Fresh Fruit Fool

Directions

1. 1
   Prepare the fruit according to the type - peel, core and slice apples; trim and chop rhubarb; halve and stone plums; top and tail gooseberries.
2. 2
   Place the prepared fruit in a saucepan with 3/4 of the caster sugar and the water. Cover and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes, or until the fruit is very soft.
3. 3
   Meanwhile, to make the custard, bring the pouring cream almost to the boil; lightly whisk the egg and egg yolk in a bowl with the remaining sugar, then stir in the hot cream and vanilla extract; place the bowl over a saucepan of gently boiling water and stir the mixture until it thickens enough to hold a slight trail and thinly coat the back of a spoon lifted out of the custard mixture. TAKE CARE NOT TO OVERHEAT the custard mixture or it may curdle.
4. 4
   Remove the bowl from the saucepan and cover the surface closely with plastic wrap, right on the surface, to prevent a skin from forming. Allow the custard to cool then chill in the refrigerator.
5. 5
   Puree the cooked fruit in a food processor or blender, or pass it through a nylon sieve. Chill the puree for at least 1 hour.
6. 6
   Whisk the cream in a large bowl until it holds soft peaks.
7. 7
   Combine the custard with the fruit puree and fold it gently into the whipped cream.
8. 8
   Spoon the fool into tall glass parfait glasses and chill for 2 hours.
9. 9
   To serve, sprinkle with pistachio nuts or decorate with flowers, and serve with my Shortbreads Recipe #139166.
10. 10
    Variations: See Soft-fruit Fool Recipe #139165.