Eton Mess - (and Iced Coffee)

This is a great time of year to make a traditional Eton Mess 

as wonderful English Strawberries are in season.

It does usually look a bit messy but have tried to make it as pretty as poss!
- however it tastes delicious anyway!

Ingredients and Method:

Serves 4

5 ozs caster sugar (or icing sugar) taste for sweetness before adding all of the sugar
- you may find a little lemon juice is good too.

7 ozs strawberries (approx.)

Puree these together and place in base of serving bowl.

3.1/2 ozs. caster sugar

15 fl.ozs double cream

4 meringue nests - broken up or home-made meringues

8 osz. strawberries (approx.) - roughly chopped + some left for garnishing

1 tsp. vanilla essence

To Garnish: strawberries,cherries (stoned and halved), a few mint leaves and some grated chocolate.

Beat together the sugar, double cream and vanilla until you reach soft peaks .... (not personally of course :) )

Stir in the strawberries and crushed meringue.

In a large bowl place some of the puree on the base and alternate with the cream mix OR place all the puree in the base and carefully put the cream mix on top - using a fork to pat it out over the puree.

Garnish prettily with halved or quartered strawberries, a few mint leaves and a handful of cherries (stoned) and/or raspberries.  Grate some dark chocolate over the top.  Voila ... YUM!
*Chill before serving.

*ICED COFFEE:
.... well,  while you have the Cream out you might as well try this (delicious) ....
Ingredients for 1 person:
60ml of Expresso Coffee - prepared and chilled
100ml Cream
12 g caster sugar
 a handful of crushed ice 


Put the Coffee and Cream into a blender
Add the sugar and crushed ice and whizz together.
Pour into a tall glass through a sieve and serve immediately.