Meringue (Pavlova) Wreath

Everywhere I look on the internet, there is a meringue wreath festively decorated with all varieties of fresh fruit, nuts and mint. Since I had leftover egg whites from making Mom’s Homemade Egg Noodles (Mom always made chicken and noodles for Christmas dinner), I decided to one of these gorgeous desserts!

Above - wreath in the shaping process.
Below: - the baked wreath

 

Meringue (Pavlova) Wreath

Meringue

6 egg whites at room temperature (while eggs separated best when cold, the whites whip up to a higher volume if allowed to come to room temp; be sure there are no specks of yolk & that the bowl & whisk are fat free as fat inhibits the formation of foam)

1 teaspoon cream of tarter (acts as a stabilizer for the foamy egg whites)

1 ½ cups granulated sugar (some recipes call for fine sugar so as it is more easily incorporated into the meringue; I just use granulated but you can created fine sugar by blending it in the blender for just a pulse or two)

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla

Whipped Cream Topping

2 cups whipping cream + about ½ cup powdered (confectioner’s) sugar + 1 teaspoon vanilla

Decorative Additions . . . these were my choices

Fresh fruit of your choice – I used blueberries and pomegranate seeds

Nuts – I used sugared pecans*

Fresh mint leaves

Dark chocolate – chopped from a dark chocolate candy bar

Star-shaped sugar cookies

Powdered sugar

 

*Sugared Pecans: Add pecans to a dry, stick-free skillet set on medium temp; throw in some granulated    sugar and stir until sugar crystalizes and then melts. Transfer immediately to wax paper to avoid sticking.

1. Preheat oven to 275° F.Beat eggs and cream of tarter until frothy. 
2. Gradually beat in sugar, adding just a tablespoon or two at a time.
3. Beat until stiff and glossy and the sugar is incorporated — whites should  form stiff peaks & the mixture should not feel gritty if a bit is rubbed between your fingers
4. Draw a circle (use an 8 or 9” cake pan or plate, etc.) on the underside of parchment or brown paper. 
5. Using the circle as a guide, add large spoonsful of meringue inside the circle to form a wreath shape or just spread the meringue on the inside of the circle in a wreath form. I created the wreath with spoonsful of meringue and then made a slight indentation in each to create a place for the whipped cream.
6. Bake 1 hour. Turn off oven and leave wreath in oven until cool.
7. When ready to serve prepare whipped cream and pile over the top of meringue wreath. Then decorate with toppings of your choice and sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar.

Tortilla Folds – Joining the tortilla folding trend

Tortilla folding is trending.  It’s the newest food fad and bloggers and cooks are getting creative with fillings for the latest in  hand-held sandwiches. I decided it was time to join their ranks. There are so many options. I started out with a taco-inspired fold and then tried a few other flavors. Plus I’ve added a few others I've tried + ideas for future reference. 

They're FAST & FUN!

Taco Tortilla Fold  Note: Ingredient amounts are variable; some recipes suggest about 1/4 cup of meat/protein and cheese and 2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup fillers but I just used what looked like the “right” amount – not enough to overfill but enough for a nicely filled sandwich.

1 tortilla burrito sized or larger (or use a smaller size for an individual serving)

Refried beans

Cooked taco-flavored sausage or ground beef (click here for homemade taco flavoring)

Refried beans

Shredded cheese

Thinly sliced peppers and onions, sautéed peppers until onions are transparent

Refried beans 

Butter (1 tsp to 1 Tbsp)

1. Cut the tortilla in a straight line to the center of the tortilla. 

   
2. Using the cut as a guide, arrange each ingredient—refried beans in first quarter / taco meat in 2^nd quarter—we discovered it stays in place best if you place it on a thin layer or bean paste, shredded cheese in 3^rd quarter, peppers & onions in 4^th quarter. I tried to arrange them so the spreadable items would be folded over things that would easily move (i.e. cheese, onions & peppers).
   
3. Starting at one of the quarters that borders the cut tortilla, fold the tortilla up.

   
4. Fold the tortilla across the top. 
5. Fold the tortilla down to finish the tortilla fold. 

6. Heat a griddle or skillet over medium low heat. Melt the butter into the pan.

7. Place the tortilla fold into the heated pan. Fry for about 1 to 2 minutes (exact time will depend on how hot your pan is) and then flip the tortilla and repeat on the remaining side. 
8. Cut burrito sized tortilla folds in half and serve. 


