What a Mess

Early yesterday morning NAH disappeared off for one of his regular trips up North, therefore I'm combatting the low feeling that always prevails, finding lots of things to do and keeping the cats close for company. So it was lovely to be spontaneously invited to Sunday lunch by A & R our immediate next door neighbours when they learnt of NAH's imminent departure.

Having lived next door to each other for 9 years, we've reached the point where visiting each other is more like going to part of our extended family and we'll happily chat away whilst whoever's hosting goes about their daily chores. However, yesterday's nice weather meant we could just sit outside and catch up, especially with 2 daughters just back from University. Their youngest's very proud of his cooking prowess, though I'm unclear how much he actually did, bearing in mind the amount of teasing he was getting from his sisters. Whatever, lunch was superb and we finished up with one of the family's favourite puds, Eton Mess. You're right, it does look a mess but the result is absolutely delicious. Sadly, assembling the pud had been started before I arrived, so my gift of allotment strawberries wasn't included, but I'm sure they'll come in handy later!

For the Mess to serve 6 you'll need:

Ingredients
1lb (450g) summer soft fruit (must be strawberries at least - yesterday's also had cherries)
Sugar to taste (will depend on ripeness and type of fruit used)
1 pint (570ml) double cream
12 meringue nests

Method
Puree half the strawberries and set aside.
Whip the double cream until thickened.
Destone any fruit that needs it and chop all the non-pureed fruit into smaller pieces.
Pulverise the meringues into smaller pieces using a food processor.
Assemble all the ingredients in a bowl, mix well and taste for sweetness
Add sugar to taste if needed.

Serve immediately and enjoy!

A friend emailed to ask which varieties I grow following my Strawberry Delight post earlier in the month and I thought you might be interested too. I have Christine and Mae (early fruiting varieties - May to June) in one bed, plus Hapil, Honoeye and Aromel (the last one's an 'everbearer' or perpetual fruiter, the others crop from June to late July) on the other side of the plot. I've completely ignored the advice re spacing and just allow the runners to intermingle with each other and whip out any that don't look happy. I cut the dead leaves back in February/March and 'tickle in' some well rotted manure around the roots. I mulch with next door's discarded guinea pig/hamster bedding in May - they use straw/wood shavings, but it includes pet poo and I let it rot down a little in a separate compost bin over the winter, so it's not nitrogen demanding when applied to the strawbs. So far I've ignored the advice re replacing plants every 3 years and everything is still cropping well (from May/June through to October usually owing to the varieties selected!) - I suspect that's the result of the manuring and also having a clay soil.

Click here for the 'pukka' advice re strawberry growing if you don't want to follow my method!

Comments

  1. Zoë30 June 2008 at 18:37

    This dessert is a Yummy and in my top 10. Goes really well with elderflower Champagne or a nice Cava if you like fizz.

    ReplyDelete
  2. HappyMouffetard30 June 2008 at 18:41

    The weekend's pud choice is now sorted - can't wait!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous30 June 2008 at 20:05

    Eton Mess - always a favorite!
    I see your holiday was fab. How goes it with the cinema, any developments?
    Obviously I am home now and also had an amazing time. Spotted some good ideas an was blown away by the alpine meadows. (Brought some seeds home too).
    Keep on blogging - I check you out most days
    Maggi

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous1 July 2008 at 00:04

    Yummmey
    (You seem to have been very prolific in your blog posting recently - there seem to be a few I haven't read! :))
    When I get to the point of buying strawberry plants - I will have to re-read this very useful post!
    K

    ReplyDelete
  5. this is my patch1 July 2008 at 07:57

    Just popped over to have a look at the mess you made, turns out it's your neighbours that have made it. The mess I made didn't last long enough to be photographed! x

    ReplyDelete
  6. Threadspider1 July 2008 at 08:22

    I just love messing with strawberries too! And I know your strawberries on the plot are even more prolific than your postings-where do you find all those extra hours denied to the rest of us, to fit blogging in as well?

    ReplyDelete
  7. VP3 July 2008 at 08:51

    Zoe - thanks so much for the Elderflower champagne recipe. I can't wait to try the results :)

    HM - hope you enjoyed it!

    Maggi - you're back! I love mountain meadows and I'm glad you've come back refreshed and inspired

    Karen - yes NAH is away and I've had an ideas overload. An ideal combination for blogging :)

    TIMP - I bet yours was just as delicious!

    Judith - we've had a great crop haven't we? NAH going training early morning gives me a couple of hours to blog in peace.

    ReplyDelete

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