Pink Meringues with Rosewater Cream

Ingredients

• 3 free range egg whites
• 175g (6 oz) caster sugar
• 300ml (½ pint) double cream
• 1-2 tsp rosewater

Optional Decoration:

• Icing sugar Mint sprigs Rose petals

Method

Whisk the egg whites until stiff, and then gradually whisk in the sugar, a teaspoon at a time. Whisk in the food colouring – only use a drop at a time until the colour is to your liking. Place a piece of Bake-O-Glide onto the cold plain shelf, or large baking sheet. Pipe the meringue mixture into 24 swirls onto the Bake-O-Glide.

2 and 3-oven AGA
The tray of meringues should be placed on a grid shelf on the floor of the Simmering Oven to dry out for about 2 hours. Turn the plain shelf after an hour. If the meringues are coloured to your liking but not quite cooked, take them out of the oven and place on a Chef’s Pad on the closed lid of the Simmering Plate for 2 or 3 hours to continue to dry out. Place the meringues in the centre on the Warming Oven and leave to dry out for about 2 ½ – 3 hours, turn, the plain shelf after about 1 ½ hours.

4 and 5-oven AGA
Place the meringues in the centre on the Warming Oven and leave to dry out for about 2 ½ – 3 hours, turn, the plain shelf after about 1 ½ hours. To serve, whip the double cream with the rosewater until it just holds its shape and sandwich the meringue halves together, placing on a plate. Decorate with whole ripe strawberries. Separate bowls of strawberries and cream can be served as ‘extras’.

Conventional cooking
Dry out the meringues at 120ºC (250ºF) fan oven 100ºC, Gas Mark 1 for 1½-2 hours. Turn off the oven, leave the meringues until cold.