PAVLOVA BASE RECIPE RECIPES

Steps:

• Line the base of a 20cm loose-bottomed round cake tin with greaseproof paper. Melt the butter in a saucepan and stir in the crushed biscuits. Stir until well coated in the butter. Tip the biscuit mixture into the base of the prepared tin and spread out. Pack the biscuit crumb into the base with a spoon and chill for 5 minutes.

  Meanwhile, mix together the cream cheese, Greek yogurt, double cream, zest and juice of 1½ lemons and the caster sugar in a bowl. Fold in half the raspberries.

  Remove the biscuit base from the fridge and spread the mixture over the top in an even layer. Return to the fridge and chill for at least 4 hours.

  When ready to serve, remove the cheesecake from the fridge. Dip a knife in hot water and dry it before running around the inside of the tin. Unclip the tin and lift the cheesecake out. Remove the greaseproof paper and serve decorated with the remaining raspberries and dusted with icing sugar.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 150C/Fan 130F/Gas 2. Place a 25cm/10in dinner plate on a sheet of baking parchment and draw around it.
• Put the egg whites in a large, clean bowl and whisk with an electric hand whisk until stiff but not dry. They are ready when you can turn the bowl upside down without the eggs sliding out.
• Gradually whisk in the sugar, a tablespoonful at a time, whisking for a few seconds between each addition. Adding the sugar slowly helps to build up volume in the meringue and make it stiff and shiny. Finally, whisk in the vanilla extract and cornflour until well combined.
• Dab a small amount of the meringue in the corners of a large, sturdy baking tray or sheet. Position the baking parchment, drawn side down, on the baking sheet, using the meringue dabs to secure it to the tray. You should be able to see the circle through the paper.
• Spoon the meringue into the circle and shape with the back of a serving spoon or rubber spatula to create a large meringue nest, with soft peaks rising on all sides. Place in the centre of the oven and bake for 1 hour until very lightly coloured and crisp on the outside. (If the meringue seems to be becoming too brown, reduce the temperature of the oven). Turn the oven off and leave the meringue for a further hour.
• Remove from the oven and leave to cool completely.
• Up to 2 hours before serving, carefully release the meringue from the baking parchment, using a spatula if necessary, and place onto a large serving plate. Whip the cream until soft peaks form and spoon into the centre of the meringue. Top with the strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, and the Cape gooseberries if using. Cut the passion fruit and scrape the pulp over.
• Decorate with sprigs of mint and dust with sifted icing sugar to serve.