Pear Jelly

• 15 x 2 g (1/16 oz) gelatine leaves or 1½ tablespoons powdered gelatine
• 600 ml (21 fl oz) pear poaching liquid
• 500 ml (17 fl oz/2 cups) water

Orange Jelly

• 18 x 2 g (1/16 oz) gelatine leaves or 2¼ tablespoons powdered gelatine
• 800 ml (28 fl oz) freshly squeezed orange juice, strained
• 200 ml (7 fl oz) water
• 200 g (7 oz) caster (superfine) sugar

Crème Anglaise

• 750 ml (26 fl oz/3 cups) milk
• 200 g (7 oz) caster (superfine) sugar
• 1 vanilla bean, split lengthways
• 9 egg yolks, lightly beaten
• 1 layer sponge cake
• 185 ml (6 fl oz/¾ cup) sherry
• 4 peaches, stones removed and cut into eighths
• 250 g (9 oz) strawberries, hulled and halved

To make the pear jelly, soak the gelatine leaves in a large container of cold water for 2–3 minutes, to soften. If using powdered gelatine, place in a bowl with 100 ml (3½ fl oz) of the water and stir to dissolve. Put the pear poaching liquid and water in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to the boil, skimming off any impurities that rise to the surface. Remove from the heat. Lift the gelatine leaves from the water, squeezing out any excess water, then drop them into the hot pear syrup and stir to dissolve. If using powdered gelatine, add the gelatine mixture to the hot syrup and stir to dissolve. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve. Set aside to cool. Pour into a bowl and refrigerate overnight to set.

To make the orange jelly, soak the gelatine leaves in a large container of cold water for 2–3 minutes, to soften. If using powdered gelatine, place in a bowl with 100 ml (3½ fl oz) of the water and stir to combine. Put the water and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar, remove from the heat as soon as it boils. Lift the gelatine leaves from the water, squeezing out any excess water, then drop them into the hot sugar syrup and stir to dissolve. If using powdered gelatine, add the gelatine mixture to the hot syrup and stir to dissolve. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve. Set aside to cool slightly, then stir in the orange juice. Pour into a bowl and refrigerate overnight to set.

To make the crème anglaise, put the milk and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Scrape the vanilla seeds from the bean and add the seeds and bean to the pan. Stir until almost boiling to dissolve the sugar, then remove from the heat.

Pour the warm milk mixture into a bowl with the lightly beaten egg yolks and whisk well to combine. Pour this mixture back into the saucepan over low–medium heat, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon for 8-12 minutes, or until the custard thickens slightly — be careful not to boil the custard or it will curdle. The common test to see if the custard is cooked in a professional kitchen is to lift the spoon from the custard and run your finger along the back of the spoon; if the line made by your finger remains clear the custard is cooked. Pour the custard through a fine sieve and whisk for a few minutes to cool. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed.

To assemble the trifle, cut the sponge cake into 3-4 cm (1¼-1½ inch) cubes and place in a large serving bowl. Sprinkle the sherry over the cake. Scatter over the combined fruit. Cut the jellies into 2-3 cm (¾-1¼ inch) cubes and scatter over the cake and fruit. Pour half the crème anglaise over the top and place in the refrigerator for about 2 hours to allow the custard to soak through. Serve with the extra crème anglaise passed around in a jug.