Dracula Meets Anna Pavlova Recipes

PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. With a marker, mark a 7-inch circle on a piece of parchment paper. Flip the parchment over and place on a baking sheet.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar and cornstarch.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the egg whites with a pinch of salt and beat with the whisk attachment until soft peaks form. Add 3 tablespoons water and keep beating until you get soft peaks again.
• Increase the mixer speed to high. Add the sugar mixture 1 tablespoon at a time and continue to beat for 1 minute. Add the vinegar and beat until the meringue is glossy and holds stiff peaks, about 5 minutes.
• Spread the meringue inside the marked circle on the parchment, making the edges slightly higher than the inside of the circle (it should look like a "crater"). Bake until the meringue is pale golden and has a crust, about 45 minutes; the inside should still be marshmallow-like. Turn off the oven, prop the door open and let the meringue dry for 1 hour.
• To serve, place the Pavlova on a serving dish. Spread the inside of the crater with a thin layer of lemon curd. Top with berries and serve.

A DRAMA QUEEN'S PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (220 degrees C). You will be turning the temperature down to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) when you put this in to bake. Line a 9 or 10 inch round glass dish with parchment paper.
• Combine the egg whites and salt in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer, or stand mixer using a whisk attachment until able to form soft peaks. Sprinkle in the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time while continuing to whip to stiff peaks. Stir in the vanilla and vinegar, and fold in coconut if using. Spread evenly into the prepared glass dish, making sure to spread out to all of the edges.
• Place the Pavlova into the oven, and immediately reduce the temperature to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the top is crisp and a pale straw color. Leave in the oven, and turn off the heat. Let it stay in the oven until the oven has cooled completely.
• Once the Pavlova is cooled, top generously with sweetened whipped cream. Arrange the strawberries, kiwis, peaches and blueberries in beautiful concentric circles on top.

THE BEST PAVLOVA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Draw a 9 inch circle on the parchment. An easy way to do this is to draw around the outside of a 9 inch pan with a pencil.
• In a large bowl, beat egg whites on high speed until soft peaks form. Add 3/4 cup of the sugar gradually, while continuing to whip. Make sure sugar is completely dissolved. Mix together the remaining 1/4 cup sugar with the cornstarch; lightly fold into meringue with lemon juice.
• Spread a layer of meringue to fit circle on parchment, approximately 1/4 inch thick. With remainder of mixture, pipe or spoon swirls around the edges to form a shallow bowl shape.
• Bake at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for 1 hour. Turn off oven, but leave meringue in oven for an additional 30 minutes. When cool, the meringue should be hard on the outside, and slightly moist on the inside.
• In a large bowl, combine the cream and half a cup of confectioners sugar, and whip until thickened. Decorate with fruit of your choice; strawberries are excellent.