You all know I’ve lost my kitchen mojo but today I fronted up, turned up the Christmas tunes and got my bake on. Trifle is our Christmas morning tradition but my boys are also fans of a pav so I figured I’d treat them. Only thing is, it’s something I have never ever made…until now.
I follow along watching Aussie blogger Beth from BabyMac as she whips up tasty treats, the woman is a culinary machine. Recently she made a pavlova and Lemon butter, sooooo I figured I’d give it a crack.
Guess what guys? I did it! I made an actual pav AND lemon butter. I’m not going to lie, neither are perfect, but that’s ok. I learned a few things, like not to ‘guess’timate the butter because your scales need a new battery. I may have used a bit too much butter which meant my curd didn’t thicken as well as it could have.
I googled ‘help, my lemon curd won’t set’. I freakin love Google! It suggested adding a couple of extra egg yolks (which I did). Umm, still no thick curd so a teeny touch of cornflour was added. Please don’t tell Beth.
I sterilised my jar and plonk, plonk…thick curd in a jar ? this sweet lemony goodness won’t last long. Several spoonfuls ended up in my gob, some went to mini lemon tarts and the rest will top the pav.
On to the pavlova, seriously simple to make, just keep whipping until the mix is glossy and forms peaks. I used a pizza tray to bake my pav, just add a dab of mixture underneath the baking paper to ‘stick’ it down. Now, I wasn’t sure if I should make the nest super high or low so I took a guess and went kinda low.
What I should have done was pile that mix high. Oh well, lesson learned. I baked it for 50 minutes, cooled it in the oven for one hour (door ajar) and bing bam boom…a PAV! Sweeet!
I’m going to smother lemon butter over the top, add a mountain of whipped cream and handfuls of berries and nectarines. Far out, hold me!! I was so proud of my triumphant return to the kitchen I celebrated with cranberry ham on a white bread roll…it’s Christmas after all ?
If you want Beth’s recipes (trust me, you do) then follow the link LEMON CURD and PAVLOVA.
Lemon ‘butter’ or ‘curd’?…what do you call it? Will you try making some?
I call it Lemon Butter but it can also be called Lemon Cheese (UK I think) and Lemon Honey (NZ)
Oh, I’d never herd of the other two Christina. I grew up calling it lemon butter š
Well done ! That pav will be delious, love pav piled with cream and fresh berries. But the lemon butter is such a terrific standby. Lemon meringue pie! Oh yum. Your family will love you for this. What a terrific legend, ?
Thanks Maggie, the boys were all suitably impressed ?
Well done Jenni ,I have made Beth’s lemon curd but not her pav I bought one xx
Oh do it Lisa, surprisingly easy ??
the pav looks ab/fab jen! you did really well!
you do know how to cook hun! you fixed your lemon curd too!
I think beth is a super woman with a baby as well!
enjoy your Christmas lovely! … keep cool! it’s going to be pretty hot!
much love m:)X
Merilyn I used to bake every day when the kids were in primary school but after I got sick I lost my mojo. 2016 will see a return to the kitchen š
Delicious, your pav looks fab. I love making pavlova but never on a rainy day, too much moisture makes for soggy rather than crispyv (but you can always turn that into Eton Mess) .
Happy Christmas ???
Ohhh, great tip Jan, thanks x
Your pav looks great especially for a first timer. You’re not gonna believe it but I made one in my thermie the other night along with, yes you guessed it ….lemon curd but I also made cashew vanilla cream as my little sis is dairy intolerant….. Shhhh don’t tell her there is a wee bit of butter in the lemon !!!! Love your work, Tis exciting when the mojo comes back eh
Wow, what can’t those thermies do? š
I’m super impressed Jenni I’m not a sweet baker at all. I much prefer to make savoury things. Looks yummy – hubby loves pavlova so I really should give it a try.
Thanks Karen, it was pretty easy. Might be time to spoil hubby x
Now, that’s what I call a kitchen comeback! We call it Lemon Curd in the UK, I made a cheesecake with it once, but man, that stuff tastes so good, I was eating it out of the jar! I’ve never made a pav but am going to give it a go soon, because I am desperate to make a pav for Australia Day – my first as a “real” Australian! Happy Holi-yays!
I would love a lemon buttered pav – I love pavlova but not so much the fruit and cream topping. This sounds the business!