I made this gorgeous! stunning! I’m so modest! pavlova for a dinner party on Tuesday night and have been dying to post about it because aside from being absolutely beautiful, it also complements the weather right now perfectly ~ London is in the midst of another little spurt of summer, with the mercury rising into the high 20’s and everyone, everyone, is just happy.

Taking advantage of this summer lovin’, I’ve been walking to and from work for the past four weeks. Ok so I also walked in the rain and cold and wind but somehow it’s just so awesome when it’s warm that I totally forget how utterly miserable London weather can get.

Anyway, I decided to start walking because last month, I finally cancelled my gym membership. I know right? Insane. I’ve been a gym bunny for many many years but it got to a point where I just couldn’t bear parting with £80 a month, not when my work (and social) schedule has me so busy that for the past few months I’ve only been hitting the gym once a week (if that) and really, there are far better ways to spend £80.

Like buying a leather jacket, for instance.

I know there’s some prestige in being a member of a gym though, because I’m sure that all Adonises and Adonisettes are gym members and I’m also sure that just tweeting “I’m going for a workout” instantly disintegrates 10 calories. At least.

There’s also the distinct blue-red membership card of my ex-gym which I kept in my purse and kinda undeliberately but sort of deliberately flashed whenever I paid for anything because having a gym membership also instantly disintegrates 10 calories. Per flash.

So now I’m no longer a member of a gym. Am I worried that I’m gonna quite literally go pear shaped? Hell yes I am, but hey I’m walking! And I’m ….. yeah, I’m just walking but for the record I power walk (yes, like a loser), and I even ordered a pedometer today because I’m gonna count how many steps I take every day. I’m pretty sure that owning a pedometer kills calories too, no?

Anyway, I’m thoroughly enjoying walking to work right now because if nothing else, it means I don’t have to get on the stuffy tubes and stinky buses with the billions of other inhabitants of this city. And it might even help me keep the size of my butt in check.

Oh and what does walking have to do with my pavlova? Well, I went and ate a full half of it on Tuesday night, didn’t I, so yeah, my butt. Big. Must keep walking.

Pavlova with fresh berries (inspired by TasteSpotting)
4 large egg whites
1 cup caster sugar
1 teaspoon vinegar
1/2 tablespoon corn flour
300-500mL whipping cream (depends how much cream you want. I used 500mL because I’m gross like that)
1 punnet strawberries
1 punnet blueberries
  1. Pre-heat oven to 120°C/250°F.
  2. On a sheet of parchment/baking paper, draw an 8″ diameter circle. Turn over, or place another sheet on top but make sure you can still see the circle.
  3. Separate egg whites from the yolk and place in a large mixing bowl. 4 egg whites don’t look like a lot but believe me, they will grow.
  4. Beat at a medium to high speed until soft peaks form. This should only take a couple of minutes.
  5. Slowly add in the sugar while still beating and continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Your mixture should now be a smooth meringue.
  6. Sprinkle vinegar and corn flour over the mixture and fold in with a spatula.
  7. Using a spatula, spoon the mixture onto the prepared baking tray and baking paper keeping the meringue inside the circle. Smooth over and try to make the outside edges slightly higher than the inside edges.
  8. Bake meringue in oven on a middle shelf for 90 minutes. After 90 minutes, turn off the oven, leave the oven door slightly open and leave pavlova to cool for 2 hours or over night if possible.
  9. When ready to serve, beat the whipping cream in a large bowl until it becomes firm enough so that it can hold itself up. Spread across the top of the pavlova.
  10. Wash and prepare strawberries and blueberries, decorating the top of the pavlova. Serve pavlova with any left over berries.
Serves 6-8.

24 Thoughts on “summer lovin’ the way I like: recipe for pavlova with cream and fresh berries

  1. Wowzers I LOVE pavlova. I feel like I would finally achieve grown-up womandom if I could make one. You SHOULD feel proud! And you’ve inspired me to try it…

    As for the gym, its rubbish in summer anyway. Weekend cycle rides and walks is what its all about 🙂

    Sasha @ The Happiness Project London

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  3. Is it heathy or decadent? I can’t decide. In any case, I’m sure it was fantastic and your guests loved it.

