Happy Bday Pupu ^^! Chocolate Orange Pavlova celebration
Happy Birthday Pupu ^^!
Hope you had a fun-filled and tasty day! This is an obvious attempt at procrastination so I shall make this quick and simple. A little while back one of the many wonderful Sunbeams out there generously gave me a mixer which meant no more whisking by hand for me! A big thanks to her for making my life much easier (although now I don’t get the burning sense of satisfaction of hand-whisking egg whites heh). However due to busy exam period I didn’t have a chance to try it but when Pupus’ Bday came round it was the perfect excuse to whip it out!
Watching the mixer work is very mesmerizing
It also makes purdy patterns!
Pupu requested a pavlova on her Bday and since I had not made one before I thought I would look for a simple and easy recipe. I came across one of Nigella’s recipe and was instantly hooked in by the “chocolate”, naturally! Here Comes the Recipe
Chocolate Raspberry Orange Pavlova (serves 8-10)
(adapted from Nigella)
6 egg whites
300g (1 and 1/3 cups) caster sugar
3 tbsp cocoa powder (I used cinnamon sugar! This stuff is as good as crack!)
1 tsp balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar
50g finely chopped good quality chocolate (I used 100g Milk Lindt MWAHAHAH)
For the Topping:
500ml double cream
500g raspberries (I used 2-3 oranges)
2-3 tbsp grated dark chocolate
Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Beat the eggs until satiny peak and beat the sugar in one spoon at a time until meringue is stiff and shiny. Add in cocoa (or cinnamon sugar like me), vinegar and the chopped chocolate. Gently fold in everything until thoroughly mixed.
Pour onto a baking sheet/tray and shape into a fat circle, smooth sides and top. Place into oven and immediately turn down to 150 degrees C and cook for 1 – 1 and a quarter hours. The smell of this is absolutely amazing! When it is ready it should be crispy on the outside and dry on top but when you prod it the centre there is still the promise of squidginess beneath your fingers. Turn off the oven and allow to cool in the oven with door ajar. This is very important as it would collapse if it cools down too quickly.
Before serving invert onto a flat-bottomed plate and spread and sprinkle on the toppings and ENJOY!
Sadly mine collapsed but it still tasted very very good! I believe my oven door does not like to be opened only ajar and allowed more air in than desired. As usual I changed up the recipe just for funsies. Oranges were used as raspberries are not in season at the moment and I used about half the amount of cream in the recipe as I am not a bit cream man. I found the cinnamon sugar added that beautiful aroma and spice factor to the pavlova and extra chocolate is always a plus!
I shall conquer you next timmmeee!!
Happy Bday Pupu, hope you enjoyed the flat pav XD
FFichiban
June 15th, 2010 at 11:55 pm
nawww so sweet! happy birthday mj!
June 16th, 2010 at 2:55 am
I’ve never had pavlova before… There’re always disputes about whether it’s an aussie or kiwi recipe, aren’t there? It certainly looks delicious, though. I’m on the fence about the chocolate-orange combo, though. :S
Happy birthday to… Pupu?? XD
Wei-Wei
June 16th, 2010 at 5:40 am
Hihh “Pupu” means bunny in Finnish
Cute and the pavlova looks delicious!
June 16th, 2010 at 10:12 am
Aww what a nice birthday sweet treat
Too bad it collapsed but it still looks super tasty! Gotta love the choc+orange combination. Hope she had a good bday!
June 16th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
looks good mangs, happy birthday pupu!
June 16th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
Aww so sweet of you Richard! Happy Birthday Pupu!
June 17th, 2010 at 12:28 am
^^ Thank youuu for spending the day with me and making it such a wonderful birthday! mwa!
… Flat pavlova was great! Even my mother and aunt liked it though I will admit it did seem more like an ACTUAL cake in the end than not =P
and thank you all for the birthday wishes!!
June 17th, 2010 at 12:45 am
Awww, seriously, no complaints if the other half was to cook for me! A flat pav can still be a good pav =)
June 18th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Oh you so sweet RH and belated bday wishes to MJ =)
June 20th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
I am glad the sunbeam has gone to a good home! He will be missed
July 5th, 2010 at 11:19 am
Happy belated birthday Pupu!