A deliciously simple rich chocolate sauce to go with my Aunt's famous lemon meringue icecream.
The night before our wedding I wanted a quiet night. It was to be just the family and one of my bridesmaids (the other one, who was 35 weeks pregnant with twins, was coming up on the day) for a home-cooked meal at our rental house just around the corner from where the main event the following day.
For weeks leading up to the wedding I rattled on about how I had to decide what I wanted for my 'final meal.' Will over-heard me talking to mum one night and piped up 'you're marrying me, not dying, what's it matter?'
I'm not really sure why it mattered but to me it was a special meal. It was my last 'family' dinner where I would be a Kelly so a traditional Kelly meal was in order. I requested a simple roast chicken with mum's famous potato bake and green beans. There was a thought of dad making his famous bugs but we didn't want to risk any sort of food poisoning (if the bugs were bad not dad's cooking!) so a chicken seemed a lot safer.
For dessert - mum's, actually mum's sister's, lemon meringue ice cream. I first tasted this while staying with my aunt in Spain and I was in love. I think I may have even had two helpings which was just what I needed after 5 weeks in Europe.
It's sort of a cross between a semifreddo, ice-cream and maybe a plain pavlova and it is one of my absolute favourite desserts. It's lemony like sorbet but still nice and creamy and has surprise bits of crunch from the meringue which strangely doesn't melt.
Now don't be appalled but it is best served with chocolate sauce. I know, lemon and chocolate don't seem like they'd work that well together but there is something magical about this dessert.
I've included the recipe for my made up chocolate sauce that goes against the rules of chocolate and uses water instead of cream. If you make this dessert you must try it with chocolate sauce. Trust me. Enjoy!
What about you? Did you/would you have a special meal the night before your wedding? What do you think of the chocolate/lemon combo?
- 3 teaspoon cornflour
- ¾ cup lemon juice
- ¾ cup caster sugar
- 2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- 2L vanilla ice-cream
- 4 big meringues, crushed
- 200ml Greek yoghurt
- In a small bowl, stir the corn flour with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
- Pour the remaining lemon juice into a small saucepan with the sugar and lemon zest and heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved.
- Bring to a simmer and simmer for 5 minutes or until thickened slightly.
- Add the cornflour mixture and stir it through then remove the pot from the heat and set aside to cool to room temperature.
- Soften the ice cream and place it in a large bowl.
- Fold through the lemon mixture, crushed meringues and yoghurt.
- Line a cake tin with plastic wrap and scoop the mixture into it then flatten with a spatula.
- Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm.
- Serve in slices with chocolate sauce.
Recipe
Chocolate sauce
Ingredients
- 100 g good-quality dark chocolate
- ½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 4 tablespoon icing sugar
- 4 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Place the ingredients in a heat-proof bowl and microwave for 30 seconds.
- Take out and stir until everything is melted together.
- If the sauce thickens, add a little more water and microwave again for 10 seconds at a time giving it a very good stir between each heating.
Nutrition
Katy Potaty says
Yes, we DID have a special 'last un-married meal', at Bucci in Port Douglas with Bradley - all the family was getting together for a loud, raucous night, and we snuck off to get all gooey and mushy. I love thinking about you and I doing things at the exact same time when we were getting married!
Claire says
Ooh yum. You guys are so cute!
Nic@diningwithastud says
I totally understand :) I had a big family BBQ and ate everything in site haha. Dieting for almost a year and the day before the wedding I pigged out on Kettle chips lol.
I need to make this ice cream - it looks soooo good!
Claire says
haha and it's like ... what difference is one day going to make?!
The Life of Clare says
That's a great but funny idea. Like your mum said, you're not dying ;-). We ate lasagne with salad the night before, both j and my families were there, with our wedding party. It was really a lovely weekend! This looks delicious, I've been thinking about making something similar for your meringue madness sweet adventures blog hop, but now I'll think again.
Claire says
Ooh I'll look forward to it!
The Café Sucre Farine says
It's so funny to me how there are some foods that when you try them for the first time, they create a memory that goes with you all your life. I love that you recreated your aunt's delicious ice cream. It does sound a bit strange with chocolate sauce on top but I trust you Claire, if you say it's good, then good it is!!
Claire says
Yay glad you trust me Chris!
corrie says
Well it was so hot here in Sydney today (31C) that my husband and I decided to have our first visit to the gelataria this season. He chose his three favourite flavours as usual....chocolate, lemon and pistachio... so if I make your dessert I only need to sprinkle it with pistachio and he will be in heaven! :-)
Claire says
Ooh that would be delicious!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
I think a special meal for a woman who's leaving her parents and "cleaving" is the perfect thing. Maybe even more so for your parents.
I saw the chocolate sauce on the lemon and did a teensy "ewww" but then I read that it sounds weird but is delicious and I will take you at your word and give this a try. I have a big bag of lemons to use this week.
Claire says
Yep totally sounds revolting but it's really good!
Hotly Spiced says
It's lovely that you were calm enough to have a final meal. I think I was in a state of chaos and in a flood of tears because the beautician had used black on my eyebrows instead of brown and when looking in the mirror I did not know myself. I love the look of this ice cream and have pinned it xx
Claire says
Oh no how awful!