Pavlova my love....

I like to save egg whites in the freezer in a small container and when I have enough...I make Pavlova. I am in love with Pavlova.
It is hard for me to have it around...the crispy outer shell...the marshmallowy inside...the softly whipped cream and the juicy berries...heaven for me. Hard to resist...

This is another of my most visited recipes...it is wonderful for strawberry season which is really just beginning for us here in the Northeast. We have berries shipped from afar. Soon we will have the very short season of our local little berries and I can not wait for that.

This is a Nigella Lawson recipe and I think it is just perfect....I do not care if my meringue shell is slightly tan. It gets that way from the vanilla. The color does not matter to me...the taste is just sublime.

Strawberry Pavlova
adapted from Nigella Lawson

Time: 2 hours, plus up to 2 hours' macerating

For the meringue:
4 egg whites
Pinch of salt
1 1/4 cups superfine or regular granulated sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon white-wine vinegar
A few drops vanilla extract

For the topping:
1 pound strawberries, hulled and halved or quartered
1/2 teaspoon high-quality vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon high-quality balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon superfine sugar
2 cups heavy cream.

1. To prepare meringue: heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and draw a circle on the paper using an 8- or 9- inch cake pan as a guide. In bowl of an electric mixer, combine egg whites and salt. Begin beating at low speed, slowly increasing to high. Continue until satiny peaks begin to form; gradually beat in sugar a tablespoon at a time until meringue is stiff and shiny.

2. Sprinkle in cornstarch, white-wine vinegar and vanilla, and fold in gently. Mound onto parchment within circle, and shape into a disk, flattening top and smoothing sides. Place in oven, and immediately reduce heat to 300 degrees. Bake 1 hour 15 minutes. Turn off heat, and allow meringue to cool completely in oven.

3. To prepare topping: in a mixing bowl, combine strawberries, vanilla, balsamic vinegar and sugar. Cover with plastic wrap. Let sit at room temperature at least 15 minutes and up to 2 hours.

4. To serve, invert meringue onto a plate, and carefully peel off parchment. (Crisp top of meringue will now be against plate with tender underside facing up.) Whip cream until it is thick enough to hold peaks, and spread it evenly over meringue. Cover cream with strawberries, allowing a small amount of their liquid to dribble onto cream. Serve immediately.

my notes: I do not bother with the inverting step...IMHO you are asking for trouble if you do that so I just move the meringue to a plate and the top is the top...