Eton mess

Stephen_Leak

I'd chill the strawberries and cream, prepare it before the meal and keep in the fridge for the duration of the meal, but not for longer.

For the romantic version, top with a large whole strawberry and offer this to your partner.

Authentic Eton mess uses strawberries, but other summer fruits work well.

Even Heston Blumenthal has had to concede that Eton mess is “quite simply impossible to improve upon”.

Eton mess originated at Eton College in the 1930’s, when a mixture of strawberries or bananas with cream or ice cream, all stirred together (hence the name "mess"), was served in the school’s “sock shop” (tuck shop). One anecdotal story is that it was ‘invented’ by a Labrador dog, when it sat on a picnic basket containing strawberries and cream in the back of a car. Losing the bananas and ice cream, but gaining the meringue, it has evolved into the unashamedly wicked and quintessentially English summer dessert. It is traditionally served at Eton College's annual prize-giving celebration picnic on what is still called the "Fourth of June”, despite now actually taking place on the last Wednesday in May. You just can't beat a public school education.

jpscloud

I make eton mess with the "total" greek yoghurt (the 10% fat one) for a gorgeous dessert with a few less calories.

Idiophreak

hollydays wrote: »

Will it taste better standing for half an hour or should. I make it fresh?

Don't think it matters about the strawberries and cream, but add the meringue at the last minute...don't want to lose the crunch!!

SUESMITH_2

you can marinate your strawberries in pimms beforehand which is nice

maman

jpscloud wrote: »

I make eton mess with the "total" greek yoghurt (the 10% fat one) for a gorgeous dessert with a few less calories.

I've been doing SW and when we had people round the other week I did a DIY Eton Mess. So I put the yogurt (0%), cream, meringue and strawberries all on the table and let people help themselves. So the pudding could be as 'naughty' as they wished and saved me a job!