Chocolate Strawberry Pavlova - a toast to summer 2012!

I have been a BAD BLOGGER.  YUP, it's not that I haven't been cooking or baking or creating or even obsessing over what "my next post" will be - I've honestly just let "life" get in the way.  September - practically came...and went.  I'm another year older (eeek, that's enough stress on it's own!), the weather has started to turn... and it seems like when I get a chance to sit down in front of the computer and type, something else always seems to pop up!  WELL... that's it, I'm putting my foot down, now here I sit, computer on lap, Duke Dog curled up next to me...  My mind drifting and  I'm reflecting back on the summer... wondering.. WTF where did it go!?!?! It seems like ages ago I was rambling on about Blueberries (yup, freezer is still full of em'!) and the HOT HOT HOT weather.  Now, we're starting to prepare for the cold months ahead, and instead of patio BBQ's - long summer nights - we're eating inside, round' the dining room table, being all "grown up and stuff". ha ha  Here's my "official" disclaimer for this post: I LOVE Pavlova.  YES, not too long ago I posted a Blueberry-Lemon Pavlova... BUT I just HAD to make another one, of course switiching it up... making it "less summery" more decadent. nuff' said.  Once you try this version... you'll understand why...  This is what I came up with, and I think I fell in LOVE with PAVLOVA all over again...  Chocolate Strawberry Pavlova.

I won't dilly-dally around the recipe and details... in fact.. I'll make it short and sweet - oh-sooooo-sweet - mmm chocolate... The addition of unsweeted cocoa powder, and a handful of high quality dark belgium chocolate chunks takes the melt-in-your-mouth meringue crust to an entirely new level of awesomeness...  Real whipped cream sweetened lightly, fresh strawberries sliced and piled into the center and of course the addition of more dark chocolate chunks round out this decadent - but somehow light tasting - dessert.  YUP.  L-O-V-E.

Chocolate Strawberry Pavlova

Pavlova:

• 4 Egg whites
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup chopped dark beligium chocolate chunks
• 2 cups real whipping cream, slightly sweetened
• 1 1/2 cups sliced fresh strawberries

- Preheat oven to 275F

- Follow directions for making the meringue found here up until you've got the meringue with stiff, glossy peaks

- Sift the cocoa powder onto the meringue

- Sprinkle in half (1/2 cup approx) of the dark chocolate chunks, and carefully fold them into the meringue.

- On a parchment lined baking sheet, spoon out a circle of meringue, and carefully form a birdsnest shape

- Bake at 275F for 1 1/4 hours, or until meringue has a golden colour, and is not sticky to touch
- Let cool in oven, with the door slightly open
- Once cooled, carefully remove from baking sheet and place on a serving plate

- Carefully spoon whipped cream into center

- Add Strawberries, and sprinkle remaining chocolate chunks on top! 

YUP - pretty sure I could make this dessert over and over... variation upon variation, and STILL it'd come out as one of my fav's. .... ENJOY!!!

SO, as we move on from Summer 2012... I'd like to propose a toast....

Here's to the great times spent with friends new and old.  Here's to the awesome memories made ... and Here's to what lies ahead in the autumn months!  Now BRING ON FALL!! *CHEERS*

A SUPER HERO PUNCH for a Bunch of Super.....people!

For 3 years running, we send out invite to our friends and family to join us up at our little spot of heaven in the Interior of BC. Good friends, good food, “camping” and the odd shenanigan to keep it all interesting are all included. This past weekend was that annual event, which I believe proved to be the best one yet!  The theme – SUPER HEROS.  YUP – even “grown-ups” like to show off their inner Super Hero self once in awhile.  (just sayin’…don’t judge!) The weekend has a loose itinerary, arrival on the Friday night, a group Potluck on the Saturday and the twist this year – Beer Tasting on the Sunday.  (It was a long weekend after all!) Mother Nature cooperated – and the Sun heated things up all day – which meant thirsty evenings! The Host House potluck contribution this year – my very own Super Hero Punch!

It’s light – fruity – and definitely has a *PUNCH* and a *KICK* that will quench the thirst of any *adult* Super Hero! I went with “summer” fruit flavours and adding frozen mixed berries to help keep the punch cool without watering down the punch too much. (Though in 40C weather… a little ice had to be added) Be fair warned… this stuff is YUMMY! Perfect for a hot summer’s night!

Super Hero Punch

·         2  (1 litre containers) White Cranberry Juice

·         2 (1 litre containers) Peach Juice (no sugar added)

·         2 (1 litre containers) Lemon Lime Soda

·         1 (750ml) bottle of Absolut GRAPEVINE Vodka

·         4 cups frozen mixed berries (raspberries, blueberries, blackberries) – or whatever you chose!

·         Ice ( optional )

- Mix all ingredients in a large jug, adding the frozen fruit last.

- Serve Immediately!

The APU weekend for me is months of planning, and it’s truly a pleasure to see it all come together!  I love hosting fun events like this…and I think sometimes it’s the smaller details that makes a great event successful!  I mean, come on, all Super Hero’s need someone to “change”… or attend to the call of nature… you know.. whatever … even Super Hero’s need to___.  ANYWAYS…

This is our Outhouse BEFORE the transformation, and AFTER!  Not too bad eh!? What Superman WOULDN'T want to use that to ...make a call. :)

Being that this year we decided to hold the event on the long weekend,  we added a 2^nd mini-event (aside from the normal potluck), and our good friend, and neighbor up at the lake, hosted a Beer Tasting Event for all of us hero’s!  Of course, we all needed to taste beer the correct way – out of a glass… SO, recruiting my honey and a good friend.. we set to work!  Each person that participated in the Beer Tasting received their own “collectible” (ha ha) take home APU3 glass!  So easy to make… such a small detail… but appears to have been well received!

It’s easy! – Either purchase re-usable stencils (which I did for the lettering), or you can buy a blank sheet, which we cut out our own APU3 Stencil.  Using a paintbrush, and a small bottle of Armour Etch (found at any craft store), paint in the stencil, wait 60 secs, and wash off with water! That’s it! Your design is permanently “etched” into your glass of choice!  One set of stencils, a 3 oz bottle of Armour Etch and 1 paint brush was able to make over 40 glasses, and I still have a smidgen left over!

Eric from BigEZ Beer Reviews did a fantastic job introducing us to several beers from our beautiful province! Informative, knowledgeable …and knows how to just have fun with the group… can’t wait to try and convince him to do one next year! 

Over all…. All I can say is WOW.  The costumes.. the fun times…. Oh Red Solo Cup…. I can’t wait until next year to do it all again!  Hmm… wonder what the theme will be!! For those that made the trek, through long-weekend traffic-to joined us – THANK YOU!!  To those that put up with us invading their property and quiet neighbourhood - THANK YOU!!… it’s truly a team effort that makes a weekend like this a true success!!