Hey Peabody, can’t you ever make anything healthy? I get that a lot.
Yes, yes I can. Only problem is that this blog is not about healthy eating. I am the blog of indulgences. I had a couple people ask me to make angel food cake (that is coming up). Only problem is, sure angel food cake is low in fat because it only uses egg whites…12 egg whites. How is that a problem…well, I refuse to throw away 12 egg yolks. And with that the less than healthy part gets spurred on.
Let’s take today’s dessert, the Pavlova, for example. Named after a Russian ballerina who no doubt was watching her weight. Again, these are made with egg whites, some sugar and little else. But then, there I am again stuck with egg yolks. What’s a girl to do? Make curd, that’s what. Key lime curd to be exact.
These end up being a little bit like a key lime pie. You have the meringue, except of going on top, it goes on the bottom. You have the filling (which I like to add whipped cream to the curd to make it more creamy). Really all you are missing are the graham crackers. But the blackberries work just as nice. This is a light dessert…as in taste and texture (not calories). I don’t usually make these until around Easter time and usually through out the Spring but I figure I would throw out my version of a healthy dessert. I mean, if you did want to make the curd and just make the nests that could be healthy. Just please don’t write me how you threw fat free Cool Whip on them. Oye.
And as always, to help out those dieting, this is about 187 WW points per serving with curd. About 5 without.
Pavlova Nests with Key Lime Curd and Blackberries
Pavlova nests
Key lime curd
1 pint blackberries
Pavlova Nests
Pavlova recipe (see here)
piping bag
medium star tip
Prepare recipe up to the point of placing meringue on to baking sheet. Instead of mounds you are going to make nests. If you don’t want to make nests just follow the rest of the recipe.
Fit a piping bag with a medium-sized star tip (or you can use a plain tip) and pipe a tightly coiled spirals of meringue onto the prepared tray, trying as hard as you can to make sure they are the same level.
Pipe rings on the top edges of the rounds to form nests.
Bake as the recipe calls for. Nest take about the same amount of time as do the mounds.
Key Lime Curd
5 large egg yolks
¾ cups sugar
½ cup key lime juice
zest of 2 key limes
2 TBSP unsalted butter
Whisk the egg yolks, sugar, lemon juice, lime juice and zest in the top of a double boiler.
Add the butter to the egg yolk mixture and whisk until melted and smooth.
Cook about 40 minutes, stirring about every 15 minutes. The curd should be thick, resembling the consistency of loose custard.
Transfer the warm mixture to a bowl and cover it with plastic wrap, pressing the wrap onto the surface of the curd, sealing it and leaving no air between the wrap and the curd. Refrigerate the curd for at least 4 hours and up to 3 days.
Adapted from The Pastry Queen by Rebecca Rather
For a Key Lime Pie type flavor whip 1 cup heavy whipping cream with 3 TBSP granulated sugar. Fold this into the cooled curd. I prefer mine this way.
Assemble:
Take nest and place curd into the hole of the nest. Add berries and serve.
cindy says
oh my peabody…it looks like we must be on the same baking wavelength. i posted pavlova’s (same recipe too…) with key lime-grapefruit curd last night. yours, however, are a bit prettier than mine. well done!
VeggieGirl says
AMEN to real desserts – save the healthiness for other meals, I say!! 😀
chocolatechic says
Hey Peabody, please don’t make anything else healthy.
I like full fat food.
Dana McCauley says
You just keep being your indulgent self – I love you for it!
This looks delicious. Nice job as usual!
Zazzy says
I enjoy reading and fantasizing about the lovely desserts you make – even if I don’t eat them myself. And once in a while I may even indulge!
Katie says
Beautiful, makes me wish it was summer and there wasn’t a blizzard warning coming my way! Thanks for reminding me there is a summer out there somewhere.
Joelen says
Gorgeous presentation! I like how you think in that nothing should go to waste… and to use those egg yolks and incorporate it someone in the dessert was genius. Brava!
Culinarywannabe says
I for one am glad that you don’t go the healthy dessert route. I mean there are times to be stingy and there are times to indulge – dessert is nothing if not indulgent!
