Sometimes, just sometimes, the food blog world stars align and you find you have already made and photographed the perfect dish for a blogging challenge. I felt that way when I read Arthi’s post over at Soul Curry, announcing the latest Forever Nigella challenge: Iced Dreams. This month, the challenge was to make iced/cold/frozen desserts and puddings and just before I left for France I happened to have a LOT of failed cocoa-nib macarons that tasted too good to throw out and that I had already decided to use up in a dessert to take to our friend Alicia’s house for dinner in an Eton Mess. Nigella’s…
Now there were a LOT of Eton Messes in the Forever Nigella Royal Street Party that I hosted and I remember at the time that I thought “I should make an Eton Mess soon” – such an easy dish with so few ingredients that I generally have on hand (yes, I generally have failed macarons on hand!) and when I tasted it, I decided that it would NOT be years before I make my next Mess!
According to Wikipedia, Eton Mess is a traditional English dessert consisting of a mixture of strawberries, crumbled meringue and whipped cream, and is traditionally served at Eton College’s annual cricket game against the students of Winchester College. The dish has been known by this name since the 19th century and although an Eton mess can be made with many other types of summer fruit, strawberries are regarded as more traditional. The word mess may refer to the appearance of the dish, or may be used in the sense of “a quantity of food”, particularly “a prepared dish of soft food” or “a mixture of ingredients cooked or eaten together.
Information Britain suggests that Eton Mess is a “delicious mixture of strawberries, meringue and cream was traditionally served at Eton College at the annual prize giving ceremony on the fourth of June (Confusingly actually held on the last Wednesday in May). An apocryphal story has it that the first “mess” was caused by an excitable Labrador, sitting on a picnic basket on the way to the event. The school’s historical anecdotes say that a mixture, using either strawberries or bananas, was certainly served in the school’s tuck shop, during the 1930’s. The term “mess” may refer to the appearance of the dish. (Some say that “mess” refers to any type of soft food mixed together). Whatever the case, this light, sweet, treat is a prize winning dish at any event.”
Me? I prefer the story of the excitable Labrador… Am actually laughing out loud at that!
Nigella has a recipe but it’s hardly necessary. But for those of you new to the “Mess”, here you go…
Serves 4
Ingredients
4 cups mixed berries ( raspberries and strawberries), saving about 4 tablespoonful for serving
2 teaspoons caster sugar
2 tablespoons pomegranate liqueur, like Pama (or you can just use a little water)
2 cups whipping cream
4 big handful of failed macarons, crumbled,
Directions
Hull and chop the strawberries, put into a bowl with the raspberries, add the sugar and pomegranate liqueur and leave to macerate while you whip the cream. I left mine in the fridge for about 4 hours and it was fine.
Whip the cream in a large bowl until thick but still soft. Roughly crumble in about half of the macarons – you’ll need chunks as well as fine dust.
Dollop about 1/2 cup of the cream into each serving dish. Add about 3/4 of the berries, top with remaining cream and berries. Crumble the remaining macarons on top. Serve. Enjoy.
Hands down the easiest dessert you will ever make and despite its name, I actually find you can plate it rather elegantly if you choose. Make this. Soon.
Nigella Express (“Good Food Fast”) is a book I highly recommend. She keeps her promise 🙂 You can find it on Amazon or Amazon Canada or for free worldwide shipping check it out on The Book Depository!
As many of you know, I am currently in Paris. I have a few posts lined up for the next couple of busy weeks (work and a conference) and will eventually get around to blogging about some of the fun culinary adventures I will be experiencing here. In the meantime, though, you can keep up with me through my Summer 2011 Flickr set. I will be updating this with day to day pictures (read: not all food photos!) fairly regularly so if you are so inclined, feel free to check that out!
Lovely! You know I LOVE an Eton Mess.
Totally craving it right now…
🙂 So funny that we both made this around the same time. It’s those delicious Ontario strawberries, I tell you!
This is new to me and I love it! They are NOT failed macarons, Mardi!
Yes Annapet, there were many batches of those cocoa nib macarons that did not work out. Those, I consider failed!
This looks stunning!!! I’m new to the “mess” and can’t wait to make this soon!
