, followed by the Greek Yoghurt, lemon zest and juice, vanilla and half the strawberries and beat in – the strawberries will become mush – which is exactly what you want.
lay half the remaining fruit into the bottom of your dish and cover with the frangipane batter, then scatter the remaining fruit on top
bake for 45 mins or until darkly golden brown, then remove from the oven and let it cool to set
eat and of course, enjoy… and don’t forget to vote!
Jean says
You speak for many of us I think. Personally I find the “keep calm and carry on” approach difficult as we all need a time to grieve and gather our thoughts after such a terrible thing has happened.
The dessert looks lovely, just the thing to bring a little joy back into our lives.
Dominic Franks says
Thanks Jean… it is hard and not weak to admit we’re scared… the dessert was SOOOO good. xx
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
I don’t blame you and hope peace and safety are the new normal. Crazy, scary world, and I don’t like it either. Very nice recipe – stay safe and have a lovely weekend.
Dominic Franks says
thanks darling x
Phil in the Kitchen says
Delicious. Strawberries combine so well with other fruits and apricots sounds a fine choice to me. The local PYO tells me that there are plenty of strawberries available so it sounds like a good opportunity to produce a pud or two. You’re right, Borough Market has been a key place in foodie London for many years now and a place I’ve dragged many a visitor to. Long may it continue.
Dominic Franks says
Thanks Phil… x
Carole from Carole's Chatter says
Hi Dominic, , this would fit perfectly in Food on Friday: June under the berry theme. Hope you bring it on over. You’ll find the link towards the top of my sidebar. Cheers from Carole’s Chatter
Choclette says
Good lord, the continuing harrowing events going on in London and elsewhere just make me want to hide under the duvet – although perhaps not so much in this weather! I guess there’s not much we can do except carry on. I’d much rather take delight in your fabulous pudding. Summer needs pudding just as much as any other time of the year.
Kate - gluten free alchemist says
It sure is a worrying and very very sad state of affairs….. London does feel a little less safe for sure and to target a place like Borough Market does indeed make it feel a little closer still.
The Frangipane sounds amazing though. Frangipane is one of my all time favourites, but your combination of strawberry and apricot is gorgeous. x