Pavlova for boys

We got a text earlier in the day from Ashton,  that after rugby practices,  - the boys are coming home with 5 more boys to dinner. I made a 12 pound pork roast, garlic mashed potatoes, rice, stir fried green beans, and salad for dinner. They ate everything. One of the boys, a new convert, Sione  regale us with stories of his time growing up in Tonga. Telling us stories of him and his buddies talking until late at night and falling asleep where ever they are hanging at the time. Sometimes it is by the road side, under coconut trees, or under the sky somewhere. He told us how one night they were out talking, and a coconut fell on his uncle's head and knocked him out. They just left him where he fell, figuring that he needs his sleep.

We had pavlova for dessert one evening.  Here is the recipe. You will need to prepare this a head of time. Can be made the day before.

6 egg whites (room temperature)

1/4tsp. cream of tartar

1  1/2 cup sugar

2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar

3 tbsp. cocoa

2  tbsp. cornstarch

Preheat oven until 300 degree. In a food processor, beat egg whites and cream of tartar

until soft peak

Sift 1 and 1/2 cup sugar  with 3 tbsp. cocoa and 2 tbsp. cornstarch

Add sugar mixture a few spoonfuls at a times, beat  egg whites until stiff and shiney

Add the balsamic vinegar. 

Line baking pan with parchment paper. Spread the merigue into a circle about 8 inches across.

bake for one hour. Turn off heat. Slight ajar door while pavlova cool down.

serve with whipped cream and berries, drizzle choc syrup on top if desire

This photo is from a cookbook "chocolate never faileth, I forgot to take a photo before the boys ate it all up.  It looks pretty close except without the choc syrup and more berries.