5.16.2010

Rhubarb Fool and a Father’s Day Giveaway!

"The English love a good fool, and a fruity old fool is even better. No, not the human kind — though they do delight in those as well — it's a fool for dessert."
Isn't that a great quote?  Sorry I can't remember where I found it, but I can sure tell you about fools...

A fool is a traditional English dessert involving a puree of tangy, tart fruits mixed with sugar and whipped cream and chilled before serving. Supposedly the name of this dessert comes from the French verb fouler meaning pressed or crushed, and refers to the combination of crushed fruits and thick cream. It's a dish that's simple yet elegant. Fools, which date to the 1500s, share their British ancestry with syllabubs and trifles and may have laid the foundation for ice cream. They were custards originally, swirled with cooked and pureed fruit.

The British countryside is a paradise for berry lovers. It offers gooseberries, red currants, strawberries, raspberries."Blackberry fool was quite common; blackberries would have been in the hedgerows in August. Gooseberry also was common because they grew everywhere and they were easy to cultivate in your backyard." Of course nowadays, any fruit can be used: blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, mango and kiwi, as well as other seasonal fruit. Like rhubarb!

When making fruit fools please keep in mind that anytime you use fresh fruit there is no way to know, without tasting, the exact amount of sugar needed. So tasting is very important here. Make sure you taste the sweetened puree and adjust the sugar as needed. The same is true when you mix the puree with the whipped cream.

I think you'll really like Nigella's recipe...after all, who would know better about making a fruit fool than a British chef?

Nigella Lawson's Rhubarb Fool



To quote Nigella: "Make sure you use the rosiest, reddest rhubarb you can; that monster stuff, dredged up almost khaki at the very end of August, will not quite do here. And it's hardly seasonal to mention it, but of course the pinkest, purest, pucest stalks are the forced kind. No matter, you will want to eat this whenever you can. If you haven't got any vanilla sugar to hand (though you can have, just by leaving a vanilla pod or two in a jar of caster sugar for a few days, even less if you cut the pod up), use ordinary caster sugar and add a teaspoon of pure vanilla extract to the cream when you whip it."

Ingredients:

1 kg ( a little over 2 pounds) rhubarb, trimmed and coarsely chopped
300g  (1 1/3 cups) vanilla sugar
500ml ( I used 2 1/4 cups) double (heavy) cream

Method:

Preheat the oven to 375° F.
Mix the rhubarb and vanilla sugar together in an ovenproof dish. Do not add water. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until the fruit is completely soft. Drain in a colander, or sieve, and pour the juice (you should have about 2 1/4 cups or so) into a saucepan, then heat and let bubble away until reduced by about half. Pour into a dish and leave to cool; do not, however, refrigerate as the syrup might crystallize and lose its fabulous bright clarity.

Puree the fruit until totally smooth, then cool and chill this as well.


Whip the cream in a large chilled bowl until lusciously thick but not stiff.


Carefully fold in the rhubarb puree, then some of the reduced juice, so the mixture is streaked, rather like raspberry ripple ice cream. Pour some of the reduced syrup on top and then put the rest in a glass jug so that people can add more, if they want, as they eat.
Serves 8.


A Father's Day Giveaway!

Here's a way to give your dad, your hubby or even yourself  a super yet practical gift for Father's Day. Does he love to grill? Do YOU love to grill? Then this grill set will be perfect for you both! The set includes 4 in 1 spatula, fork, tongs, basting brush,  8 corn holders,  4 skewers and case and a 5 year warranty.


To enter just leave a comment and tell me what your family loves to grill. If you want a second chance to win, become a follower. The contest will be open until midnight Saturday, May 22 and I'll use the random number generator to choose the winner.
Sorry guys, but this giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian residents only. (No P.O. boxes please.) Good luck!

90 comments:

  1. My family loves to grill steaks over charcoal. Nothing beats a good Porterhouse cooked over charcoal. :o)

    Oh, and I am a follower!

