Eat More Gelatine!

Blimey! Dessert?

Yes, indeed! Dessert ... and jelly, at that!

I'm going to get shot down here, but jelly is a superb paleo dessert.

Like many, I've been reading some Ray Peat. I don't subscribe, but I refuse to leave empty-handed.

Two takeaways for me: First, maybe work more fruit in; Second, don't neglect gelatine.

Skin, cartilage and marrow are the most gelatinous parts of a cut and so, cuts straight through, containing the bones, connective tissue and skin are best. Lamb Shanks, anyone?

But, how to work in more gelatine otherwise?

Well, gelatine comes in a couple of easy to use forms: sheets and powder. I use sheets regularly since I absolutely adore Panna Cotta. Set cream.

Jelly is my compromise. I don't like fruit, but wild berries are fine by me in season and surplus stored in the freezer for use out of season. I'm okay with grape juice, too, so long as it's fermented and French.

We can fool ourselves all we like about the health benefits of red wine, because in the end, it's the grape itself which is the good bit ... and so, my jelly is simply red grape juice, set with gelatine.

Day 1

Make jelly, simply by setting red grape juice with gelatine*.

Chill.

Day 2

Make Panna Cotta**. Half and half cream is good, a touch of vanilla and sufficient gelatine* to set. Pour over, gently.

Chill.

Day 3

Eat and enjoy ...

Chill!

Omnomnomnomnomnom

* Let's just clarify this. Your gelatine will have a guide around what volume of liquid a given amount will set. You know the volumes (if not, just measure it) so just put in the relevant amount of gelatine, following the guidance, and you're done.

** More clarification. Simply take these ingredients and warm 'em up in a pan, pour out into glasses or ramekins and you're done. Need more help? Have a nose at this and this.

Chocolate Panna Cotta

Few desserts excite me, but Panna Cotta is one. Ice Cream and Cheesecake are the remainder of that very short list.

How do you make Panna Cotta even better? Add chocolate!

Cream, milk, cocoa and some berries on top. Perfection!

If you're not down with dairy as part of your paleo lifestyle, this really is not for you ... but I would encourage you to consider it - it is a great pack of fat, good dairy and an ideal dish with which to enjoy some berries.

Having primal tastes, the over sugared offerings in hermetically sealed packaging from the supermarket really does not cut it!

Here's how to keep it paleo ...

Use the ramekins that you will be pouring the dessert into as measures.

Warm up cream and milk, or buttermilk. I go for equal quantities of each since I love cream. If you're concerned about using milk, just go for all cream. Maybe experiment with yoghurt, mascarpone, raw milk ... do what you feel is right for you.

Warm up ... don't boil, don't get it frothy, don't get it excited ... just warm it up.

Add a good tablespoon of cocoa powder per ramekin of liquid. Stir this in well, whisking in if necessary to get all the lumps out. Keep stirring to ensure that the cocoa is really well combined.

Meanwhile, soften some gelatine.

Gelatine comes in many forms, but I like beef gelatine in sheets. The packet will tell you how much you need for the quantity of liquid, but do err just on the slight side - you want that classic wobble, not fully set.

Once softened, and with the cream blend warmed through, squeeze out the gelatine and drop it into the warm liquid.

Stir it through and then pour out into ramekins.

Back up ... you missed that, didn't you?

It's really that simple - soften the amount of gelatine required for the volume you've made and just stir it in. You could add sweetener in, but I don't like to - Panna Cotta done right is pure! Cream ... that's it.

Dress with a few berries - strawberries would be an obvious choice, perhaps with a little sprig of mint. I went with a few blueberries.

Sweeter berries will form a perfect counterpoint to the bitterness of the dark cocoa, which is initially offset by the fattiness of the cream, but an additional sweetness will really bring out the best in all the flavours.

Enjoy! I'm sure you will ...

Panna Cotta

Oooh! Dessert?

Yes, new territory!

I am not a huge fan of dessert, quite simply because I like savoury things and I am almost always fully satiated after a starter and main, or an amuse bouche and main course.

There are very few desserts that I have any time for, but my top three are:

Ice Cream
Cheesecake
Panna Cotta

I absolutely adore ice cream. I don't like it all the time, but if we're out for a meal out, socialising, or whatever, when it comes to dessert ... just some ice cream for me.

If I'm pushing the boat out, I'll have some cheesecake. This is one dish I need to make paleo. Served over a biscuit base, set not baked and with a little fruit on top - perfection! Drop the biscuit and we have a paleo cheesecake.

Few desserts excite me any further, but Panna Cotta is that one.

Cream, milk, vanilla and some fruit.

If you're not down with dairy as part of your paleo lifestyle, this really is not for you ... but I would encourage you to consider it - it is a great pack of fat, good dairy and an ideal dish with which to enjoy some berries.

Having primal tastes, the over sugared offerings in hermetically sealed packaging from the supermarket really does not cut it!

Here's how to keep it paleo ...

Warm up cream and milk, or buttermilk. I go for equal quantities of each since I love cream. If you're concerned about using milk, just go for all cream. Maybe experiment with yoghurt, mascarpone, raw milk ... do what you feel is right for you.

Warm up ... don't boil, don't get it frothy, don't get it excited ... just warm it up.

Drop in a dried vanilla stalk to soak, or scrape out the seeds from a fresh stalk and mix into the cream.

Meanwhile, soften some gelatine.

Gelatine comes in many forms, but I like beef gelatine in sheets. The packet will tell you how much you need for the quantity of liquid, but do err just on the slight side - you want that classic wobble, not fully set.

Once softened, and with the cream blend warmed through, squeeze out the gelatine and drop it into the warm liquid.

Stir it through and then pour out into ramekins.

Back up ... you missed that, didn't you?

It's really that simple - soften the amount of gelatine required for the volume you've made and just stir it in. You could add sweetener in, but I don't like to - Panna Cotta done right is pure! Cream ... that's it.

Cool in the fridge overnight and serve up ...

With what? Fruit!

Soften some fruit in some liquor with a little sugar.

Sugar!? Okay ... glucose. I use glucose syrup, or honey.

Honey is natural, but it's still a disaccharide and we can improve. Glucose is useful to the body, and a good sweetener. Just a little - this is a treat!


With regard to honey. Is it primal? Would something like agave nectar be better?

Well, I'll link to a few resources and you can make your own mind up:
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-definitive-guide-to-sugar/
http://www.westonaprice.org/modern-foods/agave-nectar-worse-than-we-thought
http://jonnybowdenblog.com/the-truth-about-agave-nectar-it%E2%80%99s-all-hype/

... and so:
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/is-honey-a-safer-sweetener/ ... I tend to think so, but pure glucose is fine.

Purists can leave out the glucose - most fruit is sweet enough anyway, and when combined with a little liquid (go on ... get some vodka, or gin in there) reduces really well. The glucose is really just for the sticky sheen.

With the sauce ready, loosen the Panna Cotta by placing the ramekins into a bowl of hot water.

Drop out onto a plate and spoon over the sweet fruit and accompany with a fine wine - Monbazillac?