FOOLS, SUMMER PUDDINGS, AND GRATINS

FOOLS, SUMMER PUDDINGS, AND GRATINS ARE combinations of fruit and creamy sauce that are eaten with a spoon. A fool is nothing more than cooked fruit puree that is chilled and then layered in bowls or goblets with whipped cream.

Summer pudding starts with cooked fruit, but layers the fruit between pieces of stale bread. The bread and fruit are weighted and refrigerated. The unmolded pudding is then garnished with whipped cream.

For a gratin, berries are spread out in a baking dish and then covered with creamy sabayon and brown sugar. The whole mixture is run under the broiler to soften the fruit, caramelize the sugar, and heat the sauce.