Eton Mess, three different versions.

Eton Mess is an amazing Summer treat. Simple and tasty, it can be made from scratch with a bit of elbow grease and a few hours spare, or put together from store-bought ingredients. You can take it up a notch with great additions such as Cranachan for the cream or flavoured meringues, or you can cut the calories with yoghurt and more fresh fruit. Here are three versions to try out for your next picnic or pudding!

Decadent Version.

This is closest to the one we made, except, being alco-free as I am right now, we skipped the whiskey/Baileys/brandy.

Ingredients.

• 500g strawberries
• 4 egg whites
• 300ml double cream
• 215g plain sugar
• 115g icing sugar
• a shot of whiskey, Irish cream or brandy
• a few drops of vanilla extract

Utensils.

• chopping board and knife
• two mixing bowls
• baking tray with greaseproof paper
• whisk (use a hand whisk for a good arm workout!]
• a bowl for assembly

Recipe.

1. Preheat the oven to 110C.
2. In one bowl, whisk the egg whites until they are fluffy and stand in floppy or firm peaks.
3. Add 115g of the white sugar slowly and steadily, a tablespoon at a time. Keep whisking a bit in between.
4. Add the icing sugar a quarter at a time. Keep whisking in between.
5. Whisk until a batter forms.
6. Put on the baking tray and in the oven. Set a timer for 1h 30min to 2h.
7. In the next bowl, start whisking the double cream with the last 100g of white sugar.
8. Once thick, add the alcohol and vanilla and whisk until thick again.
9. Thinly slice the strawberries.
10. Wait until ther meringues are golden brown, remove from oven.
11. In the bowl, layer meringue, cream and strawberries.

Low-cal Version.

Delicious and very low calorie compared to the usual one!

Ingredients.

• 800g strawberries
• 2 egg whites
• 20og greek yoghurt sweetened with honey
• 170g icing sugar

Utensils.

• chopping board and knife
• one mixing bowl
• baking tray with greaseproof paper
• whisk (use a hand whisk for a good arm workout!]
• a bowl for assembly

Recipe.

1. Preheat the oven to 110C.
2. In one bowl, whisk the egg whites until they are fluffy and stand in floppy or firm peaks.
3. Add the icing sugar a quarter at a time. Keep whisking in between.
4. Whisk until a batter forms.
5. Put on the baking tray and in the oven. Set a timer for 1h 30min to 2h.
6. Thinly slice the strawberries.
7. Wait until ther meringues are golden brown, remove from oven.
8. In the bowl, layer yoghurt and strawberries.
9. Sprinkle meringue on top.

Store-bought Version.

A quicker and simpler way of getting things done.

Ingredients.

• 500g strawberries
• 3 meringues
• 300ml cream or yoghurt

Utensils.

• chopping board and knife
• a bowl for assembly

Recipe.

1. Slice the straberries.
2. Layer or mix strawberries and cream or yoghurt in a bowl.
3. Sprinkle meringue on top.

And that’s how to make three different types of sweetly Summery Eton Mess!

What’s your favourite Summer pudding?

 

For help starting out homemaking, check out The ESSENTIAL Beginner Homemaker’s Guide. For help budgeting all your everday and not-so-everyday essentials, from food to transport to clothes, check out On A Budget: The good homemaker’s guide to economizing.