Oh Pavlova, you never let me down. Served with a delectable roasted jam and juicy berries, the classic meringue with cream is as delicious as it is beautiful.

Smashed Pavlova With Blackberries And Roasted Raspberry Jam

Ingredients:

225ml egg whites (about 6 egg whites)
1½ cups (330g) sugar
1½ teaspoons white vinegar
1½ cups (375ml) single or whipping cream
200g blackberries
Mint leaves, to serve
Confectioner’s sugar, for dusting
Roasted Raspberry Jam (recipe follows)
500g raspberries
¾ cup (165g) caster (superfine) sugar
1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven temperature to 150°C/300°F. Place the egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer and whisk on high speed until stiff peaks form.

2. Gradually add the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, waiting 30 seconds before adding another tablespoon.

3. Once all the sugar has been incorporated, scrape down the sides of the bowl and whisk for 6 minutes longer or until the mixture is stiff and glossy.

4. Add the vinegar and whisk for another 2 minutes.

5. Place spoonfuls of the meringue onto a parchment lined baking tray.

6. Reduce oven temperature to 120°C/250°F.

7. Bake Pavlova for 1 hour. Turn the oven off and allow the Pavlova to cool completely in the oven.

8. Place the cream in the bowl of an electric mixer and whisk to stiff peaks.

9. Place the Pavlova on a large serving plate and crush slightly with the back of a large spoon. Spoon over the cream and drizzle with the roasted raspberry jam. Top with the blackberries and mint then dust with confectioners’ sugar to serve.

Serves 8–10

Roasted Raspberry Jam

Ingredients:

500g raspberries
¾ cup (165g) sugar
1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 220°C/425°F.

2. Place the raspberries, sugar, vanilla bean and seeds in a small roasting tray and mix to combine.

3. Cook in the oven, stirring occasionally, for 25–30 minutes or until thickened. Set aside to cool completely. Remove and discard the vanilla bean.

Recipes from Donna Hay Magazine



Such a heavenly dessert deserves equally majestic music.

I am enthralled with 17 Pygmies’ space rock saga of Celestina and Isabel. The latest in the story is Isabel II: Abandon Rising. I think this may be the very best of them all. The music has a rich quality to it and plays like a vivid score. The instrumental tracks are supremely good but, as ever, I adore the songs that showcase Meg’s beautiful vocals.

You can read about the earlier recordings here, here, here and here.

Check out 17 Pygmies on Facebook. You can buy their music here.

Cheers!