Making good when disaster strikes

Yes very few of us are Nigella’s or Mary Berry’s and we do have disasters, but often these can create some really nice and interesting concoctions. I am sure that is how Eaton Mess came about, but I decided to take it one step further with this particular example. 

​When the Meringue goes horribly wrong 
Yes this does happen quite regularly and often because I have been a skinflint and used cheap baking paper or the wrong baking tray and the meringue refuses to lift off without breaking into pieces - but that is for another blog….

The first of my many disasters happened when my older two children were still quite small and we decided to have some fun together.

So I took them to the shop and bought vanilla ice cream out of the freezer (now days I tend to make my own it tastes better and is cheaper) and let it melt enough to add the broken meringues and some crushed fruit.  I stirred well then put the mixture back in the freezer. 

The kids loved the fact that the boring vanilla ice cream had become a frozen Eaton Mess and they had helped make it.

​I still do this today and by taking the ice cream out of the freezer a good 5 minutes before serving, it makes a soft, sticky and totally delicious frozen Eaton Mess.  It is great for dinner parties especially as it can be made weeks in advance meaning less stress!!

​If you would prefer to use chocolate instead of the fruit break up a chocolate bar and add it to the meringue and ice cream.  Before serving melt some more chocolate and pour it on top.  My youngest son calls this George’s chocy mess!!

Tip:
To make it easier, use shop bought meringues and fruit coulis!