Friday 22 November 2013

Specially for Small Fry

Fanny was always keen to get youngsters involved in cooking, and the weekly Cradock Cookery Programme was no exception - each installment included a page 'specially for small fry'. I'm not too sure what today's Junior Masterchef and Junior Bake-off hopefuls would've made of it, but for Fanny it was important that the young generation followed in the footsteps of 'their grown ups' and embraced the 'above all garnish and presentation' mantra. Fanny and Johnnie had already published several cookbooks aimed at young people, and had even produced a special children's cookery TV programme as early as 1959, which of course had it's own range of cookbooks to match - Fanny was never one to miss a marketing opportunity.


The first few ideas for the youngsters to get their heads around involve no cooking whatsoever, just assembly. Fanny kicks off with an idea for Stuffing Ducks. Fanny suggests that the grown-ups give their usual and ordinary stuffing used for birds or meats to the children instead to fashion these cute little ducks. The construction instructions are simple, wash your hands, mould the body, head and then finish off with an almond beak. I have used my trusty Vegetarian Haggis from Macsweens here instead, how do they look?


For pudding it's slightly more complicated as we attempt Edible Clowns. The youngsters are trusted to melt chocolate very carefully and mould it around a half orange to make a cup which is then released from the orange and filled with ice-cream. This is topped with a scoop of ice-cream and some chocolate petals to form a Pierots ruffle, a few chopped pieces of glacé cherry and a cone hat... Voilà the edible clown.  


The final in this initial trio of treats for the young at heart seems decidedly risqué in appearance in this day and age, however I am hoping that Fanny designed it with innocence. I am worried that this blog will get banned as a result, but here goes. For Banana Candles, all you need is an ordinary banana, coated with strawberry jam, rolled in chopped nuts and stood up in a few pineapple rings. Oh, and topped off with a glacé cherry flame. I think bananas must have been straighter back in the 1970s, but even so how many parents would be able to keep a straight face if presented with these?


They all tasted just fine, and I am sure were a fun way to get young folk involved and interested in food. It will be interesting to see how Fanny develops the skills of these small fry as the parts progress, but for now I don't think we'll be seeing any of these creations on Junior Masterchef - which is a shame as I'd love to see those judges faces when presented with a Banana Candle...

20 comments:

  1. Ah those were more innocent days! Fantastic, go to the top of the class, laughed out loud for real.

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  2. Haha - fabulous! OMG the image of someone eating a banana candle! ;-)

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  3. OMG, those are brilliant! Can you imagine serving those up as pudding - it'd certainly be a conversation piece!

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    1. It would be worth a go just to see the reaction! Thanks,

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  4. Brilliant! After reading your tweet I wasn't sure where this was going, made me laugh!

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    1. Hee hee thanks Jacqui, I was worried about this one, but it seems to be raising a wee smile!

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  5. Those banana candles are just amazing, oh how naughty!

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  6. Those bananas cannot be for real. Innocent days? I don't believe a word of it.

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  7. Holy bananas! I need to have a dirty dinner party!

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  8. Some friends brought some Banana Candles they had made to a Nigella themed Christmas party I held a few years ago. Sadly they weren't eaten as they were knocked accidentally onto the floor. Such an innocent age. These would go well paired with the doughnuts from the previous post. Tres Risqué

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    1. Aw, poor bananas! I can't imagine how they could be eaten innocently though! Thanks... The party sounds like a hoot!

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  9. I think I want to serve the bananas up at my next dinner party!!!

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    1. Please do, and please take photos of your guests faces when you reveal them!

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