Eton mess
I have always had a romantic notion that once in a banquet
at Eton school it was just before the dessert was being served when someone dropped
it. The desert being a Pavlov and the chef thinking on his feet calls it Eton
mess. But it would appear that, that is not the case. Eton mess, which is
traditionally served at Eton College’s annual cricket match with Winchester
Collage, has different roots. Eton mess was served in the 1930’s in the school “sock
shop” or “tuck shop”. It was made with
strawberries or bananas mixed with ice-cream or cream. It would appear that
meringue addition to the dish. It can be made with all sorts of fruit but strawberries
are the tradition favourite. Also a very similar dish called Lancing mess
served in Lancing Collage, West Sussex as well, only leaving me asking the question
who made it first.
You will need
500g/1lb 2oz strawberries
200ml/7floz double cream
200ml/7floz Ice-cream
3 or 4 meringue nests
Now to make this you need no real skill what so ever. Take
your ice-cream out so it start to go soft. Whip you cream so it has stiff
peaks. Then smash your meringues in a plastic bag so they do not go everywhere.
Now take half the strawberries and place them in a bowl and
mash them with a fork. Work them well so you get all the juices out of them or
you could use a hand blender. Then into you mashed strawberries add nice chunky
slices of strawberry. Then add the ice-cream and fold that in to the strawberries.
Then add the whipped cream and the meringue in to the mix and serve in tall
glasses or bowls.
The best thing about this dessert is that you can make it in
seconds and it is great on a hot day in the summer, when you have unexpected
visitors.
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