Dessert

Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, serves a large piece of good cheese, on a board or large platter, place on vine leaves, or sometimes hydrangea leaves. She then adds piles of dried apricots, crackers, some grapes and a bowl of chutney. Very simple but very effective and pretty to look at.

Very easy Coffee Mousse
* vary quantity according to your taste

1 can (approx 375ml) of evaporated milk
2 tablespoons of castor sugar *
1 tbs instant coffee.*
2 tsp gelatine dissolved in hot water

Beat evap milk until soft peaks form and it is about doubled in volume, add in sugar and coffee, beat until dissolved and then slowly pour in the dissolved gelatine.

Pour into individual glasses or bowls and refrigerate until set.
OR
Pour into one dish, cover in whipped cream and sprinkle grated chocolate over top.

One of my old favourites, Banoffee pie ...

In a loose bottomed tin. Crumbed biscuit/melted butter base. Tin of condensed milk, simmered & stirred until it begins to thicken/caramelise, then pour over the base. Refrigerate until set. Cover with sliced bananas, then whipped double cream. Top with shaved chocolate.
Prepare the base with biscuit/condensed milk the day before, and it's quick to finish it off on the day.

My own favourite, family love it.
Chocolate chip cookies soaked in white wine (or apple juice) layered with whipped cream and topped with cream layer and grated chocolate. 3-4 cookies for each dish. Chilled in fridge.

Some good ideas here.

Apple crumble and lots pf good quality ice cream. Seasonal, easy and delicious.

Syllabub is easy and delicious and no cooking!

Last time we went to a friend 'who doesn't do puddings' she gave us a choice of Magnums!!

Cheat's Banoffee pie uses bought caramel in a tin or jar of dulce de leche, and you could even use a ready - made pastry case instead of the biscuit base.
www.mykidstime.com/food-and-recipes/banoffee-pie/

I you want a bought dessert, I can recommend M&S ultimate trifle.

This is the trifle, serves 6.

Tesco profiteroles?
Everybody seems to love profiteroles. If you can get salted caramel chocolate topped ones and mix with ordinary choc topped ones they look very attractive.
Serve with fresh, unwhipped double cream.

lemon meringue ice cream. Served with some kind of fruit compote or coulis and a bought shortbread if necessary.

We have people coming on Sunday, I'm doing individual summer puddings, it'll get rid of some of the soft fruit in the freezer!

Thank you everyone ?

I once bought a variety of exotic fruit and prepared each one at the table and passed them round. People could try new things- or not- and it generated interest and lots of chat

M&S!
If I can’t be bothered, or I’m extra busy, that’s my go-to.

Asda’s Extra-Special Sticky Toffee Pudding was an absolute favourite of a niece from abroad who used to visit from boarding school - I made a point of buying it every time she was with us.

Grandmabatty

Ice cream with hot espresso coffee poured over. It's called affogato. Top with cream and a chocolate coffee bean

This is gorgeous! I’m not a ‘pudding person’, but this is a favourite of mine.

. Frozen puff pastry rolled out to dinner plate size.
. Sliced fruit plums, apples pears peaches etc choose your favourite.
. Sprinkle with 4 tblspns caster sugar.
. Bake in hot oven. Around 20 mins
. Dot with appropriate jam/jelly and put back on oven to glaze and brown.

Try profiteroles. From Aldi. Lots of runny chocolate sauce. Would be great with good quality chocolate ice cream

When I go to dinner parties and to visit friends I go to see them and enjoy their company. I really don’t mind what dessert they have but would be equally as pleased with fresh fruit or cheese and biscuits as some fancy home made pud. Think I’d go for either of the above or buy a ready made dessert to compliment the main course from one of the supermarkets. Have a great time with your friends whatever you choose.

I made a lovely fruit crumble from the garden yesterday (pear, plum and blackberry) I loosely followed this recipe

I loosely followed this recipe

I often loosely follow recipes!

I would be happy with fruit and a cheese board too fwiw
These threads are funny! someone always complains about what other people suggest

Callistemon

^I loosely followed this recipe^

I often loosely follow recipes!

Only way to do it I reckon it's why my cakes are always crap and require a visit to the dentist

The only recipe I usually follow exactly is a Christmas cake recipe but the year I made Jamaican Black Fruit cake and sloshed in the rum etc was the best one!

Ohh that sounds nice I'm coming to you for Christmas