Gooseberry fool

• 1 lb (450 g) green gooseberries
• 2 tablespoons water

Put the gooseberries and water into a saucepan, cover with a pan lid, and simmer gently for 10 minutes, or until the fruit is quite soft. Draw the pan off the heat and stir in the sugar – it will dissolve in the hot fruit.

Press the fruit and juices through a nylon sieve into a mixing bowl and allow the Purée to cool. Whip the cream and egg white, if using it, together until thick and l