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  2. This fool sounds so good! I love just LOVE berries and cream~ and I agree with you, when I went to Derbyshire to visit an aunt she had all these raspberry bushes and we had the best berries ever! Plus she made a currant tart, wonderful! Love them berries!

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  3. Beautiful picture Barbara - and I love this recipe, of course what's not to love about fruit & whipped cream??? We love to grill pizza - we have a Big Green Egg and I have to say that The Professor makes a wood-fire pizza to rival a pizzeria!

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  4. This looks fantastic...love those twirled ribbons!

    My family? Souvlaki, lamb chops, whole grilled fish, vegetables.

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  5. That picture is fabulous!

    My favorite thing to grill is my spatchcocked chicken. Every Sunday, all summer long!

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  6. The rhubarb fool looks absolutely delicious. Always looking for a new recipe to use rhubarb, something other than the old stand-bys. This recipe sure fits that bill!! Great photo...

    Fantastic giveaway! My favorite on the grill is a beef filet mignon ... grilled to a beautiful medium rare! But I am anxious to try Carol's Chipotle Honey Glazed Chicken this summer!

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  7. The rhubarb dessert looks elegant and easy. I love Nigella.

    Hope your weekend was good. Mine was too short:(

    xo

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  8. The rhubarb looks great, I'm loving all the rhubarb recipes I've been seeing!

    We love to grill burgers and hot dogs. Nothing fancy here. Thanks!

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  9. cheese burgers and some steak!! good eatin'

    lauren51990 at aol dot com

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  10. follow your blog

    lauren51990 at aol dot com

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  11. This looks so delicious. I just made a rhubarb betty. It's rhubarb season everwhere.

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  12. What a wonderful give-away, Barbara! We love almost anything grilled, especially when we can eat it outdoors. Grilled salmon is one of our favorites (and there are many!).

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  13. I forgot to mention how delicious your Rhubarb Fool sounds and I love rhubarb!

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  14. You have me going with all the rhubarb lately... I am making some stuff later this week.

    As for grilling I am a big fan of all things grilled lately smoked brisket, but my all time fave is Pizza.

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  15. Awesome giveaway! My parents love grilling cheeseburgers. I swear they eat them at least four times a week all summer long!

    And that fool...absolutely delicious. I love the tart and sweet mix of rhubarb and cream!

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  16. I really have to try rhubarb, your dessert looks fantastic!

    We grill all year long, in the winter we just bundle up! Wings and steaks! Hot dogs, fish! We'll grill anything!

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  17. Had my first BBQ of the season today and could use a few more tools! I'm already a follower.

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  18. That looks like a great simply recipe for rhubarb!

    My favorite thing to grill is steak - I know boring, but it's true.

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  19. Oh wow, I have been wanting to try Nigella's rhubarb fool and I am glad to see it worked out for you. They look so pretty in your glasses too.

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  20. So funny...why they calling it 'a fool'? But it looks darn good! What another marvellous giveaway! Those kitchen gadget looks great! Have a wonderful day.
    Cheers, Kristy

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  21. Fools are such quick nd fresh desserts.
    Grilled peaches are my favorite.
    Mimi

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  22. Hey Barbara, I just love fools and most all ones with rhubarb. Thanks for reminding me about picking berries in Engalnd, it was always one of my favourite things. Yours look so perfect, I'm jealous.

    My family loves to grill vegetables likes aubergines and zucchini.

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  23. I guess thats why an American like me can thrive in England: a good fool is a thing of beauty here LOL.
    They look wonderful!!
    *kisses* HH
    p.s. where does Nigella come up with her prose? I wonder if she really talks like that in real life. It must be exhausting.

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  24. I love salmon smoked in the grill, along with corn on the cob wrapped in foil.

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  25. Mmmmm, I love a good fool almost as much as I love rhubarb. Love the little twists on top too. What a great way to spoil dad, shame i can't be in the running :) Good luck everyone else!

