Another year older

 

I may be another year older, but I wouldn't say that I'm any wiser.  More relaxed and content with my life, perhaps a little more rotund around the middle, maybe a tad greyer, but wiser?  Never. 

 

To mark the occasion; I decided to make myself my favourite dessert.

 

It's the dessert from my childhood.

 

It's the dessert my mum used to make for me every birthday because she knew that it was my absolute favourite thing in the whole World.

 

 

Where the recipe originates from I can't tell you. I just know that it's been enjoyed by my family for a long time.

 

It reminds me of my mum, and that's why I think I had a yearning to make it today.  She was on my mind when I woke up this morning.  I wonder how she felt this time 41 years ago, holding her new daughter for the first time.

 

Mothers are truly special people.

 

I'm gonna write the recipe down for you.  You never know, it may become your favourite dessert, or become a family favourite.

 

My mum used to call it a Poala (as in Koala, but pronounced with a P), and the meringue is soft and fluffy rather than the hard meringue used in Pavlova.

 

To make your Poala, you will need the following:

 

Ingredients:

3 Egg whites

6oz of Caster Sugar

1tsp Vinegar

1tsp Cornflour

1tsp Vanilla Extract

Carton of Double Cream

 

1.  Heat oven to 160 (fan oven).

 

2.  Line a flan tin with tin foil. The sides will need to be a few inches high.

 

3. To make the soft meringue. Whip the egg whites to peaks.  Add one quarter of the Caster Sugar and whip again.  Now fold in the rest of the Caster Sugar, together with the Vinegar, Cornflour and Vanilla Extract.  When combined, pour in to the lined flan tin.  Cook for about 25-30 minutes.

 

4. When cooked, turn out on to a wire rack to cool.  When cool remove all the tin foil and turn over on to a plate.

 

5. I use tinned Raspberries for the filling of my Poala. My brother also recommends Blueberries, but you could use whatever soft fruit you prefer - fresh or tinned.

 

6.  Now whisk the Double Cream until quite firm, and spread it over the filling.

 

7.  Top with fresh Raspberries (or other soft fruit).

 

8.  Eat and enjoy.  Don't even think about the calories!

 

 

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