Cooking my Favourite things........Vanilla Panna Cotta

Today I wanted to use up some almost out of date double cream.......

I decided to make a Vanilla Panna Cotta...

RECIPE

Vanilla Pannacotta
9 fl oz Full cream milk

9 fl oz Double Cream

1 oz Sugar
1 Tsp Vanilla Paste...(equiv 1 Vanilla Pod) *

3 sheets of Gelatin

Passionfruit Coulis
3 passionfruits
1 Tbsp Icing Sugar


1. Put the gelatin leaves in a bowl of cold water .....in 5 minutes it will be pliable enough to add to the mixture..

2. Put milk and cream into a saucepan and gently heat....DO NOT BOIL......when it begins to simmer around the edges of the pan,  remove the pan from the heat.....

3.Add the sugar, Vanilla paste  and gelatin into the heated cream mixture...

4. Pour into 4 ramekins or dariole moulds.....I did a mixture of the 2.....

5. Place immediately into the fridge to set.....

6. They can take up to 5 hours to set properly so if you need them for a dessert.....please make them well ahead of time, just in case they take the whole 5 hours.....I have known them to be ready in 2 hours but chances are if you rely on that.....they will take longer!  

7. When you are ready to serve them, just have a bowl of hot water nearby  and gently dip the bottom of the  mould into the water,  this should make turning it out onto a plate much easier.

8. For the Coulis I used 3 Passionfruits, scraped out the flesh into a dish,  then added 1 tablespoon of icing sugar......mix it up and its ready....of course if you wish to not have the pips,  then strain the coulis ......

I prefer my Panna cotta to be served standing up by itself this way, maybe with a fruit coulis or fresh Raspberries.......but it is up to the individual....maybe you would prefer to serve it in a really pretty dessert glass......by which case they stay in there the whole time and no need for turning them out onto a plate.....

Vanilla Pannacotta with Passionfruit Coulis......

served with fresh strawberries and edible gold leaf....

                                        

* I am in no way affilliated with Ebay or any of the sellers on there,  but have you ever bought a Vanilla pod from the supermarket?    dry old thing , one in a bottle costing around £2.00?   Well I searched on Ebay for some and have bought 25 Madagascan Vanilla pods for £3.50!    I intend to make my own Vanilla extract using Vodka.....and then storing the rest of the pods in a jar of sugar.......

I am including the link to the seller......in case anyone is interested....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/madagascan**vanilla**/m.html?item=390505686788&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562