TRADITIONAL PAVLOVA
4-6 egg whites
pinch salt
8oz castor sugar/sugar (equal parts)
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
2 level teaspoons cornflour
Preheat oven to 400F(200C).
Lightly grease oven tray, line with baking paper or use non-stick cooking spray.
Beat the whites of eggs with a pinch of salt until stiff (until peaks form).
Continue beating, gradually adding sugar, vinegar and vanilla, until of thick consistency.
Lightly fold in cornflour.
Pile mixture into circular shape, making hollow in centre for filling.
(Mixture will swell during cooking)
Electric oven: turn oven to 250F (130C) and bake undisturbed for 1 1/2 hours.
Gas oven: bake at 400F (200C) for ten minutes, then turn oven to 250F (130C) and bake a further hour.
Turn oven off, leave pavlova in oven until cool. (I usually make it the night before & leave overnight)
Top with whipped cream and decorate with fruit as desired. <o:p></o:p>
castor sugar/superfine sugar cornflour/cornstarch<o:p></o:p>
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