Jess' Recipe Adventures: Idiot-proof Banoffee Pie
If you've been drinking vitamin concoctions and munching on lettuce leaves since the new year, it's time to fall off the wagon spectacularly with this scrumptiously devilish dessert. The best part about banoffee pie, as my boyfriend Justin's recipe reveals below, is that it's impressive enough for an informal dinner party, but is actually really REALLY easy to make (which makes it taste even better!).
Ingredients
Ingredients:
1 x tin Carnations Condensed Milk 3 - 4 bananas 400g whipped cream 450g Hobnobs or Digestives 160g butter
Method
Step 1: The best-kept cookery secret...
I always thought making the gloriously gooey topping would involve boiling up meticulously mixed sugary combinations of ingredients, but it actually just takes one very simple step. Just take a can of Carnation Condensed Milk and submerge it in boiling water in a pan, bring to the boil and leave to simmer for about 2.5 hours. The sense of wonder I get after watching this magical transformation take place is amazing - I almost start to believe I could rival Nigella after all. HOWEVER! Remember to keep an eye on the water levels, if your cans boil dry they can apparently explode.
Step 2: Anger therapy
I chuck the hobnobs into a sandwich bag, tying it securely but being sure not to trap too much air. Next step is to think of your day in the office and hammer the hell out of the hobnobs with the nearest blunt instrument. I opted for a bowl, but hey, wooden spoons, mugs and wedge shoe-boots work equally as well. Once your biscuits are smashed to smithereens, take a deep breath and relax. Cost-effective therapy at its best.
Step 3: Microwave mixing
Using a microwave when cooking might be a bit sacrilegious in a serious cook's eyes, but I'm thinking of Delia and her Cheat's Guide to Cooking when I use it to melt the butter. Mix the butter in with the biscuits and pack the mixture into a baking dish. Step 4: Topping time
Scoop out the toffee and smooth it over the biscuits, then chop up the bananas and pop them on top. I hear you can use double cream and whip it up, but why bother when there's a perfectly good pre-whipped tub of cream available to save me time and a lot of arm ache! Whack a good artery-clogging amount on top and add some sprinkles for a little retro pizzazz. Then just chill in the fridge until you can resist no longer.
Verdict: Ridiculously easy to make, even easier to eat. Delish.
Ingredients:
1 x tin Carnations Condensed Milk 3 - 4 bananas 400g whipped cream 450g Hobnobs or Digestives 160g butter
Step 1: The best-kept cookery secret...
I always thought making the gloriously gooey topping would involve boiling up meticulously mixed sugary combinations of ingredients, but it actually just takes one very simple step. Just take a can of Carnation Condensed Milk and submerge it in boiling water in a pan, bring to the boil and leave to simmer for about 2.5 hours. The sense of wonder I get after watching this magical transformation take place is amazing - I almost start to believe I could rival Nigella after all. HOWEVER! Remember to keep an eye on the water levels, if your cans boil dry they can apparently explode.
Step 2: Anger therapy
I chuck the hobnobs into a sandwich bag, tying it securely but being sure not to trap too much air. Next step is to think of your day in the office and hammer the hell out of the hobnobs with the nearest blunt instrument. I opted for a bowl, but hey, wooden spoons, mugs and wedge shoe-boots work equally as well. Once your biscuits are smashed to smithereens, take a deep breath and relax. Cost-effective therapy at its best.
Step 3: Microwave mixing
Using a microwave when cooking might be a bit sacrilegious in a serious cook's eyes, but I'm thinking of Delia and her Cheat's Guide to Cooking when I use it to melt the butter. Mix the butter in with the biscuits and pack the mixture into a baking dish. Step 4: Topping time
Scoop out the toffee and smooth it over the biscuits, then chop up the bananas and pop them on top. I hear you can use double cream and whip it up, but why bother when there's a perfectly good pre-whipped tub of cream available to save me time and a lot of arm ache! Whack a good artery-clogging amount on top and add some sprinkles for a little retro pizzazz. Then just chill in the fridge until you can resist no longer.
Verdict: Ridiculously easy to make, even easier to eat. Delish.