Pavlova disaster. Assistance required!

[Pinkjennybellrock]

I have had many meringue disasters in the past, but need to make a pav for tonight. I made one last night which was a total disaster. Can you tell me where I am going wrong?

1. I used greaseproof paper so it stuck to the paper.
2. It didn't seem cooked, was a bit runny inside and was all soft underneath.

I need to try again when I get in from work!!!

HELP!!!!!!!!!

You will have plenty of time to mKE A pav if you get home at 4.30.

It diesn't need hours to dry out just time o cool down after cooking so you can put cream on without crem going all bleurgh.

2oz caster sugar, half tsp each of white vinegar and cornflour for every egg white. I usually use 4 egg whites/8oz sgar/2tsp cornflour/2tsp vinegar but latter two very slapdash over.

Whisk egg whites to stiff peaks (upside bowl stage). Add sugar bit by bit whisking in well. Whisk in cornflour and vinegar. Put onto baking paper on tray. Puti nto oven pre-heated to 140 but drop temp to 100C as you put in and cook for 1h15m. I use fan over so you could have temp slightly higher if you don't.

I think the problrm was that you didn't whisk the eggs properly. If you hadn't got the sugar in properly it ould have produced little rivulets of syrup from the sugar.

oh yes, double cream (whipped) is needed and I use 2 bars of chocolate if doing double the recipe - I would normally use Tesco Luxury Milk Chocolate for cakes and desserts (on the baking isle). Sainsburys do something similar.

No, just get a spoon and spoon a bit out and blob it on the baking sheet, you could sort of smooth it over once on there with the back of the spoon if you wanted.

Honestly, these are the simplest things to do.

I respond to very clear instructions. Just so you don't think I'm completely useless in the kitchen, I did make a fabulous leek and potato soup last night.

Maybe I tried to do too much at once and rushed my pav. Dd was pouring flour all over the kitchen floor at the time.

Right, I'm off to buy my ingredients. Will report back.

Thanks!!!

Use Nigellas recipe - always make sure you add corn flower and white wine vinegar that will give you a crisp outside and squadgy on the inside - make sure you don't take it out of the oven when the cooking time is up just switch off the oven and crack open the door a little.

It always works for me - infact I am asked to take a pavlova when ever I go to a prty or social gathering - I even have to make them for 4 people in our village for Christmas Day desserts.

My mother often makes a pavlova roll, the pav is made in a swiss roll tin, cooks fairly quickly then you roll it with whipped cream and fruit.

Recipe here

Honestly, they are the easiest thing in the world to do.

The other Mums here where I live stole my recipe after they had come for lunch one day and they do them all the time now.

I have even been asked to do them for a coffee afternoon to raise money for a charity.

Right I've bought all my ingredients and will report back tomorrow.

I also have a box of meringue nests in case it all goes tits up.

Good luck Pinkjenny (can I just say I think your DH looks gorgeous!)

Yes, it's a good picture.

Suzy W. has it right. Donna Hay's recipe is good for a big pav.

6 egg whites
2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla ess (plus seeds from pod if you like)
1 tsp white vinegar
1 tsp cornflour

Preheat oven to 130C (this is an Australian recipe, so all in centigrade) and line a thing metal baking sheet with greaseproof paper. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form, add sugar a bit at a time, beating constantly, until all is thick and glossy. Add vanilla, vinegar and cornflour and gently fold through. Spoon on to tray and shape. Place in oven and turn temp down to 100C. Cook for 45-50 minutes, check centre and then either turn oven off or cook a little longer if still soft in centre. Leave to cool in oven. Top with cream and fruit.

Never fails me. Best with poached peaches and raspberries with the poached liquor reduced to a syrup or with mango and mixed berries and passionfruit pulp.

How did you get on PinkJenny?

I made both! A pavlova with raspberries and strawberries and cream, which was gorgeous. I went back to Nigella's recipe and it was perfect.

I also made the profiteroles! The first batch went in the bin, but the second batch were fab!

It helped that I left work at 2pm, and when I got home, dh and dd were out!

Thanks ladies, you've made me look like a proper wife! My family were well impressed!

Well done . I love it when puddings go down well.

This has just inspired me to make these too..always thought they where a difficult thing to make..will report tomorrow how I get on.

you need DumbledoresGirl for this - she is the meringue queen

Should make myself clear..its the profiteroles I am gonna try...thanks Bellavita. Quite smug..... my pavlovas usually cause me no problems, but will not get too cocky as know they are fickle things to cook.

Pinkjenny - glad the profiteroles were ok - even though you had to bin the first lot

cosit - hope they work out for you, must admit that my pavlovas never cause me problems