Brown Sugar Meringues With Gooseberry Compote Cream Food

BROWN SUGAR MERINGUES WITH GOOSEBERRY COMPOTE & CREAM

Steps:

• Line a large baking sheet with parchment and heat oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1. For the meringues, put the egg whites and lemon juice in a large clean bowl (metal or ceramic is best) and whisk with hand beaters until the whites stand in stiff peaks, but are not at all dry or fluffy around the edges.
• Add 1 tbsp of the sugar and whisk again until the whites return to stiff. Repeat until all the sugar has been used and the meringue is thick and glossy. Sprinkle in the hazelnuts; don't stir.
• Spoon 8 blobs of the meringue onto the lined baking sheet, aiming for something roughly egg- or rugby ball-shaped. As you push the meringue off the spoon, the hazelnut will ripple its way through the mixture. Make a small dip in the top of each meringue, ready to hold the cream and fruit later. Bake for 1¼ hrs or until pale golden and crisp. Leave to cool in the oven with the door ajar.
• For the compote, gently heat everything together in a pan until the sugar dissolves, then bring to a simmer. Cover the pan and cook for 3 mins or until the fruit collapses but is still recognisable. Cool. Assemble meringues just before eating: whip the cream and use to top the meringues, then add spoonfuls of compote. Any leftover compote will keep in the fridge for a week or two.

BROWN SUGAR MERINGUES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 120C. Have ready 2 baking sheets lined with baking paper. Sift the brown sugar into a bowl and set aside. Beat the eggwhites until soft peaks form. Add the castor sugar in 3 lots, beating until the whites are glossy and thick. With motor still running, steadily "rain" in the brown sugar as if it was polenta. Spoon tablespoon blobs of meringue onto the trays, leaving space between. Smooth tops if you like. I like the little swirls and peaks from the spoon, so please yourself. If you are going to fill them with caramel cream later it is a good idea to shape the mounds with a definite hollow in the centre. Bake for about 50 minutes until firm. Turn oven off and prop door open with a wooden spoon or similar and leave until meringues are quite cold. Store in an airtight container. Makes 16 meringues. This recipes is featured in the book, Autumn which is available now in all good bookstores RRP $34.95. To order direct call 1300 656 059 or visit www.smh.com.au/store