Monday 11 May 2015

Blowing Hot and Cold

Sometimes, not often but certainly sometimes, even I think Fanny has gone bonkers. I wouldn't say so to her face of course, and I'm only saying it now from a safe distance. People around her back in the day must've thought it too, but I bet they wouldn't have dared to say anything. She made you feel that she was right all the time, crazy as it seemed and so far in this wonderful journey through her mind and kitchen I have just gone with it. She has been wonderful and wonderfully strange in equal measure. I've certainly been full of wonder, and tried my best to celebrate that, recreate it and pass it on. However, I'm really not sure about this latest recipe suggestion. Has Fanny lost it? I mean it's totally bonkers is it not to deep-fry ice cream?

Fanny Cradock Deep Fried Ice Cream Pancakes

I know that being Scottish most people think we will merrily deep fry almost anything. We munch on deep-fried Mars bars regularly, right? Nope. Don't get me wrong, I love a little bit of deep fried goodness from time to time, but only when it adds something. Only when it makes sense. Only when it's appropriate and frankly only when it's worth the effort. Just reading the recipe for deep-fried ice cream parcels, or Petits Paquets en Surprise, I can't say I'm convinced. Fanny has won me round before though, perhaps I am just feeling uncharacteristically negative and in need of a wallop with the back of Fannys spatula.

Fanny Cradock Deep Fried Ice Cream Pancakes

Everything is frozen with this recipe. Fannys beloved pancakes have been nestling in the deep freeze wrapped and stacked just as they were in the fridge. They only need to come to room temperature before being used. Proper Chefs always do this. Fanny cannot imagine them attempting to make 'Crêpe Suzette' or indeed 'Crêpe This That or the Other' (which perhaps features in a future part) during the limited hours of restaurant service if they hadn't. Imagine if they'd put deep-fried ice cream pancake parcels on their menu and had to begin an order by freshly making some pancakes? Bonkers. Preparation is key.

Fanny Cradock Deep Fried Ice Cream Pancakes

Fanny uses a block of ice cream, which must be cut into portions and then returned to the deep freeze until 'rock hard'. I was pleasantly surprised to see that supermarkets still sold these nostalgic bricks from my childhood, and in Neapolitan too! Clearly I'm not on Fannys wavelength here though, I just wanted to slice it up and eat it, perhaps with a wafer or two. Maybe some Ice Magic if I was feeling fancy, but Fanny had other ideas. She wraps the rock hard wedge in a pancake, folding it up like a parcel before dredging it through beaten egg and rolling it carefully in ground almonds.

Fanny Cradock Deep Fried Ice Cream Pancakes

Fanny at this point drops it straight into smoking hot oil, but I could feel my package was a little bit squidgy, so I popped it back into the freezer to firm up. Limp packages will never do. While I wait for it to harden I canelle some oranges, which Fanny recommends as the garnish, making pretty flowers. There is no escape though, with my oil bubbling and my package rock hard I fire it in until it becomes golden brown. Fanny presents it just as it is, with the orange canelles and suggests that I do too. She does not cut one open. I do and unsurprisingly molten ice cream runs free. I'm left with a slightly empty creamy package that is partly crunchy and partly sludgy. I think they might've been successful with another filling, just not ice cream. Ice cream doesn't need to be deep-fried, does it? It's bonkers!

Fanny Cradock Deep Fried Ice Cream Pancakes

Fanny Cradock Deep Fried Ice Cream Pancakes

16 comments:

  1. Wow - I haven't seen Neapolitan ice cream like that in years! All innuendos aside (and that last paragraph certainly has a few!), it's a fascinating idea. I've only had deep fried ice cream once and it came in an over-inflated pastry case, but definitely curious to try it again now!

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    1. Innuendos, moi? I think an over inflated pastry case might've worked better - if the ice cream hadn't melted it may have been a success! Maybe I have it wrong and it'll be the next big thing, but...

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  2. Cakeyboi likes! Pity it went a bit runny, bet it was still dang tasty tho :)

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    1. It was! I reckon blocks of ice cream were maybe more solid back in the day, the one I had seemed airy, which may have been the reason it more or less disappeared!

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  3. Love this! Just can't see how it could ever work though. I'll stick to the Ice Magic on mine and keep the deep fat frying for chips xx

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    1. I know! Just crazy... I'm sure Fanny saw it somewhere done properly and just thought she could do it too... I'm with you, although I have some Reece's PB Ice Cream Ice Magic so I'm not sharing...

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  4. I think the pressure to come up with something different got to her. No wonder she didn't slice it. I do love this post though, not only for the nostalgia of the Neapolitan ice-cream block but also for your beautifully cannelled oranges. You should develop something keeping the oranges whole or in halves, since the whole oranges with your grooves cut in them look beautiful. Another great post :)

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    1. Thanks! Expect to see more cannelling to come, it was one of Fannys favourites!

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  5. I haven't had Neopolatin ice cream in yonks! Do love a bit of deep frying now and then but maybe not ice cream!! You do make it look very pretty though!!

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    1. Was a great to find the Neopolitan block, but ultimately it just wasn't how I remembered it to be... Fun to make, but probably not repeated! Thanks...

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  6. Hmm, that doesn't look quite up to Fanny's usual standard. Maybe it's the aftermath of all that booze she cooked up for Johnny!

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    1. Sorry that fAnny has disappointed, you may be right about the booze... Stay tuned for more fun though!

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  7. Always guaranteed to bring a smile, I love reading your posts ! Loving the nostalgia too :-)

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    1. Aw thanks Sarah, that's my job done! So happy to have your comments too! Thanks... *sniffle*

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  8. talk about creative... she must have been at her wit's end... inspired by another sixties dish - the baked Alaska maybe?

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    1. Yes, more than likely - she loved a Baked Alaska too... I made hers in the shape of Bunny ;-)

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