Tuesday, July 01, 2008

A dessert from the U.K., perfect for summer

Summer Days and Tasty Treats

Summer has finally arrived in San Francisco, with a set of heat waves that have occasionally allowed us to sit outside at night without a down jacket. So its time for some delicious summer treats. I recently visited my brother in London, and his daughters served me a delicious British twist on strawberry shortcake, called Eton Mess. It’s a perfect, no hassle, summer dessert. And if you want to feel like you're at Wimbledon, open up a bottle of bubbly to go with it!

Eton Mess recipe

  • Meringues – you can make your own or just buy meringues at the store
  • Heavy cream
  • Strawberries


Break up the meringues into pieces about a half-inch long, in a large bowl

Whip the heavy cream so its thick. Do not add sugar.

Fold the whipped cream and strawberries into the meringues and voila! The mix of the sweet and crunchy meringue with the unsweetened, creamy cream and the juicy strawberries in every bite gets everyone asking for more.

“Eton Mess” isn’t in our game GourmetSmarts but it could have been a contender. The story goes that is was invented at Eton, a famous school, in Britain, when a dog sat on a picnic basket, single handedly creating the first version of the dessert. It is now served every June 4th at Eton's annual prize giving ceremon