Will eton mess be horrible if I make it too far in advance?

[mawbroon]

We have people coming for dinner tomorrow and I need to make as much in advance as possible. Time is pretty tight, ds doesn't go to bed until 7pm and guests are arriving at 7.30pm for 8pm.

I know I could do it in advance minus the meringues and just chuck them in last minute then serve, but we are eating in the kitchen and I don't want to risk diaster eg dropping it on the floor in front of them.

So if I made it between 7 and 7.30 will it just be sludge by the time we eat it at, say, 9pm?

If it were good friends, I wouldn't mind, but this is a group of dh's colleagues who I don't know well so a diaster might be embarassing .

FFS diaster? What's a diaster

Does the recipe not give you any guidance? I've never made it but I would be worried that the meringues would go too soggy.

Just make sure that your dh is telling a particular riveting story and get on with chucking meringues in whilst they're not looking at you!

I would imagine that the meringue would melt/dissolve into the cream if made too far in advance. However, you can make up separate bowls of crushed meringue, chopped strawberries and whipped cream, well ahead of time. Then 30secs before serving you can just mix all together and serve.

Oh, I'm not really using a recipe. I saw Nigella make it once and it really is just a case of chucking it all in together in a big mess

LOL at riveting story. Sounds like a plan. maybe I am worrying about it too much!

That's what I was thinking soapbox, but see my comment about worrying that I will drop it on the floor or something.

Or just do something that you can make tonight, so you don't have to worry about it!

don't do it, the meringue does dissolve

I have done it when catering for 30

luckily no-one knew there was meant to be meringue so it still went down ok, just tasted sweet/fruity/creamy rather than crunchy/fruity/creamy

Yes, don't put it together until the last minute.

Thanks girls. I have taken your advice and will just bung the meringue in at the last minute. I tend to worry about silly things like this. I am 36, not 6 and the chances are that I can serve it up without dropping it on the floor!!