Pavlova - Piece of Shit

Pavlova in oven

Pavlova cooling down in oven

Dave taught me to make Pavlova last week. I though I'd give it a go. I followed the recipe completely. (In case you're curious, I've include the recipe at the very bottom of this post.)

No one told me that decorating the Pavlova was going to be the most difficult procedure.

I bought blackberries and put the Pavlova together. I stood there for 20 minutes trying different arrangements, but no matter how ornately I arranged the blackberries, it still looked like little pieces of shit. Rolls eyes. Very frustrating.

Blackberries on Pavlova = Shit

Dave! Why didn't you TELL ME that no matter how neatly you arrange blackberries on a Pavlova, they will look like shit!?

I called Antony in SOS and asked if he had mint leaves and raspberries so that I could add some color. I fixed it obviously (see photo below)... but wow.

Who knew presentation was so important!?

Pavlova Recipe:

12 oz sugar (I used 9 oz today and it turned out fine)

6 egg whites (make sure NO yolks get in - if they do start over)

2 teaspoons corn starch

2 teaspoons white or malt vinegar

2 teaspoons vanilla

Preheat the over to 300 degrees. 

Put non-stick baking parchament down on a cookie sheet.

Put the egg whites in a large mixing bowl and beat them on high with an electric mixer for about 10 mins until they get stiff.

Mix the corn starch in with the sugar and spoon the sugar into the egg whites as you continue to beat the lard out of them. After the sugar is in keep beating until the mixture stands in peaks. Add in the vinegar and vanilla and beat for another minute.

Spoon onto cookie sheet and mold into bowl shape.

Put in oven for 35 mins then turn the oven off but leave it in there for another hour then take it out.

Add cream and toppings of choice. 

The Invitation

The Invitation
By: Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life’s betrayals
or have become shriveled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”

It doesn’t interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the center of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.