Birthday Party Center

Ingredients

Meringue:

• 4 large egg whites (separate eggs when cold and mix after bringing to room temperature)
•  
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. white vinegar
• 1 tbsp. cornstarch

Fruit Filling:

• 1 medium firm banana, diced
• 2 kiwi fruit, diced
• 9-12 large ripe strawberries, diced

Fruit Topping:

• 1 cup whole very ripe strawberries, greenery removed
• ½ very ripe brown banana

Supplies

• Aluminum foil
• Baking Sheet
• Blender
• Cutting board and knife
• Electric or hand mixer
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Mixing bowl
• Parchment baking paper
• Serving platter
• Spatula (rubber or plastic)
• Spoon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
2. Start some kitchen magic with meringue! Your mixing bowl and beaters must be very clean, because even a small amount of grease can ruin a meringue. Put room temperature egg whites in a mixing bowl and use either an electric or hand mixer to mix on medium-high until stiff peaks form.
3. Sprinkling over the top, fold in cornstarch, vinegar and vanilla by hand using a spatula.
4. Use a spoon to scoop the stiff egg whites onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper, one heaping tablespoon at a time, to create cookie-sized meringue.
5. Use a clean-dry finger to shape the meringue into small “bowls” that will hold fruit and fruit topping.
6. Bake at 200 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until egg whites have turned a pale golden color. Be sure that the meringue has cooked thoroughly. Cool.
7. Fill just before serving. The meringue cups can be made a day or two ahead and stored in a dry airtight container to give you time for other activities on the day of your party!
8. To make the topping, which will be the only sweetener added to this deceivingly delicious dessert, add 1 cup whole strawberries and ½ a brown banana to blender and puree (riper strawberries and bananas will make a sweeter topping).
9. The topping can be made a day ahead. Refrigerate until serving.
   Dice kiwi, 9-12 of the strawberries, and the firm banana. Mix together by hand (for best results, dice fruit the same day you will be serving your desserts).
10. Create Pavlovas by adding a generous spoonful of topping to the center of each meringue bowl, then heaping fruit filling on top. If you want to get really fancy, garnish with sorbet or a scoop of sugar free whipped topping (sugar free whipped topping is easily made by blending plain heavy whipping cream on medium high with a hand mixer or in a blender until it reaches a stiff consistency similar to the uncooked egg whites).
11. Add extra excitement to your party and attract Sproutlets to this healthful dish by including them in the creative cooking process! For older preschool party-goers, consider setting up an Aussie Pavlova Station where party guests can add fruit and topping to a meringue, getting into the Wiggles spirit by creating their very own yummy-yummy Australian specialty!
     

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