We'd had a wonderful visit up the coast with the grandkids, and drove home today in absolutely miserable weather! We passed at least 4 accidents, and the freeway was littered with debris from palm trees in many places and twice traffic was diverted around two downed trees...one car had ploughed into it, but it didn't look to have caused any injuries. It did cause traffic to back up for miles (and miles), and I know the drive was stressful for anyone out on the roads today.
All this leads up to fixing a special treat for dessert for Ken who bore the brunt of the travels. I pushed my meringues to the next level and made "nests", filling them with fruit and topping it with whipped cream and passion fruit...all the fixings for a Pavlova, the national dessert of Australia (though I understand the folks in New Zealand claim it for their own as well...)
No turf wars in the comment thread, please! This was just the mini-version, California-style, on a day that we needed a bit of sunshine!
@thirdjoe Thanks, Joe! Get everyone together and I'll make up a batch!
@jamibann Not to step on the toes of our friends in NZ, but "I heard" that the dessert was made as a tribute to Anna Pavlova after she came to dance in Australia ... (probably stopped in NZ as well?) I guess there's a lot of fluffy "Swan Lake" whiteness going on in it...I think traditionally it just had strawberries, but don't take that for gospel truth! I DO KNOW it's not a proper Pav without the passion fruit on top! Let me tell you, those are hard to come by and flat impossible when we get to Nova Scotia!
@pamknowler I told Junko @jyokota and Taffy @taffy I'd make it for dinner in May...hence, the Trial Run! (The Aussies and Kiwi's would wince, but as I was making them, I said to Ken...oooh...a peppermint meringue nest fulled with chocolate ice cream and topped with a dab of hot fudge and whipped cream...
@pamknowler As a fellow WW...a one-time grad and life-long "keeping at it" I do apologize! Had I known, I would not have taunted! I'm far from a perfect member, but I was at it for so long, many admonitions have stayed with me, and I *know* it's the only sensible weight loss plan. So "clapping" all the way from California for your resolve! Do it for good health! ♥
@quietpurplehaze Fascinating! What a coincidence! And I said to Ken I thought it would be just as good with "little meringues" in a bowl topped with the fruit & whipped cream! Who knew there was a name for that! I love "arm-chair travel"! Thanks, Hazel!
@salza "Yummy" *because* it's decadent! I felt badly that I switched out the photo on which you'd commented, but instead to going to bed as I should, I kept looking through photos...chose a different one!
@Weezilou I noticed! I was trying to reply and 365 wouldn't let me! So in a humph I went back to my dashboard and lo and behold your picture was gone! Needless to say I then understood why I couldn't post a reply. :-)
@salza Sorry...I saw no activity after you were there, so I thought to switch out fast! It's happened to me a few times in the past, and I was so confused when it first happened! Again, my apologies...
@quietpurplehaze@tj22 I can't believe how many of these were being made over that last 24 hours! TJ, would you say the passion fruit is a definite "must"? I can find them here "once in awhile" and when I do, I'm happy to shell out $15 for 3 square baskets of them! They'll be non-existent in Nova Scotia! I might have to do as Hazel did and call it Eton Mess! My English friends might even recognize it!
@tj22 You have no idea how happy I am to read that! *Of Course* Kiwi fruit would be a topping! I am noting these variations! (A 21y-o visiting us from Oz was the first to teach me. Now I think Passion fruit is perhaps the Aussie topping as it would be unseemly for a New Zealander to top it with anything by Kiwi!) Ta Da! Guess what I'll be making dinner guests next year! And I'll tell them "it's the Kiwi version"!
the Aussie version must definitely have passionfruit. Yours looks scrumptious - my favourite desert but it must be the home made type not the wishy washy shop bought ones
This looks totally delicious .You've made me hungry but it's too late at night to eat.... I'll have a square of chocolate. Sorry your drive was so bad, bad wet her and driving don't go together
Yes I wondered if you experienced the storm I heard about. That terrible accident with the tree falling on the car, so sad to hear of that loss of life.
