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Mirabelle plum & cardamom fool – and my thoughts on the Olympics

by Jeanne Horak on August 16, 2012 11 Comments in Dessert, Fruit, Gluten-free, London Life

Mirabelle plum fool 2 © J Horak-Druiff 2012 All rights reserved

And so after all the highs, lows, drama, medals and excitement of the past two weeks, the London 2012 Summer Olympics finally drew to a close on Sunday night with a much debated but (in my opinion) dazzling closing ceremony and a huge party.  Monday morning we all felt a little dazed I think, but we were re-living the previous night’s ceremony in the morning papers and still seeing Games vehicles on every street.  Even on Tuesday we could still feel a bit of a buzz and marvel at the special terminal built at Heathrow airport and decorated like a London park, epecially for the athletes heading home. But by Wednesday, try as I might to recapture the feeling, I had to admit that the Games really were over.  The late-night mournful blast of a ship’s horn had signalled the departure of one of the two big cruise ships that have for the better part of a month been docked a few hundred metres from my house to accommodate Olympic support staff. I was surprised at how quickly it had become a much-loved part of my local skyline – and how forlorn its absence made me feel.

It’s very hard for me to put into words how the Olympics has changed the way I look at my own city.  When it was announced on 6 July 2005 that London had won its Olympic bid there was great jubilation, followed immediately by the horror and tragedy of the July 7 terrorist bombings on the London Underground. I was at Canning Town station when we were told that the Jubilee Line was suspended because of “an electrical fault”, and I remember boarding a bus and calling a friend to vent my annoyance:  “If this is how things fall apart with one little electrical fault, how will this city ever cope with the Olympic Games?”. It was an opinion repeated often over the next seven years.  We had not managed to complete the O2 Dome on time or on budget; and we did not seem to be able to run an uninterrupted Tube service on any given weekend.  The doom-mongering in the press started early and continued unabated. When the time came to bid for tickets, I told my husband that the best seats in the house would be on the sofa in front of the TV and that I had no desire to buy any tickets at all. Luckily he ignored me ;o)

And then, all of a sudden, the Games were upon us.  Living in the east end of London, we started seeing signs of preparations long before most other people: the main Olympic bus terminal being set up; the beautification of streets; and the unexpected arrival one early morning of two huge cruise ships on the Royal Albert Dock, towering over the UEL campus and lulling me to sleep with the sound of their engines at night. As I took the train from Stratford each day, I had watched the Olympic stadium arise from an abandoned industrial site, growing a little each week, and one morning there they were:  the Olympic rings on the side of the new Aquatics centre.  It was really happening. In the last few days before the Games started, you could feel the excitement in the air and I remember feeling positively carried along by it as I walked to a friend’s house in Bow on the night of the opening ceremony. On the opening weekend we attended two events (rowing and fencing)and we were duly amazed by the slickness of the logistics, the cheeriness of the games volunteers and the incredibly positive spirit of the crowds, who gamely cheered for everyone. Travelling to work each day during the Games was an adventure, with trains going to unexpected destinations and stations permanently full – but everywhere was an air of getting on with it, not drama, and that wonderful positive vibe. I saw strangers talking (usually unheard of on London transport, unless actually having an argument!); I saw volunteers posing for pictures with visitors and shaking small childrens’ hands; and I saw the station staff at Stratford forming a chorus line and giving directions en masse in an impromptu floorshow one morning. I soaked up all the positive energy and came home each night glowing with pride and buzzing with excitement.

Mirabelle plum fool 2 © J Horak-Druiff 2012  All rights reserved

 

And then there were the Games themselves.  The inexplicable rush of emotion when you sing your country’s national anthem at an Olympic event (as I did when we watched South Africa play hockey). The suprising early run of South African gold medals with South Africa’s Chad le Clos unexpectedly beating the great Michael Phelps (and Chad le Clos’s adorably proud and endearingly un-media savvy father!). The ease with which I could support both Team SA and Team GB, and take real pride in both of their successes. The total loveliness of the Olympic park with its abundant wild flower meadows, its natural river and its landscaped green hills. The heart-stopping excitement of nearly every track cycling race in the velodrome.  The heartbreak of Mark Cavendish and the triumph of Wiggo. The soul-lifting roar of the 80,000 strong crowd in the Olympic stadium as they watched the most extraordinary athletic achievements. Iconic images of Jessica Ennis’ tearful winning grin; Mo Farah’s astonished elation; Oscar Pistorius’ grace and determination; Chris Hoy’s podium tears; and Usain Bolt’s unforgettable turn as a press photographer after he defended his 200m gold title. I was riveted, from my first glimpse of the torch relay through my suburb to the final firweork of the closing ceremony. The newspapers, usually a source of depression for me, delivered a daily dose of joy for two weeks. I smiled at people on trains and they smiled back. I said a little prayer of thanks every day that I have the privilege of living in this extraordinary city at this extraordinary time. I love that we pulled it off; that we created some reasons to feel good about ourselves amidst a turbulent decade; that we produced an army of cheerful volunteers who were ambassadors for the London we all aspire to live in; and that the most important people, the athletes themselves, left having had the time of their lives. And even better, the London Paralympics are on track to be the first Paralympic Games in history to be a sell-out event.