Jaime says
oooooooh those look wonderful! i love key lime curd 🙂 and i agree – you shouldn’t waste eggs!
Erin says
These looks so pretty and make me wish it was spring 🙂 I am totally with you on the “healthy” desserts. It’s funny to me that people ask for “healthy” cookies or something like that. It’s dessert, and it’s not supposed to be good for you! I love how you post indulgent desserts in all their glory. That’s the way it should be 🙂
Rosa says
OMG, that’s a delicious combination! Irresistible!
Cheers,
Rosa
Bridget says
I wish I could just throw egg whites away. But I feel bad about that, so I usually put them in the freezer for a few months, and when I have so many that they’re taking over the freezer, then I throw them away. I don’t feel as bad about it once they’re all freezer burned.
snooky doodle says
How cute ! these look so nice!
Bobbi says
It’s delurk day according to the internet so I’m taking a moment to actually leave a comment. I’m an avid read. I LOVE the fact that this is a blog of indulgences. I can always find something to tempt me towards the kitchen here.
My kiddos love the angel food cakes but I’m put off by the wasted yolks to make them much either.
Hannah says
Diets be damned, I say! If you want dessert, have a real dessert. With or without the curd though, these look heavenly.
CookiePie says
So pretty! I love these. You had me at “lime curd” 🙂
pinkstripes says
CUTE! I’ve never had much luck with meringue. Maybe I’ll try again…
Mari says
Pavlova is on my list of recipes to make, successfully, as I’ve done it once and it was edible, but hardly perfect. Your combo is not only pretty on the eye, but undoubtedly delicious. Keep on making magic for us, Pea, and preferably of the full fat kind! ;-P
Ivonne says
Thank you! Crazy people asking for healthy stuff … please!
steph (whisk/spoon) says
oh, i love pavs! they are so pretty, and a great combination of textures.
bensbaby116 says
How pretty!! I’ve never made lime curd – only lemon. Not sure why though. I think you’ve motivated me to try!
Caitlin says
Anyone going to a baking blog for low fat must be very deluded. Low fat is for suckas, so I’ll make sure to pile those pavlovas high with curd 🙂
Mary says
You are cracking me up with the Weight Watcher points! And even though I’m not a fan of fruit these look delicious!
Elle says
Without the berries, these would look like eggs…sunny side up. Lime curd is an excellent filling and great way to use up yolks. The berries are a bonus, right?
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) says
Beautiful! Wherever did you find such gorgeous blackberries at this time of year?!
Holly says
Well, I don’t know about everyone else, but I come here to indulge. I mean, if you started posting lots of healthy stuff, I’d still stop by, but it just wouldn’t be the same. 😉
That is the dang prettiest little Pavolva I have ever seen. I am going to have to get around to trying it.
MyKitchenInHalfCups says
. . . 187 WW points per serving with curd. About 5 without.
I mean what could be funnier or better?
Patricia Scarpin says
I’m a girl who always looks on the bright side, so I prefer to think that the blackberries are healthy, very healthy. 😀
Beautiful dessert, Pea – I have just bought an ice cream machine (it’s summer here now), so I’ll be using lots of yolks… 😀
aforkfulofspaghetti says
Frankly, if anyone’s worrying about their diet when reading your blog, then they need to find another blog. This just isn’t – and shouldn’t – be the place.
Full-fat, full-sugar, please. ALL the time… 😉
grace says
pavlova perfection, peabody. 🙂
Bellini Valli says
If I am going to indulge in dessert all calorie counting goes out the window. These MiniMe Pavlovas look amazing!!!
Olivia says
I’m new to blogging and would love it if you could check out my blog and add me to your blogroll. Thanks,
http://bakingbarista.wordpress.com/
Olivia
Kate says
I have a confession to make – any time I have leftover yolks, or leftover whites, I always hit up your blog first with ideas on how to use them. You are fantastic with parts of egg.
Cakespy says
These look wonderful, and delightfully not low-fat–I think the curd is a nice balance to the lightness of the shell 🙂 To me, low-fat generally means low-fun.