@digitalrn A freak accident is so difficult to deal with! On the radio we did hear of a fatality at the time we were on the road, but the car we saw was "only" damaged badly in the front. One storm-related death is too many though... (We were very happy to get home!)
Y U M!!!!! That look delicious and what a kind wife to treat Ken to something a little extra special. You two are a very sweet couple and love your support for each other. Glad you made it home safe, it was crazy weather for sure.
@pamknowler@Weezilou Having a good smile here! I promise you kitchen space and whatever you need to create this in Chicago! It's absolutely amazing -- photo ops for those of us watching calories and great calories for the rest!
@taffy Thank you Taffy! I was pleased to read above that the NZ folks use kiwi in place of the passion fruit. While I *adore* passion fruit, it's pretty hard to come by! If possible, I'll bring some, or perhaps you know of a shop that doesn't charge an arm & a leg for it! By the time I reach NZ, Kiwi will be the only option, but not a bad one at that!
4 eggs made about 8 nests + some kisses.
Do you all have parchment? If not, I'll bring some
Strawberries seem to be a must, but you see I added more fruit. (You just can't make it taste bad!)
Whipped cream on top...
@taffy@Weezilou this is the second morning I have woken up to talk about that glorious Pavlova! Yummy indeed especially with Kiwi! Now I have the recipe too! Will I be able to resist having a go at making it? Yes of course I will I much prefer a bowl of porridge with no sugar! Lol! Can't wait to see you both!
NOW HEAR YE! HEAR YE!! This is definitely a true blue Aussie dessert and i can't believe not many have voiced their opinion :) Looks like you've nailed the cooking and presentation of it - so now hope it tasted delicious too!!
@taffy I'm impressed and a bit humbled that you would go all out! Junko already told me she has a Kitchen Aid which is what I use...heavy duty to whip the meringue high! We can (quite easily) make this happen! And Pam @pamknowler stop reading this!
Actually, I'll be happy to instruct on how to make these. You won't be so agog when you see how easily it's done! AND, Pam, you can easily even count calories with these, and they're not all that dangerous...truly!
@weezilou@pamknowler@taffy -- We do have a Kitchen Aid, parchment paper, AND one of those high pressure squirt things that emits great whipped cream out of a canister where you can add vanilla or sugar or whatever to the cream before squeezing it out. I'll bet @weezilou can customize @taffy 's to eliminate berries. YUM!
@pyrrhula This does tend to be a little sweet... The addition of the Passion Fruit seems to cut the sweetness a little, but it's so difficult to find in most stores. I liked @quietpurplehaze Hazel's suggestion... just break up some meringue in a bowl, add the fruit and some whipped cream. Not too much meringue that way... Let me know if you try it!
@Weezilou. If you offer me one I `ll try it. But the older I get the less I like the taste of sweet. Ina think I`m silly as I never have a dessert. ( Or something with my coffee.)
February 4th, 2016
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@jamibann Not to step on the toes of our friends in NZ, but "I heard" that the dessert was made as a tribute to Anna Pavlova after she came to dance in Australia ... (probably stopped in NZ as well?) I guess there's a lot of fluffy "Swan Lake" whiteness going on in it...I think traditionally it just had strawberries, but don't take that for gospel truth! I DO KNOW it's not a proper Pav without the passion fruit on top! Let me tell you, those are hard to come by and flat impossible when we get to Nova Scotia!
Wish I'd taken a shot before we ate ours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4 eggs made about 8 nests + some kisses.
Do you all have parchment? If not, I'll bring some
Strawberries seem to be a must, but you see I added more fruit. (You just can't make it taste bad!)
Whipped cream on top...
How simple is that?!
Actually, I'll be happy to instruct on how to make these. You won't be so agog when you see how easily it's done! AND, Pam, you can easily even count calories with these, and they're not all that dangerous...truly!
Have n`t been on 365 for two day`s as we had a visit of our sons .