Help! Meringue disaster!

[bushbaby_de]

I have just used my foolproof meringue recipe that I usually use to make a large pavlova. However this time I decided to make several individual pavlovas instead of a large one. I just took them out of the over after hours of resting in there etc etc and they have all sort of cracked and crumbled round the edges and it is impossible to pick them up without them crumbling. I have made meringue many times before so know all the usual pitfalls but what on earth went wrong this time? And what the heck can I make with it now???

Thanks.

[anneasquith]

eton mess.

[welshlibranr]

Use them to make Eaton Mess, it's lovely!........

[Prudie]

You could break them all up an mix with cream and fruit - don't know the recipe off by heart but it's Eton Mess

[tiggerblue10]

Crumble it over some ice cream. Nice!

[welshlibranr]

Delia's recipe is a good one, see below!
http://www.deliaonlin...ringue/eton-mess.html

[DTCwordfan]

fruit - plus make a coulis (raspberries, caster suger and a touch of lemon juice)

and whip cream (and yoghurt if you want it lower in fat 50-50) - its brilliant - good to serve in deep glasses.....

[DTCwordfan]

sounds like you whipped the final mix (after the caster sug is added) too stiff, by the way.

[bushbaby_de]

DT thanks for that explanation. My hand blender broke half way through and i had to improvise with a stick blender, which I'm not used to, so your suggestion is totally plausible.
Also by popular suggestion it appears I will be making some kind of eaton mess - but with fruits of the forest, which is what I planned for the pavlova. I should have said its for a dinner party, so whilst crumbled over ice cream sounds yum its not really posh enough!

Thanks for all your incredibly quick responses, and to DT for the detailed explanation of what to do :)

[welshlibranr]

Eton Mess is lovely bushbaby!.....your guests won't be disappointed!......fruits of the forest will be just fine!.........

[bushbaby_de]

The 'Eton Mess' type dessert went down very well, so thank you all for your help. I did however make a second batch of meringue first to see if they were any better and they weren't... so I still need to find my baking mojo again :(

[boxtops]

Glad the Eton Mess went down well, bushbaby - I love having meringue to hand, we often do a quick dessert with a meringue round per person, fresh fruit on top, icecream and cream - yummy.