Easy Eton Mess Food

ETON MESS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 120C/100C fan/gas 1 and line a large baking tray with parchment paper. Whisk the egg whites in a clean bowl using an electric whisk or tabletop mixer until they reach stiff peaks, then add the sugar in 3 lots, re-whisking to stiff peaks every time. Spoon dollops of the mixture onto the baking parchment, cook on the bottom shelf of the oven for 1hr - 1hr15 mins until the meringues are completely hard and come off the paper easily. Leave to cool.
• Blitz 1/3 of the strawberries to make a strawberry sauce. In a large bowl whisk the cream with the icing sugar until it just holds its shape. Roughly crush ¾ of the meringues and tip them in with the chopped strawberries and stir, then swirl through the strawberry sauce. Dollop into bowls then crush the remaining meringues, sprinkling the pieces over the top.

ETON MESS

Steps:

• Pour 2 packages of the raspberries, 1 cup of the sugar and the lemon juice into a 10-inch saute pan. Crush the berries lightly with a fork and bring the mixture to a full boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is syrupy. Fold the remaining 2 packages of raspberries and the framboise into the hot mixture and refrigerate until very cold.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the cream, the remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar and the vanilla together on medium-high speed until it forms firm peaks.
• In decorative glasses, layer a spoonful of the whipped cream, a spoonful of the raspberry mixture and then a few meringue pieces. Repeat once or twice, depending on the size of the glasses, until the glasses are full, ending with berries and a dollop of cream. Serve immediately or chill for an hour, until ready to serve.

ETON MESS

Steps:

• Hull and chop the strawberries and put into a bowl and add the sugar and pomegranate juice and leave to macerate while you whip the cream.
• Whip the cream in a large bowl until thick but still soft. Roughly crumble in 4 of the meringues nests - you will need chunks for texture as well as a little fine dust.
• Take out about half a cupful of the chopped strawberries, and fold the meringue cream and rest of the fruit mixture together.
• Arrange on 4 serving plates or glasses or in a mound, and top each with some of the remaining macerated strawberries.

ETON MESS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F (110 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Beat egg whites and salt in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl until they just hold soft peaks. Gradually mix in 1 cup sugar, then continue to beat until meringue holds stiff, glossy peaks. Spoon meringue into 4 equal mounds on the prepared baking sheet. Spread each into 3 1/2-inch rounds, smoothing the tops.
• Bake in the middle of the preheated oven until crisp and firm, about 1 1/2 hours. Turn the oven off and leave meringues in until completely cooled, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, halve some strawberries for garnish and set aside. Slice remaining strawberries and place in a small bowl with sherry and 1 tablespoon sugar. Stir and let macerate for 20 minutes.
• Drain macerated strawberries in a sieve set over a bowl, reserving syrup.
• Beat cream in a chilled bowl until it just holds stiff peaks. Beat reserved syrup into the cream.
• Place meringues on serving plates. Top with macerated strawberries and spoon cream mixture over top. Garnish plates with halved strawberries.

STRAWBERRY ETON MESS

Steps:

• Transfer the meringue cookies to a large, resealable plastic bag. Use a rolling pin to lightly crush the cookies. (You should have pieces of varying sizes.)
• Trim the berries, discarding the greens. Halve or quarter 1 pound of the strawberries; add to a medium bowl. Blend or mash the remaining 1/2 pound strawberries until you have a chunky purée. Add the strawberry purée, lime zest, lime juice and 2 to 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar to the chopped strawberries and toss to coat. (The better the strawberries, the less sugar you'll need.)
• In a large bowl, beat the cream with 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high until whipped cream holds stiff peaks. Fold the crumbled meringue into the whipped cream.
• Starting and ending with the strawberry mixture, layer it with the cream mixture in individual serving dishes (preferably clear cups, bowls or jars), creating as many layers as you like. Serve immediately.

ETON MESS

Steps:

• Gently stir together strawberries and granulated sugar in a large bowl. Cover, and let stand at room temperature until juices are released, at least 30 minutes (or refrigerate overnight).
• Coarsely crush berries using a potato masher. Whisk together cream and confectioners' sugar in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Gently fold in cookies and berries (with juices) until almost combined but ribbons of juice remain. Serve immediately.

ETON MESS (CLASSIC BRITISH SUMMER DESSERT)

Steps:

• Place the whipping cream in a large mixing bowl, add the sugar and whip with an electric mixture until the cream is light and fluffy. Do not over whip - the success of the dish requires softly whipped cream.
• Break the meringue into large bite-size chucks and gently stir into the cream. Don't worry if some of the meringue crumbles just add this too.
• Place half of the strawberries into another large mixing bowl and press gently with the back of a fork to break up the strawberries slightly and release some of the juice. Stir gently into the cream.
• Halve, then quarter the remaining strawberries.
• Place the cream mixture into a 7" trifle or glass serving dish, top with the strawberry pieces, chill for 30 minutes in the refrigerator and sprinkle with the confectioners/icing sugar before serving. Alternately serve in individual size dessert bowl or glasses.