Pavlova

Ingredients:

4 egg whites
250g caster sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons cornflour
475ml whipping cream, whipped
fresh fruit to decorate

Preparation method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 150 C / Gas mark 2. Line a baking tray with baking parchment. Draw a 23cm (9 in) circle on the parchment.

2. In a large bowl, beat egg whites until stiff but not dry. Gradually add in the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat until thick and glossy. Over beaten egg whites lose volume and deflate when folded into other ingredients. Be absolutely sure not a particle of grease or egg yolk gets into the whites. Gently fold in vanilla extract, lemon juice and cornflour.

3. Spoon mixture inside the circle drawn on the parchment. Working from the center, spread mixture towards the outside edge, building edge slightly. This should leave a slight depression in the center.

4. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a wire rack.

5. Remove the parchment, and place meringue on a flat serving plate. Fill the center of the meringue with whipped cream, sweetened if desired. Top whipped cream and fresh fruit.

Tip:
To keep your meringue from being flat and grainy, try beating egg whites until stiff but not dry. Over beaten egg whites lose volume and deflate when folded into other ingredients. Also, when beating in sugar, beat in about 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well between each addition. Then beat until meringue is thick, white and glossy. Be absolutely sure not a particle of grease or egg yolk gets into the whites.