{"id":186,"date":"2011-02-14T04:00:08","date_gmt":"2011-02-14T04:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vivaciouschef.com\/?p=186"},"modified":"2011-04-03T15:29:45","modified_gmt":"2011-04-03T20:29:45","slug":"be-my-valentine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vivaciouschef.com\/?p=186","title":{"rendered":"Be My Valentine?"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/a>So, I’m not entirely sold on the concept of Valentine’s Day. The origins seem strange, I usually conjure up images of the\u00a0St. Valentine’s Day massacre<\/a> in Chicago, and I generally believe it is a Hallmark holiday.<\/p>\n

On that note, whether you’re making food for one person or two, here’s a delightful English dessert:<\/p>\n

\"Eton<\/a><\/h2>\n


\n<\/a>Eton Mess<\/h2>\n

1 c. sliced strawberries
\n1 c. raspberries
\n1 tsp. balsamic vinegar (25-year aged)
\n1\/2 c. whipping cream
\n2 Tbsp. sugar
\n1\/2 t. vanilla extract
\nlots of vanilla\u00a0meringue cookies<\/p>\n

Macerate 1\/2 cup each of sliced strawberries and raspberries in about 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1 teaspoon of aged balsamic vinegar for at least 30 minutes. (That just means mix the berries, sugar, and vinegar together; by the way you can omit the vinegar if you don’t have it or like it.) Meanwhile, whip about 1\/2 cup of heavy cream with 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1\/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Gently fold the berries into the whipped cream, plus an additional 1\/2 cup each of sliced strawberries and raspberries.<\/p>\n

In a glass, crush vanilla\u00a0meringue\u00a0cookies into the bottom, top with the berry and cream mixture, and then more crushed meringue cookies. I promise that you’ll love this easy and amazing dessert – particularly on Valentine’s Day.<\/p>\n

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