Australian Pavlovas With Fresh Berries And Strawberry Puree Recipes

Steps:

• Position your oven rack in the bottom third of the oven and preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with aluminum foil.
• Using a small saucer or the rim of a large glass, trace 3 (4" diameter) circles onto the foil on each baking sheet using a food-safe, waterproof marker or pencil. Lightly butter the foil. Set the baking sheets aside.
• In the bowl of a standing electric mixer, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed until foamy. Carefully begin adding the superfine sugar, one tablespoon at a time, and increase the speed to medium-high. Continue to beat until the egg whites are stiff and glossy, about 7 minutes. Turn the mixer off and, using a spatula, transfer the meringue to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2 inch plain tip.
• Using the traced circles on the foil as guides, carefully pipe concentric circles of the meringue onto the buttered foil so that the circles are completely filled with the meringue. Pipe a second and then a third ring of meringue around the top outermost ring of each circle to form a shallow cup space. Place 1 tbsp of the confectioner's sugar in a fine-mesh sieve and shake the sugar evenly over the tops of the meringues.
• Bake the meringues 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until crisp. They will not color. Turn the ove off and leave the meringues in the oven to cool and continue crsiping for at least 4 hours and up to overnight. They should feel very light. Remove the cool baking sheets from the oven and remove the meringue cups from the baking sheets by carefully peeling them off of the foil. Transfer to an airtight container, if storing. Meringues may be made up to several days in advance and kept in an airtight container until ready to serve.
• Make the strawberry puree by combininb 2 cups of the strawberries with the 3 tbsp granulated sugar and the lemon juice in a blender or food processor and blend until very smooth, about 2 minutes. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium mixing bowl and discard the solids. Transfer the sauce to a nonreactive measuring cup or small glass bowl and chill until ready to serve.
• If desired, place the cream in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on medium-low until slightly thickened. Turn the mixer off and add the remaining 2 tbsp confectioners' sugar. Beat on low speed until the sugar is incorporated and then increase the speed to medium high. Continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Chill the whipped cream until ready to assemble the desserts.
• When you are ready to serve, place each of the meringue cups on individual dessert plates and fill each with 2/3 cup of the remaining assorted berries. Top each with1/3 cup of whipped cream, if desired, and then spoon some of the strawberry sauce over the top.
• Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Wash, dry, and stem berries.
• Place in food processor or blender.
• Process until liquid with pulp.
• If desired or needed, sweeten with sugar or honey.
• Use as a topping or in recipes calling for puree.
• Note: 1 pint berries will yield about 1 1/2 cups puree.
• Frozen berries can be used the same way, thaw for about 15 minutes before processing.
• Note: 1 pound package of frozen berries will yield about 2 cups puree.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with foil; butter foil. Beat whites and cream of tartar in large bowl to soft peaks. Add 1 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff and glossy. Add 4 tablespoons ginger, cornstarch and cardamom; beat 1 minute.
• Spoon meringue into pastry bag fitted with plain 1/2-inch round tip. Pipe 3 1/2-inch-diameter meringue ring on prepared sheet. Pipe another ring atop first. Pipe meringue inside ring to create thin base, covering bottom of ring completely. Repeat, forming 6 meringue shells total.
• Bake meringues 1 1/2 hours (they will not color). Turn oven off. Leave meringues in closed oven 1 1/2 hours longer. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Store between layers of waxed paper in airtight container.)
• Slice 1 1/2 mangoes; chill. Puree remaining 1 1/2 mangoes in processor with 1 tablespoon sugar. Mix in enough water to thin to sauce consistency. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Chill.)
• Beat cream, sour cream, vanilla and 1 tablespoon sugar in large bowl to stiff peaks. Drizzle 1/4 cup mango sauce onto each of 6 plates. Place 1 meringue on each plate. Spoon 1/3 cup cream into center of each meringue. Top with pineapple, kiwi and sliced mango. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon ginger.

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 275 F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and draw an 8-inch circle as a guide for the pavlova. Turn paper over so pencil is facing down. Sprinkle a small amount of extra corn starch lightly on the circle so pavlova does not stick.
• 2. When separating eggs, be careful there is NO yolk in the whites as this will keep whites from beating properly. In a large very clean bowl, beat whites and pinch of salt til glossy and softly peak. Do not overbeat. Add the superfine sugar 1 Tbsp at a time until mixture makes firm, glossy peaks, but is not dry. Sift corn starch softly over whites and fold in with lemon juice and vanilla.
• 3. Spoon mixture over the circle, mounding in center and then spread outward to make a circle with a slight depression in the center. Bake for 1 hour. Turn off oven and cool in oven for 2 hours. Store in airtight container. Best if served the same day. If it cracks or sinks, fill with cream when finishing just before serving.
• 4. Remove parchment paper and place pavlova on cake stand or plate for serving. Just before serving, beat the cream with the powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla. Fill depression across the top of pavlova with the whipped cream and sprinkle cream with your choice of fruit. Sliced strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, raspberries, fresh pineapple, passionfruit or what you like. Do not add cream and fruit ahead of time as will make the meringue soggy.

Steps:

• Place the egg whites in a small mixing bowl and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, draw a 10 inch circle on a piece of wax paper and place (writing-side down) on a baking sheet. Variation: Draw 10 four inch circles on the wax paper.
• Add vanilla and cream of tartar to egg whites. Beat with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high speed until very stiff peaks form and sugar is almost dissolved (about 5 minutes).
• Using the back of a spoon, spread meringue onto the circle, building the sides up to form a bowl.
• Bake in a 300oF oven for 35 minutes. Turn off the oven and let shell dry in the oven, with the door closed for one hour. Remove the shell from baking sheet and pull off wax paper. Store in an airtight container. Will keep indefinitely.
• The traditional filling is simply fresh fruit of your choice and whipped cream and topped with fruit sauce. Another good one is ice cream, nuts, fruit and sauce ("banana split").