There is nothing nicer than finding something you had either forgotten or thought was gone forever, such as an outfit hidden in the back of your teenager’s cupboard. Or a Chanel handbag tucked snugly away in its box (unfortunately, this hasn’t happened to me, but I can hope). Or my mother’s evening watch that I had hidden so safely that I couldn’t find it for five years (believe me, I had to make a lot of excuses). One day it was joyously rediscovered, sitting in the bottom of a jug (shows how many jugs I have!).

Even in the kitchen, there is nothing better than discovering an old recipe written on a scrap of curled paper, or torn out from a newspaper, or — even better — written by my grandmother at the back of an old cookery book. Just staring at her writing and thinking about the cake sitting magnificently on a doyley brings it and her back to life.

So today I made a discovery. I am having a dinner party tonight, and was a bit bored by my dessert repertoire. As I was trying on a brand new pink silk shirt dress, it happened, and I assure you it doesn’t happen very often. I realised I had made an outfit mistake. “On no,” I thought, “I look like mutton. I won’t be seen brown bread in this.” And then there was a lightbulb moment, from deep in the dark (very dark) recesses of my mind. And there it was on a plate, ready to serve up.

So this week, what does the Jewish Princess make as she hangs up the pink silk shirt dress in her teenager’s cupboard and then rediscovers a lost black belt? She runs down to the kitchen to whip up her vintage brown-bread ice-cream with a modern JP twist — caramel.

Serves 10

Ingredients

• 130g brown breadcrumbs
• 115g light brown sugar
• 190g granulated sugar
• 150mls water
• 4 large egg yolks
• 575 mls parev cream

Method

• Pre-heat grill
• Mix the breadcrumbs and brown sugar together. Spread the mixture evenly on a baking tray.
• Grill the breadcrumbs for approximately 10-12 minutes or until mixture becomes dark and caramelised.
• Remove from oven and leave to cool.
• When cool, use a wooden spoon and break mixture into bite size pieces.
• Place granulated sugar in a heavy saucepan with 50 mls of water. Heat on a medium light until the sugar has dissolved completely. Let the sugar boil until it turns a light brown, approximately five minutes.
• Slowly add a further 100mls of water into the caramel and simmer until the water has melted into the sugar and the mixture looks light brown. (This takes approximately five minutes).
• Beat egg yolks and pour syrup into them and continue to beat until the mixture thickens.
• Whisk cream and fold in egg mixture and caramelised breadcrumbs.
• Put mixture into container and freeze for at least four hours or more.
• JP’s note: Once rediscovered, will never be lost again