Chocolate Pavlova with fresh Raspberrys

I saw this recipe a while ago and thought gosh that looks like it should come with a warning
saying 

DECADENT & DANGEROUS
   yes it most defiantly should.

My partner and I were down the East Coast of Tasmania a couple weekends ago when we found a little road side Berry Farm selling Chocolate Pavlova and fresh Berry's, so as only we should we shared a slice and yum my mind was made up I had to try to make this myself , and you know what it isn't that hard if your organized first, but thats the key to any fun cooking get everything ready first. 

So I brought a punnet of Raspberry's and a block of Cadburys Old Gold Dark Chocolate and set myself up to make a beautiful looking Pav ...

 I used a recipe from Womens Weekly website but changed a couple ingredients when decorating to suit myself.

I found at first I was a little disappointed with the texture of this Pavlova, 
I cooked it during the day, decorated a couple of hours when cool and we ate for desert that night, But what I should have done is allow at least 8-8 hours resting time because wow the next day was such a happy taste bud surprise I would say an improvement of 100% on quality in taste and texture. 

 

INGREDIENTS

6 egg whites
1½ cups (330g) caster sugar
¼ cup (25g) cocoa powder, sifted
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
50g dark chocolate, chopped finely (Lindt) * Cadburys Old Gold
2 cups (500g) mascarpone * I used plain Whipped Cream instead
¼ cup (60ml) milk, approximately
240g fresh raspberries (or strawberries)
dark chocolate curls, extra ( Shaved Chocolate using a vegetable peeler works well )

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 160°C/140°C fan-forced. Line a large oven tray with non-stick baking paper; mark a 22cm circle on paper. Grease and dust with cornflour, shake away excess.

Beat egg whites in a large bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form, gradually add sugar, beat until dissolved between additions.
When sugar is dissolved, gently fold in sifted cocoa, vinegar and chopped chocolate.

Spoon mixture onto prepared tray inside circle, smooth the sides and top of pavlova.

Place pavlova in oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 120°C/100°C fan-forced. Bake for about 1¼ to 1½ hours or until dry to touch. Turn oven off and cool pavlova in the oven with the door ajar.
* I decorated with plain vanilla whipped Cream and Old Gold Chocolate Shavings with my Raspberries.
Just before serving, place pavlova onto serving plate. Place mascarpone in a bowl, gently whisk in enough milk to form a soft consistency. (Mascarpone varies in texture so add gradually and only if needed.) Spoon mascarpone mixture on top of pavlova and sprinkle with berries. Decorate with extra chocolate, if desired.
Not suitable to freeze or microwave.

Creamy Garlic Prawns (restaurant style)

 Sometimes a special occasion needs a special food and this is mine. The aromatic smell of Butter, Garlic and Cream with beautiful fresh Prawns is to hard to resist :)

Creamy Garlic Prawns

Ingredients

750 g uncooked prawns

1 large clove garlic

1 cup chicken stock

115g butter

1 tablespoon plain flour

1/2 cup cream

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

*2 tablespoons white wine add this for a little extra punch.

Method
Heat butter and crushed garlic in saucepan,

Add the flour and stir until combined, remove from heat,

Gradually add chicken stock, cream and wine stir until combined,

Return pan to heat and stir until sauce thickens and boils,

add mustard and season with salt and pepper,

Bring the sauce to the boil and add prawns,

cook for 5 minutes until the prawns are cooked properly

Add the parsley and stir to combine, serve and enjoy

Summer Pancakes for Lunch

When I was a little girl my grandfather taught me how to make Pancakes, and when I had my own children he taught my youngest son to make them also, in fact one of my fondest memories is of my Pa and son Jason making pancakes for us all in our kitchen,

We would coat them in butter and sprinkle with sugar, roll up and bite into the sweet crunchy sugar butter dripping homemade pancakes made with laughter and love.

 I of course needed to show off when younger and learn how to flip my Pancake and then when my son was ready he wanted to learn also. This recipe I share is great for those it holds shape well and if you cook properly no spatula is needed just a roll of the Pan.

Homemade Pancake Recipe 

 1 Large Egg,  1 c Plain flour ,  1 1/2 c milk,  1 teaspoon vanilla essence.  

I like to mix the egg , milk and vanilla first then add the flour whisking to make sure there is no lumps and the batter is smooth, 

I then pour into a jug and sit in the fridge for at least a hour to set the batter properly, not sure why this works but you do end up with a much better pancake if you give it time in the fridge.

I added some fresh Summer Raspberry's & French Custard* rolled into the pancakes and sprinkled on top before dusting of icing Sugar , yes my Lunch was very nice thank you. 

*French custard made by mixing 1 tablespoon cream and 2 tablespoons custard together