Citrus Pavlova with Lemon Curd

Serves: 12

Ingredients

  • 6 egg whites
  • 1.5 cups caster sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp white vinegar
  • 300ml thickened cream
  • 1 orange, sliced into thin rounds
    baking paper
    large dry, clean bowl

Lemon curd:

  • ¾ cup white sugar
  • 200ml lemon juice (small cup) ie 5.5 lemons
  • 1 Tab finely grated lemon rind
  • 3 eggs
  • 125g unsalted butter, cubed

To decorate:

  • Dairy Fine Easter bunnies or Choceur filled mini chocolate Easter bunnies
  • Dark chocolate Easter eggs
  • 2 passionfruit, pulp removed
  • half cup water and 1 cup white sugar (for toffee shards)

    Method

    1. Preparations. Preheat oven to 100ºC FF. Using a pencil, mark a 20cm disc on a piece of baking paper. Place prepared paper, pencil marked side down onto an oven tray.
    2. To make toffee shards: In a heavy-based small saucepan, stir sugar & water over medium heat until sugar dissolves; cook til it turns amber. Add baking paper to an oven tray and pour mixture over tray, into a thin layer. Allow to set. Break into shards, set aside.
    3. Using an electric mixer, beat egg whites in a large dry, clean bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar, a tablespoon at a time, beating well between each addition until sugar is dissolved & mixture is thick, glossy and a ribbon trail is left when mixers are lifted.
    4. Beat in vinegar and vanilla extract. Spoon (pile?) mixture onto prepared tray.
    5. Bake on lowest oven rack for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until pavlova feels firm to touch. Cool in oven with door slightly ajar.
    6. To make lemon curd, combine all ingredients into saucepan. Whisk together and cook on low-medium heat, continually whisking slowly, until the curd is thick enough to hold marks from the whisk (and the first bubbles appear on the surface of the lemon curd). This will take between 5-6 minutes. Set aside to cool.
    7. Meanwhile, using clean electric beaters, beat cream in a large bowl until soft peaks form.
    8. Transfer pavlova to a cake stand or serving platter. Top with cream. Decorate with toffee shards, Easter bunnies, Easter eggs and orange slices. Serve drizzled with 1/3 cup of lemon curd and passionfruit pulp.

Coconut Mango Semifreddo

Servings:  8-10  (from Aldi)

Ingredients

  • 130g packet dried mango, chopped
  • 400g can coconut cream, chilled
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 egg yolks
  • ¾ cup caster sugar
  • 300ml thickened cream
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 fresh mangoes, chopped
  • ½ cup shaved coconut
  • Lime wedges, to serve
    heatproof bowl
    baking paper

    METHOD

  • Preparations. Chill coconut cream. Place dried mango in a bowl & cover with boiling water – soak for 20 minutes. Drain and pat dry with kitchen towel. Reserve.
  • Line base & sides of a large, 2 litre loaf tin with plastic wrap, allowing the sides to overhang.
  • Open the can of coconut cream. Spoon the firm white cream from the top into a mixing bowl. Place in fridge. Discard the coconut water at the base of the can (or use in a smoothie).
  • Using electric beaters whisk eggs, yolks & sugar in a heatproof bowl 1-2 mins until frothy. Place bowl over a pan of simmering water and whisk 5-6 mins or until the mixture is pale and thick. Remove from heat and continue whisking for 1-2 minutes or until cool. Clean electric beaters.

    Assemble.  Add thickened cream & vanilla extract to the bowl with the cold coconut cream. Beat 3-4 mins until soft peaks form. Gently fold into the egg mixture using a metal spoon. Add reserved dried mango to bowl and fold in. Spoon mixture into the prepared tin.
    Freeze for 8 hours or overnight.

  • Toast shaved coconut. Lay onto a tray lined with baking paper. Toast in low-moderate oven and  for 3-5 minutes or until lightly toasted.
  • Peel and dice the fresh mangoes.
  • Remove semifreddo from freezer and turn out onto a serving platter.
  • To serve, top with the fresh mango and toasted coconut. Garnish with lime wedges.