PAVOLVA - Yum

One of my friends came home from his mission last week, and his mum asked me to make a couple of my Pavlovas for his coming home party!!  It's a recipe which came from my sister... who got it from another friend... and is fabulous.  Everyone who eats it, loves it.  It's soft and squidgy in the middle and is so easy.  You can use whatever fruit you like...  I find that it's the arranging of the fruit that takes the longest!!! 

I made a Raspberry one and a Strawberry one

Recipe is as follows.... 

Preheat an oven to 150 degrees Centrigrade

Prepare a baking sheet with greaseproof paper (or baking parchment) by drawing round a medium sized plate (I always use a few blobs of the meringue mixture to stick down the paper onto the baking sheet).

Separate 4 eggs and whisk the egg whites until they are very stiff and you can turn the bowl upside down (without them falling out!). 

Measure 8oz of Caster Sugar and whisk in about 1 oz at a time to the egg whites.  It will become thick and glossy. 

With the last adding of sugar, also add 1 tablespoon of cornflour.

Add and whisk in 1 teaspoon of vanilla and 1 teaspoon of vinegar (yep... vinegar!!  On different occasions I've used malt vinegar and distilled white vinegar.. both work fine!)

Spread 1/3 of the mixture on the paper, using the circle as a guide (don't forget to stick it down with a teeny bit of the mixture first).  Then spread the second 1/3 of the mixture on top, and then the remaining 1/3. 

Place in the oven for 10-15 minutes.  When it is firm on the top, reduce the temperature to 140 degrees and cook for a further 30 or so minutes.  Keep and eye on it to make sure it doesn't go too brown.  The meringue should be a pinky beige colour on top.  Turn off the oven and prop the door slightly open to allow the meringue to cool - don't take it out or it will crack terribly. 

When cooled, carefully invert it onto a plate or serving platter and peel off the paper.  You will now have the flat surface on top.  (Don't worry if it cracks slightly... just shove it back together!!).

Whisk some whipping cream and spread over the top.  Add fruit of your choice.. .you can just chuck it on or arrange nicely!  Up to you.  (As you can see - I'm a bit of a symmetry freak!!)  You can also use different types of fruit mixed together!! 

Enjoy!!