In Milton Keynes the team have joined the local NHS to try and make sure the next generation’s taste buds extend beyond what comes out of the microwave. The Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust is determined to tackle health issues and has created a Lifestyle Guide Project. Seemed a perfect combination to us; local things and food. We admit a small hidden agenda, finding good chefs is always hard, so why not start them young. In these days of Elfen Safety, it was impossible to take the little darling into the kitchen, which it must be said cramped our style a bit and proved somewhat difficult with the cooking. We decided that the perfect start would be sweet things, and in front of expectant families Keith, our Head Chef, began by teaching the children how to make Raymond’s recipe for Pavlova. Decked out in chef’s jackets that they will take some time growing into, our new apprentices set about the task ahead with dedication, application and not a little amazement – “What, no packet?”.

To our relief and admiration, mastered by Keith and General Manager Valerie, our little group took to cooking like ducklings to water. It has to be said that we are still puzzled how bits of the meringue mix found its way to all four corners of the Brasserie, and we quietly applauded Valerie’s decision with the chef’s jackets especially with the parents looking on.

Bit by excited bit, the Pavlova took shape; mixing and cooking the meringue (achieved with the time honoured Blue Peter “here’s one we made earlier”), beating the cream, preparing the fruit, making the sauce and finally assembling the whole thing topped with a generous helping of ice cream. All this done, in spite of examples from television chefs, with joy and laughs.

Finally the time came for them to sample their handy work, life could not be better: time off school and dessert. Not sure what gave them more pleasure, but I’m thinking the Pavlova won.

We have repeated this many times each with the same success and now are confident we can move on to training the more challenging adults, convinced of the aim of the trust that a balanced diet does not have to be horrible, but it may require a bit of work.

Pavlova Nest for 4
Equipment
Large Bowl
Electric Whisk
Fine sieve
Piping bag and n1cm nozzle
Spatula
Silicone paper
Oven tray
Tea spoon
Ingredients
95 g Egg white
95 g caster sugar
95 g icing sugar

Method

1. Place egg whites in a bowl
2. Start whisking till the egg whites foam
3. Start adding the caster bit by bit, still whisking
4. Whisk till the egg whites form a firm peak when removing the whisk
5. Sieve the icing sugar into the mixture
6. Fold in
7. Place mixture in piping bag
8. Pipe 7-8cm balls onto paper covered tray
9. Hollow out the middle of each ball with the wet teaspoon
10. Sprinkle a little icing sugar over each ball
11. Cook in preheated oven at 90c for 2 hours 45 minutes

Have fun, from the classic whipped cream and strawberries to ice cream and blackberries or even a healthier Greek yoghurt and banana.