Today is a very special day, my friends! Today we are throwing a surprise virtual hen party for Megan of Wanna Be a Country Cleaver!
Megan is utterly adorable and she is marrying her favourite man in just a couple of weeks.
One thing I know about Megan, apart from how she lights up every virtual room that she enters, is how utterly obsessed she is with all things English. For that reason, today celebrations will be referred to as a hen party, as we call it in England, rather than a bridal shower. English things are so much more fun aren't they?
Due to Megan's love of this fair isle, I knew I had to bring something traditionally English along for her hen party.
Eton mess is a proper English pudding. First eaten at Eton College, former school of Princes William and Harry, on the 4th June to mark the start of the summer. In the great tradition of English desserts it is, basically, a creamy, sloppy mess of a pudding. Strawberries, infused with a bit of booze (this is a party after all) are muddled together with whipped cream and crushed meringue. It's a little bit bonkers, as you might expect, but that's part of its charm really.
You can just dump it in a bowl but I decided to serve it in fancy shot glasses (I say fancy, what you can't see is the other side of the glasses which have pictures of cowboys in various states of undress which, now I come to think of it, would have been very fitting for a hen party).
If eton mess doesn't float your boat, my lovely co-hosts have brought along some equally tempting dishes.
If you want to get the party started with something savoury:
Heather of Farmgirl Gourmet brought Devilled Eggs
Gina of Running to the Kitchen brought Cheesy Edamame Crostini
Kristen of Comfortably Domestic brought Caramelized Onion & Goat Cheese Puffs
Tina from My Life as a Mrs brought Easy Bacon Cream Cheese Roll-Ups
Rachel from Baked by Rachel brought Sausage and Red Pepper Stuffed Mushrooms
Alison from Decadent Philistines Save the World brought Retro Cheese Cookies
Michelle from A Recipe Junkie brought Melon and Prosciutto Salad
Jeanne from Inside NanaBread's Head brought Greek Salmon Wraps
If you fancy something sweet:
Julie from Table for Two brought Mini Cherry Pies
Lauren from Lauren's Latest brought Summer Strawberry Jello Pie
KimBee from Cravings of a Lunatic brought Red Velvet Ice Cream Cupcakes
Kat from Tenaciously Yours brought Good For You Bars
Mads from La Petite Pancake brought Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
And if, after all that, you need a drink:
Laurie from Simply Scratch brought Blueberry Lemonade Spritzers
Cassie from Bake Your Day brought Lemon-Berry Granita with Balsamic and Basil
So many congratulations to Megan! I hope you and Ben have a wonderful day and have many, many happy years together.
~ Eton mess
Yield: 8-10 shooters
Ingredients
- 200g (8 oz) strawberries, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon raspberry liqueur
- 1 teaspoon caster sugar
- 240ml (1 cup) heavy/double cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 2 meringue nests, crushed.
Cooking Directions
- Place the chopped strawberries in a bowl with the liqueur and the sugar. Stir to combine and leave to stand for 10 minutes.
- Whip the cream and the vanilla bean paste together with a handheld whisk or in a stand mixer until soft peaks form.
- Fold the strawberries and crushed meringue through the cream and divide between glasses.