Aren’t these the cutest little Pavlova’s?
I’m certain most of you know these were named after Anna Pavlova, the Russian ballerina. She must have been such an entrancing dancer!
I’d love to have a dessert named after me.. something so lightly sweet and airy as these ones. These little treats are to have a crunchy outer shell and soft, marshmallowy centers. Mine were a bit chewy, apparently my convection oven may have been too hot a temperature for these delicate little lasses and it could be I forgot to use FINE sugar!
♥
Smidge’s Proverb: There’s nothing worse than being given the perception that someone something is so “nice and sweet” on the “outside”, only to discover out they aren’t who what you think they are in the inside!
sigh..
Notwithstanding, one should never be deceived daunted nor defeated by such an unseemly person predicament,
One will find such a dilemma quite easily overcome when one just picks them up and devours them whole!
Not very ladylike at all, I know, with whipped cream and lemon curd smudged all over one’s face.. tut tut,
..it is so much fun!
♥
Ode to Pavlova
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough hands do shake the darling buds of raspberries,
And an evening’s lease hath all too short a slice of peach:
Sometime too hot the oven of mine doth shine,
And often is Pavlova’s gold complexion dimm’d ochre;
And every bit by bit sometimes devours,
By chance, or dinner’s changing last course, untrimm’d;
But thy eternal lemon curd shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair mouth thou owest;
Nor shall breakfast brag thou wander’st in its shade,
When in eternal tummies in time thou goest;
So long as women can breath, or eyes can see
So long lives Pavlova, and this gives life to thee.
Shakespeare, Sonnet 18
♥
- 4 egg whites, room temperature
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 cup FINE granulated sugar
- 4 tsp cornstarch
- 2 tsp white wine vinegar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup heavy cream, chilled
- 1 batch luscious lemon curd https://justasmidgen.com/2012/02/14/mini-sunkissed-linzer-cookies/
- fresh peach slices and berries
- Preheat oven to 275F.
- Beat egg whites, salt and cream of tartar in a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on high speed until the whites hold a stiff peak. Add the sugar, tablespoon by tablespoon until it is stiff and glossy and sugar is dissolved. Beat in the cornstarch, then the vinegar then the vanilla.
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Dollop a hefty spoonful of meringue and the smooth into a nest with the back of your spoon.
- Bake for 1 to 1 1/4 hours, or until meringue is firm and only lightly browned. Pavlova will be moist on the inside. Cool slightly, then move Pavlovas to individual serving plates. Fill centers with whipped cream, spoon over lemon curd and scatter with peach slices and raspberries.
We’ve just received a nice box full of ripe peaches from the cottage at Mabel Lake, so I think I shall try my hand at a peach pie next!
That sounds very good with lemon curd 🙂
Oh, in my mind they are perfect! I am not wild about desserts, but this type, as you said, airy…. makes me dream and want to have a piece… then maybe another one
elegant, beautiful, just a perfect dessert!
(a pet peeve of mine: the annoying trend of adding BACON to desserts… why not allow a dessert to be its classy self?)
Looks yummy!
Dainty and so pretty are your miniature pavlova with all of the deliciousness of the remaining summer fruits. I hope this summer has treated you well! Take care, BAM
Oooh I love a good pavlova and topping it with lemon curd would be such a good combination of tartness and sweetness. I almost always top mine with whipped cream and berries, never thought of lemon curd (which I LOVE) or other fruits !
This dessert deserves a sonnet. I agree it would be a true treat to see such a fancy ballerina dance. You did a beautiful job color and flavor wise as far as I am concerned. I will have to admit however, as soon as I see lemon curd as part of the recipe, I get my spoon out.
That looks so delicious, love pavlova!
What a perfect sonnet to set up an exquisite pavlova, Smidge. I must make this soon. I will be thinking about it until I do. 🙂
I love your ode to the pavlova Barbara! 😉 I am a great fan of meringues,and those look so tasty!
I always associate pavlova with summer because it’s not a heavy or hot dessert and it always seems to be adorned with the best of summer’s fruits. Your mini pavlovas look gorgeous Smidge and I’m sorry to hear you’ve had dramas with someone unkind – life is too short for such nonsense xx
Love how you compared a pavlova to a summer’s day. Indeed!
love how you slathered it with both lemon curd and chantilly cream. How perfectly beautiful they look! 🙂
Oh why do we have to have unpleasant people in our life. Urgh!
Can’t believe I haven’t thought to make mini pavlova’s before – you are so clever Smidge and so beautifully dressed too.
Have a beautiful day and sending you a big hug.
🙂 Mandy xo
A wonderful way of decorating this pavlova, it looks delectable!
Beautiful fruity flavour 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Looks beautiful and yummy!
Beautiful Pavlovas! I love the lemon curd and fresh fruit!
These are one of Miss A’s favorite desserts. She requests it often. I love what you’ve done with the lemon curd, peaches and raspberries. We haven’t made these with peaches yet, but that would make Miss A love them even more! 🙂
I love Pavlova and usually serve with berries, but I love that you have added extra layers of flavor with peaches and lemon curd. I will eat just about anything that has lemon curd added to it – these look delish!
Short comment … but had to say how delicious they looked… Diane
Was it humid? Because that will make a meringue a little chewy on the inside. I know this, because summer in these here parts basically involves 100% humidity. I live in an armpit…
It was!! Thank you Movita! xx
I love making mini Pavlovas – they’re so much easier come serving time. The combination of lemon curd and peaches and raspberries hasn’t come to mind before. I can just imagine the explosion of tangy, sweet flavour! A beautiful dessert!
Although I’m not the biggest lemon curd fan, I do love peaches. This looks delicious!
These are absolutely beautiful I love individual desserts such as these. One year I gave lots of cooking classes to little girls. We did fun things with eggs, and with the resulting whites we made pavlovas. I just knew it would get them so excited about cooking. And indeed they were so proud of the impressive pavlovas!!!
I had never heard of Pavlovas before this – they do look quite tasty. And being ladylike is overrated. 😉
With summer coming to a rapid end, this sounds like a great way of using the last of the sweet peaches.
I doubt if anyone other than you, the chef, would see anything wrong with your pavlovas, Barb. I know I wouldn’t for I’ve never seen, let alone tried, one. I do know, however, that using fresh peaches and rich, thick lemon curd would make a fantastic topping for just about anything. Well, maybe not pizza. 🙂
These look lovely! I especially like the combination of lemon curd,fresh peaches, and those beautiful raspberries!