Tuesday 3 February 2009

So much for cheap and easy...

AS previously mentioned (in Friends for Dinner), I served my Saturday night guests homemade mango sorbet for pud.
And suitably impressed they were too.
Rightly so, because it wasn't the cheap and cheerful dessert it may have first appeared.
Putting aside the cost of the ice-cream maker - which was a Christmas gift - I had to buy the ingredients.
Okay, so £1.28 on an enormous tin of mango pulp from Tesco wasn't going to break the bank.
And I already had the essential caster sugar in my store cupboard.
All I needed now was the council pop and something to serve it in... which is where the problems began.
"We haven't got any ice cream dishes," I whined at the other half, having already tried - and failed - to make brandy snap baskets earlier in the week.
"We could put it in our white dessert bowls," he replied.
I shook my head. "That'll look rubbish," I sulked, imagining the balls of sorbet drifting around aimlessly in the bottom of these shallow dishes.
So I toddled off to the shops, on a mission to find elegant hosts for my sorbet.
I'd seen some not so long ago in Habitat but it appeared that was 'last season'.
House of Fraser and Urban Outfitters also failed to come up trumps so I headed on to Selfridges. And there they were, all shiny and black and fabulous. So I bought four. At eight pounds each.
"How much?" yelled the boy on inspection of the receipt back at home.
"They will look brilliant," I enthused. He rolled his eyes and muttered something about 'expensive sorbets'.
But everyone knows that the way to a man's heart is through his tummy and he was soon won over by the promise I'd make lots of ice-cream in order to get our use out of them!

10 comments:

James said...

There's always tuile baskets....

Emily said...

Hi James
I think that's what I was trying to make, but failed. Any tips? Thanks

Rico said...

Funny and very interesting post I enjoyed reading it, sorry making the basket failed...but I never see failures as that, I see them as only little set backs..take care

Emily said...

Thanks Ricardo. You are right. The baskets may not have been perfect but they still tasted lovely!
Take care. Enjoying your food photos!

Jeanne said...

Men quite simply Do Not Get the need for stylish tableware. And without hubby's moderating influence, one day they'd probably find me crushed to death under a pile of my own collection of crockery :)

Emily said...

Hi Jeanne. We only live in a small flat and already our cupboards are buckling under the weight of too much crockery and too many kitchen gadgets. One day I will live in a big house like Nigella Lawson where there is room for crockery of every occasion! I can but dream...

Jim said...

"Men quite simply Do Not Get the need for stylish tableware."

Umm, yes, I'm clear on that one. A dish is a dish. ;)

Emily said...

And as long as it's full, that's all that counts? :)

Thinspired said...

Hi Emily! Thank you for your comment on my blog. It's fun to find more UK food bloggers! Look forward to reading more of your lovely British eats :)

Emily said...

Thanks! Likewise Lara. Loved some of your healthy recipes on Thinspired. Will definitely be popping back regularly for inspiration!
Em x