Raspberry Pavlova

The weather has been all blue skys (with no plains) and sun. If this isn't Irish summer than I don't know what is. It may be a bit early for raspberries but I was in to mood, so I made a raspberry pavlova.
Raspberry Pavlova
severs 6
6 eggs whites
6 Tbs sugar
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 cup cream
1 Tbs powered sugar
bit of dark chocolate
Pre-heat oven to 300f or 150c. Line a baking sheet with baking paper.
Whip the egg whites (can add 1/8 tsp of cream of tarter if you have it). Slowly whip in the sugar one Tbs at a time. The egg whites will be glossy and stiff. Spoon the whites on to the baking paper and make one big circle. Bake for 50 min or until the top starts to brown. Turn the oven off but leave the pavlova in the oven until cooled (an hour).

Whip the cream with the powered sugar. Add a few crushed raspberries to the cream, mix and spread on top the cooled pavlova. Plop the rest of the raspberries on top and finish with shredded dark chocolate.

This recipe is really soft marshmallowy, not hard and crunchie.

Happy St. Patrick's Day: Green Eggs with 'Ham'

Happy St. Patrick's Day! We are heading to Dublin City Center to enjoy the parade (in our silly green hats). But first we enjoyed green eggs (made with spinach) and sausage rolls (vegetarian) . If you would like to make these very green eggs, just blend a cup of raw spinach per each egg and scramble.

Farm Eggs = a Leek and Cheddar Souffle

Last weekend in Wicklow we stopped at a farm to buy eggs. As we pulled into the drive we had to dodge the truly free range fowl.
The price for fresh eggs? Well your not in Kansas anymore. 6e for 12 (boxes of 10, with the extra to hold in your hands).
Duck Egg, Leek and Irish Cheddar Souffle* Not a recipe from a souffle expert.
Serves 4
1 tsp oil
3 chopped and cleaned leeks
2 Tbs butter
2 Tbs flour
1 1/4 cup of warm milk
3/4 cup grated Irish Cheddar cheese
1 tsp thyme
salt, pepper, hot chili pepper
3 duck egg yolks
4 duck egg whites

1. Heat oven to 350f or 180c.

2. Over a med heat cook the leeks in the oil until soft.

3. Make a white sauce with the butter, flour and milk. (Melt the butter in a pan over med heat, add the flour and stir. Cook for about 30 sec and then add the warm milk. Mix Mix Mix until there are no lumps.) Add the cheese, herbs and spices. Let cool a bit and then add in the yolks.

4. Beat the egg whites. (Fresh eggs whites take longer so maybe ask you husband to do this part!!!)
5. Fold everything together and put into little pots or anything you have ( I used a big pie pan).

6. Into the oven and hope for the best. Cook 30-50 (mine was 40 min, i had to put a foil on the top to stop it from burning while I wait for the middle to be cooked)

It was like eating a cloud of fat!