Tropical Fruit Pavlova powered by Caltex Fresh Stop

I am notoriously known as a liker of the excitement of the last minute. This past Sunday being a case in point, I was due to bring dessert to a ladies luncheon and had not had time on Saturday to do any grocery shopping.

Luckily, I have a Fresh Stop in my neighbourhood that stocks a great variety of fresh fruit and a couple of other kitchen staples.  A late Saturday night grocery run and 15 minutes, just under R200 later I’m armed with everything I need to whip up dessert.

Ingredients:

For the meringue:

3 large egg whites

pinch of salt

150g castor sugar

1tsp vanilla extract (from my pantry)

½ tsp white vinegar (from my pantry)

1tsp corn flour (Maizena, from my pantry)

For the pavlova:

1 mango chopped into bite size cubes

1 kiwi sliced

1 nectarine chopped into bite sized cube

pulp of one granadilla

250ml fresh cream

2 tbsp castor sugar

200ml plain yoghurt

mango sauce

For the mango sauce

1 mango chopped

1tbsp sugar

juice of half a lemon

2tsp water

Preparation time: 1hour 30 minutes

Cooking time: 1 hour

Serves: 6 dessert lovers

Method:

• Preheat your oven to 150 degrees Celsius
• Place parchment/baking paper on an oven tray, draw one 20cm circle onto the paper. I used a medium sized bowl to do this
• Place egg whites in a clean bowl with a pinch of salt and whisk (medium speed) till firm peaks begin to form
• Add the sugar in batches slowly while continuously whisking
• Whisk in all the sugar until the meringues are shiny and glossy with soft peaks
• Sprinkle over the vanilla extract, vinegar and the cornflour and fold them into the meringue
• With a spoon transfer the meringue onto the baking paper, be sure to make the edges higher than the centre (this will allow it to hold the fruit topping)
• Tip: Use the back of a spoon to create a dip in the centre of the meringue
• Bake in the oven for 1 hour, till meringue is little golden
• Tip: I usually make my meringue the night before and then assemble just before guests arrive the next day 
• Tip: If you are making the meringue just before serving, then do all of the fruit prep and make the mango sauce, while the meringue is in the oven. Chop, chop and more chopping. 

• To make the mango sauce by placing cubed mango, lemon juice, sugar and water in a blender and blend till smooth. 
• After the hour take the meringue out of the oven and allow to cool 
• Mix all the cubed fruit and the granadilla pulp in a bowl. 
• Whisk the cream and sugar in a clean bowl until the cream forms peaks but isn’t stiff. 
• Next fold the yoghurt into the cream. 
• Now to assemble 
• Place the meringue on a serving plate, layer with mango sauce (1/2cm away from the edges of the meringue) 
• Top with the cream and yoghurt mixture 
• Then place the fruit on the top in the centre 
• Serve immediately! 
• Please note that all of the pantry items where also available at the Fresh Stop 

Get all of these ingredients at your nearest Caltex Fresh Stop!

Bradley's Summer Carrot Salad

This is my favourite salad to eat all the time not just in Summer and it is super quick to make, especially when the boyfie is doing the making. He says that this is a "whatever he has in his pantry" salad,  I have to say it's a well stocked pantry.

Ingredients:

For the salad

• 3 Carrots finely grated
• Chargrilled Artichokes chopped (The Woolworths ones)
• Small handful Parsley chopped
• Half a palm full of Raisins
• Half a palm full of Sultanas
• Small handful Sesame seeds
• Bed of greens (your preferred combination)

For the dressing

• Juice of half an orange or a full lime
• few drops of sesame oil
• Olive oil
• Salt & pepper to season

Method:

• In a bowl combine the finely grated carrots (that's French style according to boyfie), chopped chargrilled artichokes parsley, raisins and sultanas. 
• Now squeeze the orange or lime over the salad, add the sesame oil and olive oil 
• Toss and season. 
• In the meantime heat a pan on medium heat and toast the sesame seeds
• Place the salad on top of the bed of greens and sprinkle the sesame seeds over.

This is also a great substitute for the traditional coleslaw served at a braai. Just keeping it healthy.

Happy Eating In!

Drinkies: Honest Love Affair at The Leopard

Just in time for the holidays, I have a few tipple tips for you!

If you're looking for a quiet, unassuming spot for a tipple try The Leopard on a Saturday afternoon. It's in Melville off the busy 7th Street, a quaint hideaway perfect to have a tipple that has Gin, lemon, Basil and Rosemary with a touch of Absinthe. Although it is served small, what it lacks in size it makes up in content.

The Leopard
See details on Zomato here