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  26. i didn't know fools were so easy to make! i guess that makes me a fool in regard to fools. :)
    we LOVE to grill--everything from burgers to corn to bologna. yeah, i said bologna. :)

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  27. The only thing that may be tough about this recipe is finding that perfect rhubarb! Oh my how I love those fools and you did such a gorgeous presentation and photo, Barbara!
    I wish I could grill... but the board here is full of meanies who don't allow it!!! so cruel. I look forward to it when I go for country visits though, and my Memorial Day friends have an 8' grill/smoker ... it is crazy good! MMMM 10 hour pulled pork!

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  28. Such a gorgeous dessert, I love the rhubarb ribbon on top!

    My father is the grill-master in our family -- our favorites are steak (of course) and cedar-planked salmon.

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  29. Oh, yes, I do love to grill. Lamb and chicken are favorites here.

    I bought rhubarb at the farmers market on Saturday so I'm all set to try this fool. It's an easy recipe and I bet the lovely rhubarb flavor is wonderful.

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  30. The food looks divine with the fruit and especially the whipped cream. I love grilled veggies. All kinds!

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  31. This looks beautiful! I love the quote at the top--snicker--fruity fool!

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  32. Barbara, what a delicious dessert you have here. It looks tempting enough to try.

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  33. now that is one fool i would be happy to let in my life!

    the grilling set is awesome! we love to grill kabobs, they're our favorite!

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  34. Barbara, I have to take myself out of the giveaway, but I wanted to stop by and say thanks for following my travels. It's good to be home and to be able to check in with you.

    I love this fool--it's so summery!

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  35. I love rhubarb!
    What do I like to BB-Q or grill? I have two smokers, and enjoy nearly everything that goes in them! I would have to say whole chicken is my favorite, as it comes out perfect nearly every time!

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  36. WE love to grill burgers, steak, chicken, salmon...potatoes...

    That reminds me. Ben needs to get more propane.

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  37. Fools are always so lovely, I can't imagine why I've never made one. I love the quote at the top also.

    I'm not the griller - my husband is but I wish I knew more about it. We mostly grill steaks and chicken. Sounds like a great give-away.
    Sam

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  38. A delightful dessert! Rhubarb is so addictive!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  39. Barbara, what a nice dessert with rhubarb...have to try one of this day...since I never used rhubarb :-( What we like to grill? Everything, from veggies to all kind of red meat, fish and chicken.

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  40. That fool is gorgeous -- I've never had it with rhubarb, but it sounds so good! Thanks for hosting another lovely giveaway, Barbara. My family loves to grill chicken, corn on the cobb, and fish (usually salmon)...delicious! :)

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  41. Oh, that Rhubarb dessert looks divine! YUM!

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  42. This looks like the perfect, simple dessert!

    My husband is the griller in our family. I love his hamburgers!

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  43. What's that garnishing you used? I love your princess snow-white award:)

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  44. Absolutely, I do love this recipe. Great timing too Barbara as rhubarb is so plentiful here! :D

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  45. This rhubarb fool looks delicious. I am actually drooling right now :-)

    Sorry to hear about your son's pay cut. I could totally understand his situation.

    Regarding the nut cup for muffin, it is very practical to take the muffin or cupcake out from the cup, simply by pulling and spreading out the segment foldings of the cup. Hope this will help.

    To confirm that, maybe you could try baking my recipe and see how it goes with your nut cup :-)

    Sawadee from Bangkok,
    Kris

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  46. RIBS - I love wrapping ribs in banana leaves and foil and letting them sit on a low grill until they fall off the bone...I have very little rhubarb experience and this dates back to when I was a kid and ate some funky dunky rhubarb thing a neighbors mom had made and I did not like it...time to change all that.

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  47. We love to grill hot dogs and hamburgers. we're traditionalists apparently. i really want to try to grill pizza though.

