The Perfect Patio Parfait
sarah's space canada
(Jul.07.09)
Sigh. Isn’t summer just the best? You’ll have to pardon me but I’m still basking in my vacation glow. I’ve just returned from a mini-break along the New England coast. Oh bliss. I really do think I was meant to live in a little stone house with the ocean in my backyard. My vacation began in Newport, Rhode Island (clapboard houses and old-money mansion photos coming soon) and then continued in Old Lyme, Connecticut for a visit with favourite relatives (fresh lobster dinner report also to come). These are just a few of the souvenirs from my trip that I plan to share with you.
But for now, I would like to start by sharing a delicious dessert recipe I had while away, the most perfect patio parfait. What makes me love it so, you ask? Or maybe you don’t but I’ll tell you just the same. It’s the smooth mocha-rum flavour. It’s absolute heaven to eat, and according to my most gracious hostess, quite easy to make; thus making it my new favourite dinner party finale.
So here is my aunt's recipe, clipped as you can see from a 1993 edition of either the New Haven Register or Journal (she isn’t entirely sure which), complete with her chef's notes. As for my uncle's notes (he's the bartender of the household), he recommends "Rhum Barbancourt," Estate Reserve from Port au Prince, Haiti for both the recipe and as a pairing to sip (you will get absolutely no argument here from me).
While my experience is that this frozen rum parfait is best enjoyed after fireworks by a crackling fire on the Fourth of July, I’m certain you’ll enjoy it any time of the year (even Christmas according to the notes). I know I’m going to try!
(PS- Apologies for the missing image, but by the time I thought about sharing the recipe with all of you my parfait glass was already scraped clean.)
Thought that was sweet? You'll enjoy: