Mike Van de Elzen: Queens Bombe Alaska

Let's celebrate the Queen's Birthday. I have done some research and one of the Queen's favourite desserts is Bombe Alaska!  So, this weekend let's party like the English and prepare a pretty cool dessert (get it, frozen) ice-cream dessert.  We can run through the making of the all-important meringue and the final making up of the bombe.  We served this dish at a function last week and it was such a cool old school memory.  Italian meringue Cook time: 12 minutes Prep time: 30 minutes Serves: 10  350gm sugar  30gm liquid glucose  80ml water  6 egg whites  Bring the sugar, glucose and water together in a pot up to the boil. Start whipping whites.  You want the whites to be stiff, if this is reached before sugar is ready, turn mixer down to low speed to stabilize the whites until sugar is ready.  When sugar reaches 120C take off the heat and slowly pour into whipping whites at a medium speed.  Turn mixer up faster as the sugar blends in. (take care not to pour sugar onto beater as it will spin it around bowl and not into the whites)  When all sugar is in, turn mixer to high and beat until cool and glossy.  The end product should be extremely glossy and quite dense to touch. It should not be runny  Queens Bombe Alaska Cook time: 10 minutes Prep time: 30 minutes Serves: 6  Italian meringue  Vanilla Ice-cream Rolled into balls and then refrozen   Bomb sponge 6 eggs  pinch salt  1 cup caster sugar  1 tsp vanilla essence  10 Tbsp flour  2 tsp baking powder  50 gm unsalted butter, melted  To begin with make up the Italian meringue.  Once made, it's time to make up the bombe, place the ice-cream onto of the round sponge. Pipe the meringue mixture around the ice-cream, layering up around the ice-cream.  Take a blow torch and burn the outside of the meringue until well coloured or (turn the oven to grill and place the bomb’s up high and close to the element) pour a touch of brandy over the top before serving.   For the sponge  Beat eggs and salt. Add sugar and vanilla and beat until thick.  Sift flour and baking powder together.  Fold lightly into egg mixture. Fold in butter.  Pour into greased 20cm tray Bake at 200 for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.  Turn out and cut into small discs.  Mike’s website – goodfromscratch.co.nzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.