A dessert with no kitchen equipment?

1274 · 7 December 2008 at 8:54PM

I have rashly promised my Mum that I will make dessert for Christmas lunch (not Xmas pud because our family hates it). I was thinking of a nice light dessert, like chocolate mousse but have run up against the problem that I have none of the needed kitchen equipment. I do have pots and pans, but no whisk, no scales, no measuring cups (I have measuring spoons though), and no pyrex bowls for melting choc (but I could use the microwave?) Oh, and nothing electrical like mixers etc

Is there any hope, or should I just buy something and remove the packaging:rotfl:

naturally_2 · 7 December 2008 at 9:00PM

Could you use a packet of chocolate whip with milk... the instructions should tell you how much milk to use, and if you use out of a full pint you should be able to guestimate quite accurately? I would buy a balloon whisk though, you can pick them up very cheaply.

Or how about a cheeseboard? Or do they all like coffee? There is the most gorgeous desert my mum makes with sliced banana, natural yoghurt on top and sprinkle instant coffee and brown sugar on top of that. Leave in the fridge for a few hours and the coffee and sugar should melt into the yoghurt to make a nice coffee/toffee sauce. No measuring required

Bongedone · 7 December 2008 at 9:06PM

Buy a cheap Christmas pudding, break it up and soak in brandy. Mix it into some vanilla ice cream then put back in freezer.

Or Gordon Ramsey's syllabub if you are feeling energetic with a fork: -

http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/chefs/gordon-ramsay/lemon-and-lime-syllabub-recipe_p_1.html

bandraoi · 7 December 2008 at 9:07PM

Buy a cheap sponge and make a trifle?

You should be able to make jelly with no scales or measuring stuff.
You can either measure the amount of water off the kettle, any other container of a known volume (eg pint carton from milk cleaned out) or use your measuring spoons slowly.

Custard should be managable the same way and makeable with a fork.

You can whip cream by putting it in a jar with the lid on and shaking it, or bring it with you and whip it at the last minute.

sexymouse · 7 December 2008 at 9:08PM

How about a raspberry fool? What I do is buy one tin of raspberries in syrup, and a small pot of whipping cream. Drain off the juice (I normally drink this). Put cream into a bowl and whisk with a fork - this may take a while unless you are used to whipping by hand, so I normally do this in front of the tv. Then mix in the raspberries, pour into individual serving bowls and chill in the fridge. You could serve this with bought brandy snap biscuits or an almond biscuit also works well with raspberry. This normally serves 4 small portions - you could however always double-up on quantities if there are more of you, or serve in wide necked wine glasses to be posh as well as economical.

saversarn · 7 December 2008 at 9:10PM

After all that rich fruit how about a fresh fruit salad, just lots of chopping then cover with apple juice or homemade syrup and a slug of something warming x

bandraoi · 7 December 2008 at 9:23PM

It's worth looking up American recipes too.

They measure things by volume (cups) and since you have measuring spoons you can convert cups to ml and work out the amount you need of any ingredient fairly easily.

With that you can make pastry or crumble and from that apple tart, apple crumble etc.

Poached pears are another good Christmassy recipe with no real kitchen equipment needed.

wendyphant · 7 December 2008 at 9:30PM

oh no easier than that

go to asda buy 3 of their smart priced fruit cake slabs.
cut them into cubes and get some ready made rolled out icing individually cover them. Then get some cheap ribbon - the stuff you use in pressies and tie it around each parcel

hey presto individual christmas pressie cakes

if you want you can get like silver balls ect to decorate the parcels more

did it last year for 12 and cost only £5 but looked stunning on the table

everyone thought i'd spent hours and a fortune

Plum_Pie · 7 December 2008 at 9:39PM

wendyphant wrote: »

hey presto individual christmas pressie cakes

if you want you can get like silver balls ect to decorate the parcels more

did it last year for 12 and cost only £5 but looked stunning on the table

everyone thought i'd spent hours and a fortune

You are brilliant! :rotfl: :T

EssexHebridean · 7 December 2008 at 9:44PM

Eton mess? Extra thick double cream,stir in either rasberries or sliced strawberries, then just before you're ready to serve it, fold through broken up chunks of meringue. Yum!

skintchick · 7 December 2008 at 11:34PM

I second raspberry fool - but with greek yoghurt and honey. Mix honey with raspberries, then layer with greek yoghurt and chill. Tastes fab and no measuring of any kind required.

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A dessert with no kitchen equipment?

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