Pavlova

I was at my parents this weekend for Easter and I made Pavlova for dessert. When I was in England the family I stayed with used to make this and I always loved it. It's basically meringue nest filled with cream and fresh berries. It's another great thing for summer with all the fresh fruit.




Here is the recipe. I could not find creme fraiche at the Fresh Market so I just beat some whipping cream and added that instead.

• 4 large egg whites
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 1/4 cups sugar, divided
• 1 (8-ounce) carton plain fat-free yogurt
• 3/4 cup commercial crème fraîche
• 1 cup sliced strawberries
• 1 cup blackberries
• 1 cup blueberries

Preheat oven to 250°.
Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Draw 8 (3-inch) circles on paper. Turn the paper over; secure with masking tape. Beat the egg whites and cream of tartar with a mixer at high speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form (do not underbeat). Divide egg white mixture evenly among 8 drawn circles on baking sheet. Shape the meringues into nests with 1-inch sides using the back of a spoon. Bake at 250° for 1 hour. Turn oven off; cool meringues in closed oven for at least 2 hours or until completely dry. Carefully remove the meringues from paper.
Spoon yogurt onto several layers of heavy-duty paper towels, and spread to 1/2-inch thickness. Cover with additional paper towels; let stand for 5 minutes. Scrape into a bowl using a rubber spatula. Combine 1/2 cup sugar, drained yogurt, and crème fraîche. Spoon the yogurt mixture evenly into the meringues. Top each serving with 2 tablespoons each of strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries.

Dinner Party

Ok so since I've been working nights for over a year actually doing something at night is a BIG deal. It makes me feel like I'm adult when I get to put something nice on and go hang out with friends. Even though I don't have children all of my best friends do so when we all hang out together with out them it's always a big treat (not that I don't love their kids). This last Wednesday night the Madson's, Carroll's and myself cooked out and played Mexican Train. It was so much fun (even if we were all ready to go to bed at 9:30). I made some fresh pico de gallo to start us out while the guys were grilling. It's one of my favorite things to make durring the summer while everything is in season and fresh.



For dessert I made Gharidelli chocolate mousse. It was so yummy! I don't have the recipe here with me at the coffee shop but I'll post it later when I get home.

Brandy helped out with the clean up. She's so good about than when chocolate is involved...such a giving heart. :)


Topped it off with fresh cream...

...and raspberry sauce. It was very rich...we all had a hard time finishing it.

Fun, Fun, Fun!!

So most of you know that Nathan was here this past weekend! Woohoo! He came down to go to a concert with Melissa on Saturday night. I did manage to see him for a few hours while he was here though. :) Sunday night we went to see The Infamous Stringdusters...it was such a good show. The Lovell Sisters opened for them and they were great. This was my first time hearing them.

Lovell Sisters

The Stringdusters

Monday and we went to George L. Smith State Park and canoed. It started out a little chilly but by the time we got there and got the canoe in it was warm. I loved how quiet it was once you got back into the cypres tree's.


Oh and the parents and three younger brothers came down Sunday...it was a great weekend.