Recipes

Hazelnut Meringue

Serves 8-10

Ingredients
4 large egg whites
8 oz caster sugar
100g chopped roasted hazelnuts
1/2 pt cream
1 oz good quality chocolate

Sauce
7 oz good quality chocolate
4-6 tbs milk

Method Preheat oven to 190
Base line 2 8 inch tins
Whizz hazelnuts in food processor until they are desired size (bigger will give a crunchier meringue; smaller will give smoother)
Whisk egg whites until peaks form
Whisk in sugar about an ounce at a time
Fold in hazelnuts
Divide between tins and spread (don't go right to edges as the meringue will expand when cooked)
Use a fork on the top of one layer to make peaks (this will be the top layer) Smooth the other layer as best you can
Put in oven and immediately turn oven down to 160
Cook for 30-40 minutes
Remove from oven and leave to cool in tins

Filling
Whip cream until firm
Melt 1 oz chocolate in microwave (carefully in case it burns)
Fold in about 1/3rd of the cream
Mix in remaining cream
When meringue is cool, sandwich together with chocolate-flavoured cream

Sauce
Melt 7oz chocolate in microwave
Gradually beat in milk until desired consitency is achieved
Serve hot (it will thicken as it cools, but will thin out again on heating)