They said we would never get the Olympic park ready on time and on budget.  They said the transport system would go into a melt-down of epic proportions as Olympic visitors and commuters battled for space in stations and on trains. They said the creaking Tube system would suffer delays and breakdowns, stranding people for hours in dark tunnels.  They said the Olympic lanes would cause traffic gridlock and prevent Londoners from going about their business. They said the Games would be a magnet for every enemy of Britain with an axe to grind, and that we faced security risks serious enough to justify having missile launchers stationed on Blackheath.  They said it would rain for two weeks solid.  They said the Games would be, at best, a mild embarrassment after Beijing’s show-stopping turn and, at worst, a disaster.

Hah.  We fooled them all.

On the topic of fools, here’s a recipe to delight anybody sitting with a glut of stone fruit at the moment: a fruit fool. Wikipedia tells me that a  foole is first mentioned as a dessert in 1598 and the earliest known recipe for fruit fool dates to the mid 17th century. Why it is called a fool is not clear, but it certainly is simple enoigh for any fool to make 🙂 It consists of a fruit puree mixed with cream, sugar and possibly a flavouring agent such as a spice.  The traditional English Summer favourite s a gooseberry fool, but it works just as well with any other slightly tart fruit – my rhubarb, ginger & cranberry fool being a good example. For my fool, I used the glut of small yellow Mirabelle plums from the neighbour’s tree which were quite tart, so I left out the ginger.  If you used sweeter plums, you might want to reduce the amount of sugar and add the ginger. And to enjoy this taste of summer all year round, make lots of the plum compote and freeze – so you can play the fool all year long!

 

Mirabelle plum fool 2 © J Horak-Druiff 2012

PLUM AND CARDAMOM FOOL (serves 4)

Ingredients:

2 cups chopped and stoned plums
2 tsp minced ginger (optional)
75g caster sugar
2 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
25ml brandy or Cognac
50ml water
600ml double cream (or half and half cream and plain yoghurt)

Method:

Combine the plums, ginger, sugar, brandy, cardamom and water in a small saucepan, mixing well.  Bring to the boil and then simmer gently until the plums start to disintegrate and can be mashed with a fork, and most of the liquid has evaporated – mine took a good 40 minutes or more. Remove from the heat, test for sweetmess and add more caster sugar if desired.

At this point you can use this as a compote and serve it with ice cream; add cream and meringues to make am Eton mess; or freeze the mixture for later use.

To make a fool, allow the plum mixture to cool down to at least room temperature. When cool, be sure to remove the cadramom pods and any seeds that have escaped. Whip the cream until stiff peaks form, then fold the plum mix into the cream, reserving a little of the plain plum mix for garnish.  It’s up to you whether you want visible streaks of fruit in your cream, or whether you go for the fully integrated look.  Serve in pretty glasses,  garnished with the reserved plum mixture.

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  1. Kit says

    November 28, 2012 at 5:19 pm

    I love your retrospective of the Olympics and triumphant hah! in the face of all the doomsayers!
    I was also unenthusiastic about the prospect of the games, but my husband insisted on extending our satellite tv coverage to Supersport, so we could watch the whole thing and I ended up watching evening after evening. It does feel flat now it’s over.

    Reply
  2. Ailbhe says

    November 28, 2012 at 5:20 pm

    Love the ‘fool’ link, hidden DJ talents there : )

    Yes all seems a little flat now but look… on the horizon… Paralympics. Already have some tickets, looking for more. I might turn into a sporty person yet. Well maybe.

    And I also love fools!

    Reply
  3. Barbara : Creative Culinary says

    November 28, 2012 at 5:23 pm

    I have always loved watching the Olympics and get excited about their broadcast each year but I can’t remember a time when I felt such a strange rush of emotions for the country that was holding them. I’ve always held a huge desire for visiting France or Italy but England seemed a bit to mundane and maybe not unique enough to warrant that same sense of wonder. That has all changed. Your adopted city looked and operated in a spectacular fashion. I loved the opening ceremonies; the story they told was more magical than any I can recall.

    I won’t deny a spirit of great pride for our athletes; especially that adorable Missy Franklin who lives and goes to school just minutes from me – she was such a sweet representation of our country that is too often represented by arrogant jackasses (sad but true). But I cheered just as hard for the British athletes; knowing how they must have felt representing their country on their own turf…I wanted them to win BAD.

    A truly wonderful event; you were SO very fortunate to have been there and I’m grateful for your bring us along for the ride.

