Strawberry Mess Recipes

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.

STRAWBERRY ETON MESS FOR MOTHER'S DAY

Steps:

• Combine strawberries, 2 tablespoons sugar, balsamic and raspberry vinegars, and basil in a bowl. Let sit until strawberries have released their juices and absorbed all the flavors, at least 15 minutes.
• Whip heavy cream in a chilled glass or metal bowl with an electric mixer until frothy. Add 1 tablespoon sugar gradually, continuing to beat until soft peaks form. Add sour cream and cream cheese and mix until evenly blended.
• Sprinkle some sugar into a heavy saucepan until the bottom of the pan is covered with a thin layer. Cook over medium heat and as sugar starts to melt, sprinkle in a little more. Cook and stir until sugar is caramelized and amber in color. Stir in almonds. Remove from the heat and pour onto a sheet of parchment paper. Place another piece of parchment paper on top and use a rolling pin to roll it into a thin layer. Allow to cool, then break into pieces.
• Place some marinated strawberries in the bottom of 4 serving dishes. Layer with cream and top with crushed meringues. Continue layers all the way to the top of the dishes, garnishing the top with caramelized almond pieces, more meringues, and strawberries.

STRAWBERRY MESS

Steps:

• Roughly mash half of the strawberries and then slice the rest. Divide between 4 small bowls. Top with a couple of broken meringue nests and scoops of pink ice cream.

MERINGUE MESS WITH RHUBARB AND STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Make the meringues: Heat oven to 200 degrees. Put egg whites in a mixing bowl. Beat at high speed until thickened and foamy, then gradually add sugar and continue beating until whites are glossy and hold stiff peaks, about 10 minutes.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place 6 to 8 large spoonfuls of whites on it, 2 to 3 inches apart. Flatten meringue blobs slightly with a knife and bake for 1 hour. Reduce temperature to 150 degrees and bake for 1 1/2 hours, until dry and crisp. If time permits, leave meringues in turned-off oven overnight to dry thoroughly. Cool and store in an airtight container.
• Cook the rhubarb: Put rhubarb in a nonreactive saucepan, add sugar, cinnamon and cloves, and stir to combine. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently; it should become juicy and syrupy in a few minutes. Lower heat and continue cooking until rhubarb is tender but not mushy, about 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature.
• Whip the cream in a large bowl with 2 tablespoons sugar, leaving it quite soft, almost pourable. Add rose water if using. Break or cut meringues into 1-inch pieces and add to bowl. In a separate bowl, combine strawberries, rhubarb and all juices and toss to coat. Add strawberry mixture to meringues and cream. Using a rubber spatula, fold everything together.
• Transfer to a serving bowl or individual dishes, sprinkle with pistachios and garnish with mint leaves.

STRAWBERRY-RASPBERRY ETON MESS

Steps:

• Beat cream in a chilled glass or metal bowl with an electric mixer until frothy. Add 1 tablespoon sugar and vanilla extract gradually, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form. Chill in the refrigerator.
• Combine 1/2 of the raspberries, 1/2 of the strawberries, remaining 1 tablespoon sugar, and balsamic vinegar in a bowl. Mash with a fork and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
• To serve, combine mashed fruit and cream in a bowl. Add the remaining strawberries, raspberries, and rose water; fold everything together.
• Place your meringues in a bowl and break them up into a mix of small and big chunks for a good texture.
• Layer meringues and cream mixture into dessert bowls or glasses and serve immediately.

MINI STRAWBERRY ETON MESS

Steps:

• Toss half of sliced berries with sugar in a medium heatproof bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and set over a medium saucepan filled with 1" of barely simmering water. Let sit until berries are soft and juices have accumulated in bowl, 25-30 minutes. Let cool, then toss in remaining sliced berries.
• Whisk cream in a medium bowl to soft peaks. Layer cream, meringues, then strawberry mixture in four 8-oz. glasses. Chill 20 minutes. Top with whole strawberries to serve.