I feel an overwhelming urge to share with you my Pavlova success. I could pretend that I was suffering from a strawberry glut just as Anna at Greentapestry is but no one who knows me would believe me as they all know I don’t grow edibles. No I was completely taken in by Waitrose’s marketing ploy where they supply on an aisle end a weekly recipe either by Delia Smith or Heston Blumenthal with all the ingredients you need. This is the first time I have succumbed to the whole package, although I have picked up a few of the recipes.
Now I have made Pavolvas before but the last one was a disaster and I have avoided them since. This weekend I decided it was time to face my fears and give it another go. As it was so ridiculously hot I didn’t want to have the oven on for an hour in the middle of the day, so I made the meringue base on Saturday evening and then took Delia’s advice and left it to dry out in the oven. In fact I left mine until the following afternoon. The cream in the middle is a simple mix of mascarpone cheese, fromage frais and sugar and then you make a simple strawberry puree to pour over the top.
The assembly complete I took a quick photo of my masterpiece which was lucky as just after I took the photo there was a snappy sound and the meringue started to crack. The reason is that I should have put it on a completely flat plate instead of a dinner plate with a dip in the centre!
The verdict from my teenage sons was yum yum yum yum – all gone!!!
This is such a simple pudding but it looks very glamorous and as if you have taken loads of time making it. definitely, a pudding to impress with!! So if you are invited to a BBQ this summer and need to take a pud give it a go, though if it were me I would do the final assembly when you get there.
If you would like the recipe you can access it from the Waitrose website here
So no Eton mess then? Well done, I’m proud of you! And next time leave a piece for me too.
I want a big plate, thank you.
Saw Delia whip one of these up but me and meringues are like oil and water – I mix, it sinks to the bottom! You have given me the courage to try yet again. Looks gorgeous – well done
Laura x
I had a version many years ago with both white and dark Belgian chocolate pieces, blueberries and raspberries and whipped cream laced with Grand Marnier – you know anything involving berries, cream, cheese and meringue – how could you ever go wrong? Your sons were very lucky young men.
Mmmmmmmmmmm – naughty but nice. I am away from my strawberry patch for a couple of days but maybe one to try when I get home. I am not surprised that it did not last long
Oh my Helen, that looks absolutely delicious! I haven’t heard of this dessert before, but I can see I’ll want to try it.
I’ve never heard of this before, but it sounds and looks so good!
Patiopatch – Delia says you start the whisking of the eggs slowly so they dont collapse, maybe thats where you went wrong
Barbarapc – that sounds completely decadent and yummy
Linda/Catherine – Pavlova is named after a ballet dancer (I think), it is popular in the summer here in the UK, loaded with lots of yummy summer berries