VeggieGirl says
I’m back 🙂
**Just as a heads up: I will not be able to comment on blogs as often now, during this semester, due to work overload (I’m stressed already) – PLEASE know that I’m still loyally reading, but just won’t have time to comment. I hope you understand!!
Biz says
Who wants a healthy desert??
Although I do love angel food cake – yum!
Your berries are delicious – just waiting for mine to go on sale – I refuse to pay $4 a pint for blackberries!
Emma says
These are just so perfect looking! Love the simple colour combination. I think I’ve been inspired to get over my fear of meringue-making and give it a go, thank you!
Mrs. L says
Absolutely beautiful dessert! And I’m with the rest of them, who needs healthy? I’d rather indulge.
Mimi says
You do cook health food:
Egg whites contain Lecithin
Egg yolks are high in Vitamin D
Lime juice is a great source of vitamin C
Blackberries are loaded with fiber.
Kristen says
You crack me up. I love your blog for all the indulgences. Please don’t go all healthy on us 🙂
These are fantastic.. very creative and I love the photographs.
brilynn says
I’ve always got egg whites leftover from my millions of ice cream recipes which means I should really put them to better use other than sitting in a cup in the fridge until someone finally decides to throw them out…
The pics in this post are really great.
joey says
These are adorable! I am an egg yolk girl myself and gravitate towards yolky sweets (like that curd!) 🙂
Indulge us Peabody! You know we love it! 🙂
cakebrain says
Very pretty! I love pavlovas and mini ones seem so cute too!
mimi says
awesome!! i actually thought this was going to be a post about eggs – my all time favorite food, i’ll add a fried egg to the top of anything – and i was pleasantly shocked to learn otherwise. bravo, excellent idea and presentation. love the berries on top.
sweetbiscuit says
Perfect timing — I was looking for an interesting Pavlova recipe in honor of Australia Day coming up (1/26). My hubs is Aussie so I always try to make something authentic for him, but with a bit of a twist. This is perfect — thanks!
Navita says
Hi First time here n u sure have a treasure trove of tips & great recipes…loved it n wud be back for sure.
Stopped by to say HI as i’m on a frend-making spree..;p
u c i’m new to the blogosphere..3 months old only. 🙂
tada!
Gretchen Noelle says
I love the blackberry picture. Anything with key lime is a winner for me!
abbie says
These are so pretty! I love the sunny yellow color. They make me think Spring!
Kara says
These are beautiful!! I am like you, I simply can’t dump all those egg yolks. I usually end up making homemade pudding or German chocolate frosting (with brownies) because it is my husband’s favorite.
Brittany says
Yeah- I don’t visit your blog to see healthy food. I come for the calories and stay for the writing.
Keep the fat grams coming….
shannon says
Those are gorgeous! And you are right, they look perfect for Easter!
Manggy says
Ooh, magnifique! La vacherin au citron! (uh, I’m exhausting all the French I know, heh heh)
I’m actually not familiar with the taste of fat free cool whip. Is it really that bad?! I wouldn’t want to change a thing about this dessert though, it looks delicious!
Dharm says
those minin-pavs look awesome! And what about the curd – you are my hero!
alexandra's kitchen says
oh my gosh that is adorable. you have a real gift. and you’re so resourceful … throwing out yokes would be a total sin!
Chris says
This is fabulous! Brightened my evening. 🙂
Becky says
Oh, these are so pretty. I am anxious to try them. And as I’ve never just made Key Lime curd, it gives me an added impetus. YUM!
Jenny says
Well, I’ve never come here expecting healthy stuff! Thanks for making it “unhealthy” for me. 🙂
Jill B says
Unused egg whites and yolks have led me to some of my best recipes (Vacherin, a great Tiramisu…)
monique says
Your photographs are just fabulous!
BigSis says
These look amazing, Peabody. They remind me of the first time I ever heard of Pavlova. Nigella Lawson made this enormous Pavlova covered with whipped cream and passion fruit, and it just looked like the most decadent dessert ever. I’ve only made it once, and it was truly fabulous. I can’t wait to make your nests with lime curd!