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  48. Yet another rhubarb recipe to add to my list!! This looks gorgeous, both delicious and elegant.

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  49. I love fools and this rhubarb looks fantastic! What a fabulous giveaway just in time for father's day! We just bought a new grill and we are really liking our spit attachment. We've been making lots of rotisserie chickens.

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  50. Love Nigella & love fools too, so delicious on a summers day and so very easy to put together. What's not to love?
    ~Maggie~

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  51. We really like rhubarb. I've never done a "fool" but will while the lovely stalk is still in the market. I just became a "follower". Don't know why I've waited so long to do that. We are just becoming "grillers". Although my husband enjoys cooking, especially baking, he's always balked at grilling. However, last week he came home with two large bags of charcoal and said he was ready to take on the grill. Hoorah! So, not only are we in need of grilling tools but grilling recipes as well. We have a Weber charcoal grill inherited from my mother over ten years ago. Maybe it's an antique as grills go?!!

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  52. We like to grill veggies. I have a soft spot in my heart for a grilled mushroom.

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  53. That fool recipe sounds delicious! My neighbour has a backyard full of rhubarb right now. I should ask for some.

    In mid-summer, I have a big party and like to barbeque tandori chicken. It's the best.

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  54. That's a gorgeous dessert, and rather simple, too. Bonus!

    Wow, what a great BBQ set! We love to grill Korean marinaded ribs. The smell of steak alone is tantalizing, but add those seasonings and there are often neighbors lingering outside the fence. :)

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  55. (1) I love a good fool (the culinary variety, not the human sort) ;) Although I've not tried a rhubarb fool, this recipe has convinced me I should (love Nigella as well, btw).

    (2) Favorite thing to grill? We have 3: chicken, shrimp and pineapple (sorry, couldn't pick just one)!

    What a lovely giveaway just in time for Father's Day!

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  56. I wonder why I never heard of a fool before? This looks absolutely delicious! Our favorite thing(s) to grill are burgers and fresh corn on the cob! And I'm a follower!

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  57. This fool looks amazing. I know I've heard of this dish before, but I wasn't quite sure what it was. I'm sure Nigella's version is amazing. Actually, growing up, my family never really grilled. But now, the bf and I like to grill veggies and tofu (for me) and spicy pork (for him).

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  58. now this is a fool i like...i love fruit for dessert....

    we love to grill just about anything...tonight its pork chops...

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  59. That looks heavenly. Have my bed ready!
    I havee had a wonton soup craving since THAT post and whilst I ate my wonton I thought of you,Barbara!

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  60. This looks delicious!!Great giveaway!

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  61. This looks so luscious! How sad that my rhubarb is green as grass. I may have to buy some just to make this.

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  62. Hi Barbara,

    Rhubarb is one of my favourites and I often have it for breakfast.
    I did this morning with allbran cereal, and passionfruit yoghurt ~ delicious. This fool recipe is great and yes, don't you like a good fool.
    Such a generous giveaway, my favourite is steaks marinated and then cooked on the BBQ, you can't beat the smell.

    Have a lovely week
    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  63. Wow, what a giveaway! My fam loves to grill chicken to use tons of different ways!

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  64. Oh my God dear Barbara, absolutely beauty dessert!Georgeous picture! We love grill beef meat and salmon! huggs, gloria

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  65. Barbara, I've never made a fool. This looks delicious. Another one unfoolinsly bookmarked. Burgers have to be my favorite family grill item, however, Noble Pig's Perfect Grilled Chicken is right there in the running.

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  66. I've been reading your blog for months, but I just now officially hit the "follow" button. Hope that counts for a 2nd entry. Great Give-a-way.

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  67. What a giveaway Barbara!
    I have got to try the fool. I have gooseberries, strawberries and raspberries in the garden, and I love new ways to prepare them.
    The seviceberry is a berry that a lot of the settlers that came west would use in their cooking. I love it in muffins the best, I have never tried a pie with it, but it is much like an elderberry and makes a good syrup.
    hugs

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  68. I don't know how people don't like pimento cheese!