OTHER IDEAS

Lunchtime/Supper Tortilla Folds

Crunchwrap Supreme Tortilla Fold: sour cream / shredded lettuce & diced tomatoes / queso, cooked taco meat & tortilla chips / shredded cheese

BLT Tortilla Fold: More than Mayo Sauce or Come Back Sauce / shredded lettuce / crisp bacon halves / shredded lettuce / diced tomatoes

 

Pepperoni Pizza Tortilla Fold: pizza sauce / shredded mozzarella cheese / pepperoni / sliced black olives &/or sliced mushrooms

 

French Dip Tortilla Fold: softened cream cheese / shredded deli-style roast beef / Swiss cheese—a thin slice or shredded / caramelized onions 

 

Turkey Pesto Tortilla Fold: pesto, fresh spinach leaves & a few slices of raw red onion, deli turkey and a thin slice of Swiss cheese 

Creamy Florentine Chicken Tortilla Fold: softened cream cheese sprinkled with garlic powder / shredded & seasoned cooked chicken breast / spinach leaves / grated Parmesan cheese

 

Breakfast Tortilla Folds

Scrambled Egg Ole’ Tortilla Fold: refried beans / scrambled eggs / grated Cheddar, Pepper-Jack or Mexican cheese / salsa or sautéed peppers & onions

 

Eggs & Bacon Tortilla Fold: mashed or sliced avocado, or guacamole, crisp bacon halves / scrambled eggs / grated cheese

Dessert Tortilla Folds 

Nutella Delight Tortilla Fold: Nutella / sliced strawberries / more Nutella with chopped hazelnuts if available / cinnamon & sugar

Apple Pie Tortilla Fold: caramel sauce / thinly sliced apples sautéed in butter with a sprinkling of brown sugar / chopped pecans or walnuts / cinnamon & sugar

 

Recipes without photos . . .

Taco Tortilla Fold

Note: Ingredient amounts are variable; some recipes suggest about 1/4 cup of meat/protein and cheese and 2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup fillers but I just used what looked like the “right” amount – not enough to overfill but enough for a nicely filled sandwich.

 

1 tortilla burrito sized or larger (or use a smaller size for an individual serving)

Refried beans

Cooked taco-flavored ground pork or beef (click here for homemade taco flavoring)

Refried beans

Shredded cheese

Thinly sliced peppers and onions, sautéed peppers until onions are transparent

Refried beans (about a teaspoon)

Butter (1 tsp to 1 Tbsp)

1. Cut the tortilla in a straight line to the center of the tortilla. 

2. Using the cut as a guide, arrange each ingredient—refried beans in first quarter / taco meat in 2^nd quarterwe discovered it stays in place best if you place it on a thin layer or bean paste shredded cheese in 3^rd quarter, peppers & onions in 4^th quarter. I tried to arrange them so the spreadable items would be folded over things that would easily move (i.e. cheese, onions & peppers).
3. Starting at one of the quarters that borders the cut tortilla, fold the tortilla up.

4. Fold the tortilla across the top. 
5. Fold the tortilla down to finish the tortilla fold. 

6. Heat a griddle or skillet over medium low heat. Melt the butter into the pan.

7. Place the tortilla fold into the heated pan. Fry for about 1 to 2 minutes (exact time will depend on how hot your pan is) and then flip the tortilla and repeat on the remaining side. 
8. Cut burrito sized tortilla folds in half and serve. 


OTHER IDEAS

Lunchtime/Supper Tortilla Folds

Crunchwrap Supreme Tortilla Fold: sour cream / shredded lettuce & diced tomatoes / queso, cooked taco meat & tortilla chips / shredded cheese

 

BLT Tortilla Fold: More than Mayo Sauce or Come Back Sauce / shredded lettuce / crisp bacon halves / shredded lettuce / diced tomatoes

 

Pepperoni Pizza Tortilla Fold: pizza sauce / shredded mozzarella cheese / pepperoni / sliced black olives &/or sliced mushrooms

 

French Dip Tortilla Fold: softened cream cheese / deli-style shredded roast beef / Swiss cheese—a thin slice or shredded / caramelized onions 

 

Turkey Pesto Tortilla Fold: pesto, fresh spinach leaves & a few slices of raw red onion, deli turkey and a thin slice of Swiss cheese 

 

Creamy Florentine Chicken Tortilla Fold: softened cream cheese sprinkled with garlic powder / shredded & seasoned cooked chicken breast / spinach leaves / grated Parmesan cheese

 

Breakfast Tortilla Folds

Scrambled Egg Ole’ Tortilla Fold: refried beans / scrambled eggs with green chilies / grated Cheddar, Pepper-Jack or Mexican cheese / salsa or sautéed peppers & onions

 

Eggs & Bacon Tortilla Fold: mashed or sliced avocado, or guacamole, crisp bacon halves / scrambled eggs / grated cheese

Dessert Tortilla Folds 

Nutella Delight Tortilla Fold: Nutella / sliced strawberries / more Nutella with chopped hazelnuts if available / cinnamon & sugar

Apple Pie Tortilla Fold: caramel sauce / thinly sliced apples sautéed in butter with a sprinkling of brown sugar / chopped pecans or walnuts / cinnamon & sugar