    Reply
  4. Suletta Du Plessis says

    November 28, 2012 at 5:24 pm

    Hi, I nominated you for the Liebster Award – check out the details on http://suletta.com/2012/08/16/the-liebster-award-my-first-blog-award/

    Reply
  5. Valentina says

    November 28, 2012 at 5:24 pm

    I love this post. You’ve said it all – I share exactly the same feelings as you. And what a lovely fool. I am madly in love with mirabelle plums.

    Reply
  6. Sally - My Custard Pie says

    November 28, 2012 at 5:25 pm

    Great summing up – it must have been fantastic to live so close to the games; we came into London one day and the atmosphere was brilliant. My husband went to boxing and in the two bouts where there weren’t Brits to support the crowd got behind the under-dogs. He said being in a really loud enthusiastic cheering crowd was amazing.

    Reply
  7. Angelika says

    November 28, 2012 at 5:26 pm

    Jeanne, I have definitely loved to hear about your emotions regarding the Olympics! It was in September, 2005 – 2 months after the bombings of the Underground – that we met each other in person in that chocolate shop! I have such warm feelings thinking back to that short visit to London 7 years ago and I have always longed to come back. I have not managed so far, but it is on my top priorities list… Congratulations as for that FANTASTIC performance London and its inhabitants have shown the World – also all Austrian papers have been full of praise and enthusiasm. I was so relieved that all that excitement and joy and those positive vibes were not destroyed by any terroristic act.

    I am happy to read your blog again! Hope we can also meet in person again one day. Kindest regards and big hugs from Vienna – I know that you treasure very special memories just as well regarding my home town!

    Reply
  8. Rosa says

    November 28, 2012 at 5:26 pm

    It seems that a majority of Londoners were enthralled by the games (sports freaks and non-sports freaks alike)… I guess that the atmosphere was magic!

    What a splendid dessert! Fools are perfect when it’s too hot to bake.

    cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply
  9. Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says

    November 28, 2012 at 5:27 pm

    I have to say I passed through London right during the games this summer and was very impressed with how smoothly the airport was running, seems like everything was well planned out!

    Reply
  10. Sarah Pipilini says

    November 28, 2012 at 5:28 pm

    Darling!!!!!!

    Am I glad you started this thread??? And hasn’t it just been ages since our last chin-wag???

    Well, you may not have noticed, but I too was at the Olympics! Indeed. I just had to see for myself what all the hullaballoo was about.

    I mention it to Vlad. You remember him? The Romanian? Anyway, he drove me home and then I got dressed and caught a flight over!

    After the interrogation at the airport I rushed on through to the games for my three day visit.
    On day one they asked me which swimming events I wished to attend? They suggested the breast stroke. I just stared at them. I opted for the 1400m free-style. Much prefer the longer, slower strokes.

    The tension mounted on day two as I watched the shot-put, the pole-vault and some rhythmic gymastics. All of which was thoroughly entertaining, satisfying and yet exhausting.

    Nothing, but nothing could have prepared me for say three though! All I can say is next time they hold the games in London, you simply have to get tickets for the clean-and-jerk and the mens individual gymnastics. Something has got to be said about muscle-bound boys who spread their arms and yet hold their rings so still!!!

    Anyway, thank you so much for asking me about my Olympian experience. It was a blast to catch up!

    I am now taking Spanish lessons in preparations for Rio 2016, I might just get to see Husain bolt!!!

    Love and kisses!!

    Sarah

    Reply
  11. Krista says

    November 28, 2012 at 5:34 pm

    I have goosebumps after reading this post, Jeanne. How beautifully you captured the feel, the hopes, the doomsayers, etc. Wonderful. 🙂 I’m even a little teary because I felt so many of those same feelings when the Winter Olympics were in my homeland of Canada. It was something I will never, ever forget. 🙂

    Reply
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What's your favourite way to eat cauliflower? Up What's your favourite way to eat cauliflower? 

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📸 by @tasteofsavoie
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Pomegranate rails

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Did you try any fakeaway recipes over lockdown? Please let me know in the comments - I would love to hear about it!
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The South African Food and Wine Blog Directory

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Jeanne Horak is a freelance food and travel writer; recipe developer and photographer. South African by birth and Londoner by choice, Jeanne has been writing about food and travel on Cooksister since 2004. She is a popular speaker on food photography and writing has also contributed articles, recipes and photos to a number of online and print publications. Jeanne has also worked with a number of destination marketers to promote their city or region. Please get in touch to work with her Read More…

Latest Recipes

Cauliflower topped steak with melted cheese
Plate of potted smoked salmon with slaw and a glass of champagne
bowls of pistachio pomegranate bircher muesli
Brussels sprouts with chorizo & hazelnuts
Plum upside down cake
plum flapjack crumble
Sesame ginger Brussels sprouts
Jersey-royals-salmon-salad2 © Jeanne Horak 2019

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© 2004 - 2021 · Jeanne Horak unless otherwise stated - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You may not reproduce any text, excerpts or images without my prior permission. Site by RTW Labs

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