At the ripe old age of thirty-something I finally got around to getting myself a proper blow torch. I have wanted a blow torch for years as I have struggled in vain to make perfect crème brûlée and crema Catalana the 'other' way - under the grill. So the other day while I was out shopping with Hoover I decided that it was about time that the 'blow torch moratorium' be lifted.

The reason for the 'agreed' moratorium in the first place was due to the fact that whilst I was pregnant and breastfeeding I became an absolute scatter-brain. Hence, the high levels of prolactin in my system at the time temporarily rendered me a 'risk' to the community.




My first hormone induced faux pas was around the 36 week mark of my first pregnancy. I carefully parked our relatively new black Volkswagen Golf in the driveway. It's all a bit of a blur now, but apparently I failed to leave the car in gear and didn't pull the hand break up fully. When I had to run an errand two hours later I realised that the car had moved considerably and had smashed into the garage door. When I tried to explain myself to the lovely panel beater he kindly suggested that maybe I should give up driving until after the birth and after I had finished breastfeeding.

I would love to say that this was a one off incident - but then I would be lying.

Then there was the time I accidentally locked both myself and our thenfour month old son out of the house. Luckily then I lived next door to Berice, a seventy year old retired nurse. She kindly made cups of tea for me all afternoon in between cuddling and playing with my oblivious baby boy. The tea party ended when a very concerned Huxley came home from work that night and kindly let his family back into the house.

There was also an incident involving me leaving my brand new pair of Armani sunglasses on the roof of the car after I had securely strapped Fussy into his child restraint. I then blissfully drove off into the sunset to the sound of the Wiggles blaring on the stereo. It was not until I reached for my sunglasses that I realised the error of my ways.

Thankfully those days are over and my blow torch is now here to stay!

Cardamom Crème Brûlée
 

Ingredients

600ml thick cream

6 organic egg yolks

¼ cup castor sugar

6 cardamom pods, slightly crushed


Extra castor sugar to sprinkle & torch the top of the crèmes


Method

1. Preheat the oven to 150C/302F/Gas 2.

2. Heat the cream and cardamom pods to just below boiling point. Set it aside for 20 minutes or so to allow it to infuse. Meanwhile mix the egg yolks and sugar until well combined. Gently reheat the cream and then slowly whisk it into the egg mixture. Stir constantly and try to avoid turning the mixture into scrambled eggs.

3.  Strain the mixture into a large jug and then pour it into 6 small ramekins. Place the ramekins in a deep roasting pan and pour enough boiling water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins.

4. Bake for 30 minutes until the crème is just set. Allow to cool in the fridge for 3-4 hours.

5. Once set sprinkle the top of each crème with an even layer of caster sugar. I used approximately 1 tbsp per ramekin. Then grab your trusty little blow torch and set about caramelising the tops of the crèmes. You can set your blow torch down once the tops of the crèmes are a dark golden colour.