{Knickerbocker Glory}

I don't know if you know this or not, but yesterday was a very important day.

It was Dudley Dursley's birthday.

Ok, first of all, I can hear the non- Harry Potter fans sighing already. "ANOTHER Harry Potter post?"

I'm sorry, I have a problem.

Then, I can hear the fans sighing, saying, "Tina, really? You are celebrating DUDLEY'S birthday??"

Well, no, not really. See, the second chapter of the Sorcerer's Stone/Philosopher's Stone, the one in which we actually MEET Harry, takes place on Dudley's birthday.

For Dud's birthday, they go to the London Zoo.

"They ate in the zoo restaurant, and when Dudley had a tantrum because his knickerbocker glory didn't have enough ice cream on top, Uncle Vernon bought him another one and Harry was allowed to finish the first."  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Chapter 2

I'm totally not making this to celebrate mean ole Diddykins. This is all about Harry. :) It is in this chapter that we are introduced to who he is. It is in this chapter that we start to fall for the messy, black haired, bespectacled orphan.

Now, as an American, I had to wonder, what the heck was a knickerbocker glory? I, of course, googled it. I finally decided it was time to make and post on here.

A Knickerbocker Glory is a fruit and ice cream sundae. I did a lot of reading up on the subject.  I know, I know, I have problems (see above).

It seems it originated in the 1930's as a British Seaside treat. It is served in a tall glass to allow for all the layers. There seems to be no actual right or wrong way to make a Knickerbocker Glory, but traditional ingredients are strawberries, grapes, peaches and bananas along with a fruit sauce. Other fruits can be used, as well as a chocolate sauce, but all are less traditional. They are layered in the glass starting with the fruit, then the ice cream, then the sauce. Repeat. A KBG has at least 2 layers of ice cream. It is topped with "squirter cream" as  the British recipes call for. This would be what we American's know as canned whipped cream. It can then be topped with nuts, if desired, and some form of fancy wafer cookie. Unfortunately, I forgot to buy those, so a Vanilla Wafer had to do. According to recipes, you can use fresh or "tinned" (canned) fruit, fruit cocktail, or a mixture of both. I also forgot to put the cherry on top. Oops. What was I thinking?!

Anyway you slice it, you've got a fruit and ice cream sundae and who can say no to that? Well, Dudley, who obviously wanted more ice cream and less fruit. That's ok though, it worked out well for Harry.

For my KBG, I used sliced strawberries and peaches. I also made a simple strawberry sauce by blending up a few strawberries and adding a bit of sugar (just add to taste).

Sadly, it was over 90 degrees outside yesterday, so my layers kind of melted. It's still pretty though, eh?

Tastes good too!

So, here's a fun new treat to make for pudding (British speak for dessert).

Also, if you, like me, ever wondered just exactly what a Knickerbocker Glory is, now you know.

Read even more here.

Tina

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Knickerbocker Glory

Ice cream
Fresh or canned fruit
Whipped Cream
Nuts (if desired)
Fruit based ice cream sauce
Cherry
Wafer cookie

Layer fruit, ice cream, sauce, fruit, ice cream sauce in a tall glass.

Top with whipped cream, nuts, cherry, and a wafer cookie