Recipe requests - Pavalova and Chili

Despite the down turn in the weather in May (as compared to the fabulous fabulous weather we had in April), we've continued to host BBQs in our backyard, just simply because we can! When it does rain (though it has only been once), we just bring it in the house! One very new and very popular item now is Chili Dogs! Yum Yum

Anyway, today, we had a bunch of my favoriate colleagues over for lunch today. We were really lucky with the weather. The sun even peeked out a little, and made it all very lovely. And now, due to popular demand (they've threatened to come here for lunch every day if I don't put the recipes up here....) here are the recipes for Pavalova and Chili.... my version.

Pavalova

Ingredients

• 6 egg whites
• 330 grams sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
• 1 teaspoon of vinegar
• 2 teaspoons of cornflour
• Cream and fresh fruits

Method

• Pre heat oven to 165 0C
• Whisks egg whites until stiff enough to form peaks
• Add half of the sugar and beat until mixture is shiny
• Fold the remaining sguar with a metal spoon
• Fold in the vanilla, vinegar and cornflour
• Pour onto greaseproof paper placed on a cookie sheet
• Bake for about 40 -45 minutes
• Turn off the oven but leave it to cool in the oven.
• When ready to serve, whip the creme to whiped cream and cover the cake with it all over and then decorate with sliced fresh fruits.

Chili

Ingredients

• About 1.5 - 2 kg of ground beef
• 2-3 onions
• 10 cloves of garlic
• 1-2 red pepper (finely chopped)
• mushrooms (finely chopped)
• 1 can of tomato paste
• salt, sugar and tobasco sauce to taste
• 2 cans of beer

Paste ingredients (mix all into a paste with some of the beer)

• 1/2 tablespoon of oregano
• 1 tablespoon of paprika
• 4-5 tablespoons of chilli powder
• 2 tablespoons of cumin
• 2 beef bouillon cubes (crushed)

Method

• In a large pot, fry onion and garlic until fragrant.
• Add the paste and fry for a while
• Add all the beef and fry for a while
• Add the rest of the beer
• Simmer for about 2 hours - stiring occasionally
• Add the red peppers and mushrooms, and the tomato paste. Simmer for another 1 hour or so.
• If at any time the mixture becomes too dry, add a little bit more beer. and always remember to stir.
• Add sugar (if it is too spicy for you) or salt or tobasco sauce to your taste
• You may also add kidney beans if you like.

Enjoy!!