  4. The pavlova looks amazing. I am not sure if I will ever give up my gym membership. My ass will explode!

  5. Sasha: You know what? I used to think it was hard to make so I never tried but HELLO it’s actually really ridiculously easy so you should have a go!

    Ken: Well, you see that there enormous layer of cream? I think it’s quite decadent, but the fruit of course makes it healthy 🙂 a healthy decadence?

    penny: I know, I’m still a little concerned about my shape with no gym membership but we’ll see. Maybe I need to curb my eating…. NOT!

  6. Mags on June 24, 2010 at 3:40 pm said:

    And I was one of the lucky ones who actually got a slice!!!! If it’s possible it tasted heaps better than it looks 🙂

  7. My mouth is watering…Yum!

    Loved the post…very courageous of you to drop the gym membership, but it won’t take long for the money you save to be spent on other things…just seems to work that way, no?

  8. I LOVE walking! And been wanting to cancel my gym membership but I’m holding on to it because I believe it keeps me fit to be a member (even if I’m not actually going to the gym, that is). I love pavlova too, this looks so very pretty and summery!

  9. Mags: you lucky ducky you! Well, I only traded for your meatballs 😉 Speaking of which I made meatballs again on Wednesday night hehe..

    Jessica: Yeah I mean £80 a month was great when I was going 3 times a week but now with me not going it’s just dead money! Better spent on shopping and FOOD! 😀

    Maria: I told you, being a gym member instantly kills calories – you don’t even have to go to the gym! Haha 🙂 Have you done the Coogee to Bondi walk? That’s the BEST walk in summer…

  10. Yinnie on June 25, 2010 at 12:18 am said:

    ooh what kind of vinegar do you use? I think all i have is rice vinegar or malt vinegar. Damn asian households.

    • I just used rice vinegar too, remember I am also Asian 😀 It’s such a small amount I don’t think it matters too much what vinegar you use 🙂

  11. Catty, no I haven’t yet, but meaning to in a couple of weeks. I do the Spit to Manly often as it’s closer 🙂

  12. shauna on June 25, 2010 at 11:09 am said:

    awww this looks great! we used to get pavlovas all the time from the Cheesecake Shop around the corner but they’ve closed and I haven’t had one in a long time. yours looks great!

  13. Well done darling! You should be proud, that looks amazingly good! I’m, sure you’ll stay svelte too with all of that walking to and from work!

  14. I am so glad you found my blog because it means I get to find yours! So a few things:

    1. Your photos are beautiful.
    2. Your food looks delicious.
    3. After reading your ‘about me’ I have come to the conclusion that we are the same person, but you’re an Aussie, mate, and I’m a BBC (British-born-Chinese)… but y’know what, I lived in Malaysia for four months! This both excites and terrifies me. More the former than the latter.
    4. PAVLOVA! Have you heard of Ina Garten? She’s my Amurikan Domestic Goddess Hero and she makes badass pavlova, too. Yes. Your pavlova is BADASS.

    I shall be back =)

    Jax x

  15. shauna: OMG the Cheesecake Shop! I LOVE their pavlovas and don’t tell anyone but I once ate a whole LARGE one on my own. I know. But it’s all egg white, right? 😉

    Lorraine: I hope the walking works hahaha it doesn’t help that I walk past a LOT of yummy food things and am tempted every single day to get a froyo on the way home!

    Jackie: Aww thank you!! 🙂 I haven’t heard of Ina Garten but if she makes a bad ass pavlova, she’s ok in my books 😉

  16. yup this would be the usual way i make the pavlova too. looks great catty and the berries make it the perfect summer indulgence1

  17. tell me… tell me…. this pav is for real…. wanna eat it of the screen… so yummy looking 🙂

    cheers,
    The Variable, Crazy Over Desserts – Nachiketa
    Catch me on facebook @ Crazy Over Desserts

  18. fifi on June 11, 2013 at 4:10 pm said:

    what brand of cream did you use?looks sooo yummy:)

  19. Pingback: Pavlova | Cabby Craft

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