Figuring out what I wanna be when I grow up.
Oop..I AM grown up...


Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Meritorious Meringue

"Meritorious" is a flouncy, frou-frou, trumped up, borderline irritating word that basically means something is praise-worthy.  Well, damn, but it's appropriate!

This January, my inspiration is re-building our withered, mid-life-shlump self esteem.  We've all been stuck in the house now, with MINIMAL sunshine for what feels like MONTHS.  Hey, it rained all last weekend, which washed the snow away, revealing some soggy, grey-brown grass.  Lovely. Then it snowed all last night, and everything's white again.  Almost less lovely.  I know what you're thinking:  the holidays had WAY too much food involved, so how the eff is a dessert recipe going to make me feel better?

1) IT LOOKS FABULOUS

2) it's so easy to make, it's stupid
3) IT LOOKS TOTALLY IMPRESSIVE
4) It tastes freaking fabulous
5) It's not going to kill your waist-line, or, break your scale, or however you want to word it
6) by making this you will feel like a genius, and it has to cheer you up just because it's so damn pretty

So!  Let's DO THIS THING!

Meritorious Meringue
1) 4 egg whites

2) 1/2 cup white sugar
3) small container of whipping cream (heavy cream)
4) fruit of your choice

*preheat oven to 300 degrees

*Cut out a piece of parchment paper to fit a large baking sheet.  On the parchment paper, draw a circle that's approximately 20 centimeters in diameter (* this is approximately the size of your standard round cake pan)

*In a clean, perfectly dry, large bowl, whip egg whites with a blender until soft peaks form, then add sugar, a spoonful at a time, continuing to whip, until stiff, glossy peaks form. 

* blop whipped whites lovingly into that circle you've drawn.  Make a depression in the centre, because that's where you're going to put stuff after it's baked. 

* bake in your 300 degree oven for one hour.  LEAVE meringue in oven and turn heat off after one hour, letting the meringue cool completely in the oven before you take it out (allow approximately 2-3 hours for cooling).  The meringue will look kinda cracked and falling apart-ish

* whip cream until it's either light and fluffy, or more velvety.  It's up to you.  Artfully slice whatever fruit you love best: kiwis, berries, orange slices, etc., until you have a small bowl of fruit.  (if you don't like the cream completely unsweetened, add a tablespoon of sugar while you're whipping it.  If the fruit is not sweet enough, just toss it in a spoonful of sugar as well, as desired)

* blop as much whipped cream as you like into the depression of the meringue. Top with fruit and serve after you admire the thing for a while.

* freak out over the fantastic, mingled textures; crispy on the outside, gooey and marshmallowy on the inside, lovely cream and bright, colourful fruit. DAMN, YOU ARE AWESOME. What?!? There's no flour in this??? It's all just 4 little old EGG WHITES?!!!!??? Okay, there's a little bit of whipped cream, but big deal.

There, have a slice with a friend. All better.




Is that not beautiful?  Dessert Art.

I guess it could serve 6-8 people...

or maybe just you.  Good thinking.

 

6 comments:

  1. This dish is very similiar to one we had as a kid.

    YOu fill two pie tins with some sort of base...all I can remember is it had very little flour and hazelnuts. Then you do the whippy merange things on top and then sprinkle chopped hazelnuts and set it in the oven to bake until crispy.

    Your first layer you add whip cream and some sliced pine apple...then you do it again with the other layer on top and freak is it damn good.

    ReplyDelete
  2. that does sound good. It's reminding me of something...some other whipped cream/pineapple concoction (which always seems to be good).

    This meringue thing was really fun to make for some reason. Very satisfying.

    ReplyDelete
  3. yummmmm! wanna come over for a visit ? bring the cake!

    ReplyDelete
  4. looks lovely eh Paula? Stay tuned in the near future for your photos...

    ReplyDelete
  5. I had some of that and I swear I died a tiny bit and went to heaven with that piece of nummy nummy in my tummy.

    I'm making that asap.

    xox

    ReplyDelete
  6. yes! Because it's SO FREAKING EASY. You MAKE THAT! YOU MAKE THAT THING NOW!

    ReplyDelete

I lurv comments. Thank you for the comments. They are scrumptious.

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