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.