You definitely need to give it a go!
I have to admit I’ve only tried making macarons twice and ended up eating the failed ones mindlessly! I love this sneaky little backup dessert.
I have so many frozen failed macs that I could make this every day!
Great use of your cocoa-nib macarons Mardi! I hadn’t heard of Eton Mess nor the lovely history behind it, so thank you! I thoroughly enjoyed this post and I know I would love your dessert.
You would definitely enjoy this Paula!
Hello, Hooray, an extremist scrape with the Eton Rifles…
🙂
as many times as i’ve seen eton mess on the blogs…and as much of a nigella fan as i am…you’d think i would have had this by now. i’ve never made one and they’re certainly not popular down south here 🙂 thanks for reminding me about eton mess – it’s on my list of things to make. seems like my dream dessert – fruity, fluffy and not chocolatey 🙂
You need to make this Tami. Soon!
Mmmm Eton Mess. I think the meringue, berries and cream combo is summer heaven! Fabulous recipe, Mardi! And oooh I’ve not been keeping up with Forever Nigella. Thanks for reminding me. Now I need a glass of Eton Mess.
I think it’s a great anytime snack, don’t you?
oooh. I remember my Mum making this. Thanks for the trip down memory lane and for this delicious way to use our seasonal strawberries!
You’re welcome – you need to try this!
Almost all of my favorite things in one dessert. So simple as well. I think it would be super refreshing to make!
It’s so perfect for the lazy long days of summer!
I had never heard of an Eton Mess and just recently I have seen several references to it. so simple and so delicious.
I actually worked quite close to Eton for several years so it surprises me.
I am looking forward to seeing your Paris experiences.
Well I have to say I have never seen Eton Mess in England. Though I am in London right now and will keep my eye out!
I’m not usually a messy person, but when Eton is in front of the word mess, I’m all about it! Looks delish!
Well I AM messy in my kitchen (not in the rest of my life though…) so this suit me perfectly!
Not only did you already blog it, but you took AMAZING pictures! I am SO buzzing this one!
Thanks!
absolutely love these type of dessert specially during summer. Pretty looking too!
Thanks, nothing better – nothing easier!
That’s a great idea to put the failed macarons in there, a perfect way to put them to good use and a little twist on a classic dessert.
Yes I like that I didn’t have to add any sugar to the whipped cream because of the sweetness of the macarons.
This is absolutely stunning Mardi…Eton mess is one of my favourite and what a gr8 way to use failed macs!!!Beautiful photos!
Thanks! I do what I can with the failed macarons!
I was just googling cool Nigella treats last night…you picked a winner. And as the mom of a furry Lab, I had to laugh at the possible origin of this lovely dessert~
I know – I had never heard of that version of the name’s origin before!
Oh my… This looks fabulous! I’ve been known to throw failed baking experiments into trifles, but I will be saving this recipe for next time. I’m also secretly craving this for breakfast now. Blog reading before breakfast is a very bad idea.
It’s a perfectly acceptable breakfast!
This looks amazing! I love that you mixed in macarons with the whipped cream. And those strawberries are the perfect fruit addition.
Well what else to do with all those expensive failures? 😉
Even the name is enticing! That looks great, especially for the hot hot summer. And I agree with Jen, I think it would be great for breakfast
The name IS great and of course it’s great for breakfast – dairy, fruit…. 😉
I always love the name of this delicious looking dessert!
It’s definitely half the appeal!
I just recently saw this in a cookbook and thought it sounded so good. I now here it is again and yours looks so good. I think I need to make this very soon. It’s a great summer dessert.
It’s definitely a sign that you need to try it!
WANT, ohhhhhhhhhhhhh so want. Looks delish. Wish it were summer, guess Ill have to turn the heating up and try this little beauty. 🙂
I think it works for all seasons – you would just be using different fruit!
That looks super, can you believe I’ve never eaten Eton Mess?! Something I must rectify ASAP. Looking forward to meeting you on Monday!
Sarah – I can’t believe that YOU have never eaten this! Can’t wait to meet you either!
Even I couldn’t screw this one up 🙂
It is just *so* easy!
this will be great for me to make as I have tons of eggwhites BUT it aint berry season for us here.