“ Type: Frozen Food „
I confess I have been seduced! I yielded to temptation! And I can't wait to be tempted again. How did that happen?
Sad I know, but it happened in Tesco. I was looking in the freezer cabinets and saw a range of PUDZ. I love puddings and usually make my own, but I was feeling lazy and also saw the offer of two boxes for £2.
My husband loves Bread and Butter pudding, and I HATE it! So I saw a chance to treat him and indulge my passion too! My absolute favourite is the Panna Cotta with Raspberry Compote. I'm not sure if I should tell you about it, as you may go and buy them all! But I'm a generous soul at heart and I will tell you about this gorgeous pudding but I certainly wouldn't share it. Not even a spoonful, because it's all mine.
Where did I find it?
In the freezer section of the puddings, I know Tesco have them and I believe Sainsbury's do too, but not sure if stocked anywhere else.
What does it look like?
The cube shaped box is just over 9cm each side and brightly coloured. The top and one side of the box is divided into 4, with the name PUDZ in one corner with the letters PU over the DZ, (classy!) also Trial price any 2 for £2, a picture of the Panna Cotta and the name in the fourth box. It is quite distinctive and different from any other pudding in Tesco's cabinets. The best before date on my box is January 2008.
What is Panna Cotta?
Panna cotta is an Italian dessert made by simmering together some cream, milk and sugar, mixing this with gelatine, before letting it cool until set. Usually it is served with a fruit sauce. PUDZ seems to use modified maize starch rather than gelatine to set the dessert.
Is it good for me?
Well it does contain milk, and that is good for my calcium levels and bones! It has fruit and we are encouraged to eat fruit.
OK, I'm kidding myself, it contains 29% single cream and 26% double cream plus an undisclosed amount of sugar, plus 4% of Raspberry puree. But it is free from artificial colours, flavourings and preservatives so that is a good point! The whole pudding contains 210g and although they don't give you the calorific values for the dessert they do give it per 100g and it is 256 kcals per 100 so that is a whacking 537! Seduction comes at a cost! I can just see me needing a whole new wardrobe!
It is also suitable for vegetarians.
What do I do?
You can't be impulsively seduced when you look in the freezer with this PUDZ, it needs to be defrosted for about 1 hr - 1¼ hours. (Other ones which need heating only take about 5 minutes in the microwave or longer in the oven.)
And this is what you do . Remove the two black plastic containers from the box, the smaller one has the sauce - just leave to defrost. The taller tub contains the Panna Cotta, remove the film from the top and run under hot water for 10 seconds or place in a bowl of hot water for a few seconds until it loosens the dessert enough to turn out into a dish. Leave until defrosted, and when ready take off the film from the sauce and pour over the Panna Cotta. Simple, and now it's ready to eat.
What does it taste like?
The creamy dessert is just that, creamy. It is a rich vanilla dessert. The smoothest texture I have come across, just right to melt in the mouth and although delicious on its own, the generous portion of raspberry compote which does contain several whole raspberries actually enhances the flavour and prevents it from being sickly. The sauce isn't over sweet, but equally isn't too sharp. The manufacturers have found a perfect recipe. You feel quite sexy as the smooth panna cotta melts in your mouth! Savour each mouthful, it is truly delicious and very satisfying.
A bit about PUDZ.
Made in the UK by Greencore Frozen food, it says on the box that "as pudding lovers we hope you enjoy our Pudz as much as we do.
And do I enjoy it as much as them?
YES! YES! YES!
PS Did you know STRESSED when reversed spells DESSERTS!
Frozen dessert. With vanilla cream.