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  69. This is a fantastic father's day giveaway! Australia celebrate father's day on a different date. The rhubarb foll looks good!

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  70. Hi Barbara ... our favorite thing to grill: veggies. Yum, yum, YUM!
    xoxoxox
    Denalee

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  71. Ahhh! More rhubarb... this looks fantastic, Barbara. Beautiful. We grill all summer long - I have been practicing my skills lately!

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  72. Bloomin' heck Barbara, I thought I would never get to the bottom of this comment box.

    Your fool looks absolutely divine. I am torn now. I have cream to use up in the fridge and was going to make truffles, but I also have rhubarb in the fridge. My rhubarb is only the common garden kind, but it would still be lovely. I may have to toss a coin.

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  73. I love Nigella, but sadly, my husband and I do not like rhubarb...I know, what's wrong with us??!! Such a great giveaway Barbara!!! We like grilling the organic pork chops that they sell at the local grocery store...they even come frozen...but they are simply the best!!

    Hugs ~

    :) T

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  74. What a perfect spring dish. Simple and vibrant to cool you off on a warm day. Thanks for the recipe.

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  75. I adore all things rhubarb! What a BEAUTIFUL "fool" !!! :)

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  76. wow love the History info and looks amazing as ever

    great giveaway will tweet

    Rebecca

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  77. Barbara, this fool looks just wonderful and it is perfect for springtime. We have lots of young rhubarb in the markets now and this is a great way to use it. I hope you are having a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary

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  78. Hi Barbara

    Unfortunately I have some sad news about Rosie from Baking Cakes Galore, Rosie passed away yesterday. I have written up a tribute to her on my blog and I am asking everyone who knew her if they would please take some time to leave a comment. I will be printing off all the comments to pass onto her husband.

    Thanks
    Maria
    x

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  79. My parents both used to love grilling me about staying out too late and pushing my curfew. Now that my brother and I are grown- we love to cook with our parents and fire up the backyard grill for Texas BBQ Burgers.

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  80. Hey Barbara, this is a great post. Well, you know I would think so since I love both simple & vegetarian, which this is. I also love laughing at fools, but I must admit I've never eaten one (ooh, that was a bad attempt at a joke-smile).

    Hmm, we love to grill peppers and fresh fish, shrimp, etc. It's so good fresh off the grill!

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  81. The pictures are so gorgeous!!!

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  82. Your rhubarb puree is gorgeous! I love the color swirling over the whipped cream. Delicious! And, what a nice giveaway. We grill year-round, and if I had to pick a favorite, I would say chicken.

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  83. I LOVE that quote!!! and the history, you know I adore that too! I always thought the word fool was just another word for clotted cream. I think there's a recipe for Gooseberry Fool in one of Mrs. Beeton's books. I'll have to check.

    In the meantime, rhubarb season is just around the corner, I hope, I hope:) and I'll be ready. That is one good looking fool!!!

    Thanks for sharing, Barbara:)

    GREAT Give-Away...Please don't include me though. I just bought tools for my new barbecue and shed!!!

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  84. What a beautiful rhubarb dessert, yum!

    Great giveaway! We love to grill bison steaks and also Georgian style kebabs!

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  85. Great dessert. Lovely giveaway you have. Good luck to everyone (I'm in Australia, so unable to participate)

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  86. Lovely fool! This really is such a gorgeous dessert. That lovely tangy rhubarb and the rich cream were just made for each other!

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  87. I love the ruby color and tartness of rhubarb! This will be appearing on my dinner table very soon! We are a "Tyson Foods Family" so chicken is on the grill all summer long!

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  88. What a fabulous and fabulously simple recipe! Sweet cream and tangy rhubarb: perfect!

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