- 300 ml (1 ¼ cups)
- whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon caster (fine) sugar
- 100g (1 2/3 cups) ready-made meringues
- 450g (3 cups) fresh strawberries
So far, our Ontario summer weather has been more English than this year’s actual UK summer. I know this for a fact because my British husband tells me so. You see, he’s been tracking and contrasting the forecasts almost daily since June and I can’t help but note a slight undertone of blame each time he shares the latest comparisons (as if I’m in charge of Mother Nature’s current drunken behaviour).
No doubt, weather wise, this summer has been a disappointment for us Ontarians. We’re accustomed to (and basically require) at least three solid months of warmth and sun in order to prep and recharge for the winter cold. We like our summers sunny and consistent, not rainy and unpredictable. What is a Canadian summer without camping trips and cottaging, canoeing, paddle boarding, and days spent by the pool? And nobody wants to do any of that in the rain!
My husband has his knickers in a twist about the rainy days mainly because several of his family members from the UK bought plane tickets to come and see us. We have hosted our first two rounds of guests already, and the last family arrives in a few weeks. You see, we lured them with the promise of the Canadian Dream and they bought into it! We said: “Come! Enjoy the pool. We’ll have tons of barbecues in the sun. We’ll go to the beach. We’ll spend a few days at a cottage. We’ll canoe. We’ll go fishing. Maybe we’ll even see a beaver.”
Sadly, the excessive rain has washed away our plans to live the Canadian Dream…
So, I figure it’s time to ignore the weather and get on with our lives! It’s time to say “sod the expectations!” And, there is no better way to do that than to add some English goodness to our lives. And by goodness, I mean dessert.
If you have never tried Eton Mess (which originated at Eton College where Princes William and Harry studied) you really must make some and eat it immediately! It is so easy to make and is pretty much guaranteed to go down well with each and every family member!
How to Make Eton Mess
What You’ll Need
(Serves 4)
How to Make It
- Place the whipping cream in a large, chilled, metal mixing bowl, add the sugar and mix with mixer until the cream is light and fluffy. Be careful not to over mix.
- Break the meringue into bite-sized chunks and stir into the cream.
- Place half of the strawberries into another large mixing bowl and press gently with the back of a fork to break up the berries and release some of the juice. Do not be too heavy handed with the squashing as you don’t want a puree. Gently stir the berries into the cream.
- Cut the remaining strawberries into quarters.
- Place the cream mixture into a big bowl or individual glass serving dishes. Top with the strawberry pieces and let chill for 30 minutes in the fridge.
- Sprinkle the top with the icing sugar and garnish with some mint (if you like) before serving.
- Eton Mess tastes best when it is made, chilled, and served immediately.
My kids love when I make this for them and yours will too. Let’s all embrace our inner Brit, rain or shine, and enjoy one of the UK’s most classic and delicious desserts this summer.
Cheers!
