Tropical No Bake Crumble and Creme Fraiche

Tropical No bake Crumble tops off a great holiday

  2011 will always be remembered as the year of the terrible disasters in Queensland, floods, cyclones…. no tourists.

Oddly some higher power was looking after us. We had the Oprah Winfrey treatment , the weather was as good as can be, the citizens looked after us and Qantas flew us up there , even giving us a cup of tea and a muffin.

Everyone else I spoke to that visited our northern cousins this year, seemed to encounter rain and water and a lengthy stay indoors, while we just seemed to breeze in and out on a ray of sunshine ..

When I booked a flight to Queensland in September last year I could not have been more impressed with myself. I was organised , working the options, had my holidays in at work and I was chuffed. Skater and I have visited Queensland since he was very young, December and January are laid back, too hot to do anything but go to the movies, the beach and best of all just eat and drink with friends.

Brisbane airport was quiet on the second last day of the year. As we stood outside in the steamy heat, the sun peaking through the clouds, I experienced that delicious feeling of temporary freedom. On more than one occasion on this first day, Skater and I were congratulated for picking an auspiciously fine day to arrive.  The previous weeks rain had been so fierce, the varied crew were at times worried that the house at Seventeen Mile Rocks, may wash away as the rainwater tumbled down the garden, causing quagmires of mud and flattened bushes. Now inexplicably here was the sun.

Naturally we were blissfully unaware of their battle with the elements, and wasted no time finding a comfortable place to practise resting.

I arrived bearing food, I am not sure whether this is expected, but it always happens and it is a two fold exercise. Firstly, I love giving presents and people are excited to receive a present!  Secondly, if I get to cook I know there will be something familiar in the kitchen to work with.  Regardless of my years travelling I am quite reluctant to leave anything at home, this may be clothing or something more practical like maybe a washing line, a snazzy torch or a small box of dutch cocoa ( in case anyone wants some brownies )  and so at times I have a very large suitcase when I arrive somewhere.  I will carry as many bottles of olive oil, wine, vinegar, jams or any other food item I can stow. Resting or not eventually I must cook.

No Bake Crumble

I decided we needed dessert. The perfect summer dessert Tropical No Bake Crumble with ….my latest favourite ingredient! Creme Fraiche. It had to be quick easy with a touch of cheating and this fits the bill. I made this using the ingredients available. Chop and change any way you like.

Tropical No Bake Crumble and Creme Fraiche

Easy and perfect for hot whether eating . I used Mango, Raspberry and Ginger Crumble with Creme Fraiche but you can substitute any ingredients you have. This recipe for crumble is approximate and according to taste . You make it in a fry pan and then toss it through the fruit. This really is a free form dessert add or subtract as you want. Just make sure your crumble is cooled.

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Servings: 4

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

Crumble

• 200 gm ginger biscuits (or nice crumbly biscuits not ginger snaps, they are too hard)
• 40 gm butter 2 tablespoons
• 30 gm brown sugar 2 tablespoons
• 50 gm hazelnuts or almonds chopped

Filling

• 1 mango chopped into cubes
• 200 gm Raspberries
• 25 gm ginger Sliced crystallised
• 2 tablespoons icing sugar
• 200 gm creme fraiche 1 x small container of

Method

 

1. Squash 1/2 punnet of raspberries with the icing sugar, or use frozen raspberries. Push this through a sieve to take out the seeds ( and taste for sweetness) set aside .
2. I like to add some raspberries to the creme fraiche as well. Creme Fraiche will not split when whipped, if you are using sour cream you must mix very carefully it will be runny, but keep beating till it thickens and whips. Put into the refrigerator to keep cool. Cut the mango into cubes and set aside
3. Quick frying pan crumble. Smash up the biscuits into chunks and crumbs, and mix with the almonds and sugar. Gently melt the butter in a non stick frypan and add the crushed ingredients. Toss this mixture in the frypan until lightly toasted or golden, tossing and stirring the whole time. This should take about 5 min. Tip onto absorbent paper and cool. It will become crunchy when cool.
4. Layer the ingredients starting with the crumble. Fruit , raspberry syrup a quenelle of creme fraiche and more fruit and crumble.
5. The perfect hot weather dessert without turning on the oven!

The perfect hot weather dessert without turning on the oven!

Now back to resting