Prue: It’s trifling but I cheat all the time when I cook
GREAT British Bake Off judge Prue Leith has admitted she cuts corners with her own puddings, even confessing “I cheat all the way”. Despite being a top cook, Prue, 84, says she can be lazy with her desserts.
She explained: “My family’s favourite pud is trifle. “But I cheat all the way. I spread slices of any leftover cake thickly with any jam, soak them in sherry, brandy, rum or whisky – or any of those liqueurs forgotten in the back of the cupboard. “Next comes the custard – straight out of a packet and mixed three parts custard to one of double cream.
“I prefer packet to tinned custard, and even to fresh custard from the chilled shelves, which is delicious but too liquid to hold its shape. It’s years since I made the real thing.
“I then top it with more double cream, whipped this time. “Then scatter the top with anything I can find: chopped dried apricots, mixed peel, chocolate truffles, glacé cherries, walnuts or pecans, freezedried raspberries, mint sprigs, fresh berries or orange segments.”
Writing in The Oldie magazine, she added: “These days, I only cook elaborately and classically very rarely, and for the pleasure of it.
“Otherwise, I’m shameless. My next book will be called ‘Life’s too short to stuff a mushroom’, a title I nicked from the great Shirley Conran.”
Prue was back on our screens last night in Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer, where Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker and singer Paloma Faith tried their hand at baking in the tent.
And Prue said like her trifle, it is very easy work when it comes to the famous faces on the show.
She added: “The lovely thing about Celebrity Bake Off, generally, is we have to do so little work.
“It’s always much more difficult for the presenters. When they’re dealing with ordinary bakers who are concentrating… you know, they’re not television stars, they don’t automatically tell a joke, they just get on with their baking. It’s up to the presenters to draw them out, make them relax.
Competitive
“But the celebs… the minute they’re in the tent, it’s like being on the stage, they just take it over. The presenters have to do practically nothing except feed them the odd stooge line.
“They are all competitive, these people, that’s how they’ve got to the top of their profession.
“And so then they start to really try. All of that’s great. But the thing I like is you know you’re not ruining their lives when you send them home.”
●●The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer is on Channel 4 and on demand.