Thursday, February 3, 2011

Pavlova for Danaya


so....where does the time fly...it has been year since I have posted anything....and as usual it is my good friends...that/keep get me going!
About a year ago my nice friend Danaya from Belarus...was pregnant going to have her wonderful first baby, and we had a baby shower for her, where I made a Pavlova for her,,, well she liked it and has asked for the receipt.....sooo here it is for you Danaya

There is a controversy about whether this famous desert comes ....Australia or New Zealand...but no matter it is so yummy and so easy to make, and funnily enough you do not see it much in the U S! It is said to have been named after a famous ballerina...Anna Pavlova...who so ooo very wonderfully deliriously light !!

here we go
4 egg whites(of course at room temp)
250 caster sugar(if you can find it) if not normal
1 tablespoon cornflour
2 teaspoon (plain or white) vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence

TO Finish
450ml double(whipping)cream
500 grams strawberries
ooorrrr as I like it ...lots of strawberries...raspberries..blackberries..blueberries....I am looking for a mix of colors(I have a theory on the color mixture of food, more on that another time!)
and , if you can find , fresh mint leaves for garnish(and breath...valentines day is coming :-))
time to start!

line a large baking sheet with wax paper(nonstick)
whisk the egg whites in large bowl until stiff
ggrraaddddduuallly beat in the sugar,until the egg whites are very firm and glossy
fold in the cornflour, vinegar, and vanilla essence
pile the meringue on to the lined baking sheet and spread it out with a spoon to make a large round or oval at least 10 inches wide(or a few smaller ones)
I like to make large well in the middle..with the outer edges higher
bake in preheated oven on 250 for 2-3 hours until meringue is crisp but not colored
(some times I will make the meringue the night before and just leave the meringue in the oven with the oven door a jar)
allow the meringue to cool completely before peeling off the wax paper
shortly before serving....whip up your cream until thick and lovely
now you get to make pretty.....scatter and strewn your berries on top of the cream....a few lovely green leafs of mint.......yyuummmmmmm
(now a note to Danaya....do you have a photo for me to attach to this post??:-))