Yesterday was a glorious first of July, the celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday. We chose not to be part of the crowd at one of the official celebrations (here in Toronto, and across the country), opting for a morning walk along the shore of Lake Ontario. It was the perfect way to reflect on how grateful we are to live in this beautiful country and enjoy its many freedoms.
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| Downtown Toronto in the background, Lake Ontario to the right |
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| Raising a 150 memorial |
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| Early morning mist make the CN Tower look like a ghost ship |
The Canada Day dessert I served for dinner definitely has colonial roots, but I put a Canadian spin on it. While a typical Eton Mess is made with strawberries, I gave ours a twist with raspberries, and a thick streak of raspberry sauce. The result was a lovely, summery dessert that we were happy to linger over in the back yard. Happy Canada Day!
Eton Mess: The Canada Day variation
This is more of a guideline than a recipe. I put half in a large glass bowl, and the other half in individual stemmed glasses. Layer the various components in whatever order you like, being sure that the meringue is always next to whipped cream (either above or below).
Meringues
4 egg whites
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp vinegar
Raspberry sauce
1 1/2 cups raspberries
1 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp raspberry jam
For assembly
2 cups whipping cream
2 Tbsp sugar
1 pint raspberries
To make the meringues, preheat the oven to 275 degrees, and prepare two 9″ cake pans by lining the bottom with parchment paper, and buttering the sides. Beat the egg whites on medium speed until frothy. Increase speed to high, then add brown sugar and white sugar a tablespoon at a time until incorporated. Beat until stiff. Add vanilla and vinegar, and beat another 1-2 minutes. Divide the meringue mixture between the two cake pans, and smooth the tops. Bake for one hour, then turn off the heat in the oven, prop the door with a wooden spoon, and let them sit in the oven another hour. Break the meringues into small pieces and set aside.
To make the raspberry sauce, combine berries, sugar and jam in a medium-sized pot and bring to a boil over medium heat. Let thicken, then remove from heat and cool until ready to use.
To assemble the dessert, either use a large glass bowl or individual glasses (or a combination, as I did). Start with whipping cream on the bottom, then layer meringues, raspberry sauce, berries and more whipping cream to the top. Make sure you reserve enough raspberries to decorate the top of the dessert. Enjoy!
Delicious!!!! I love the combination of cream/meringue. We've done something similar before – didn't realize it had such a fancy sounding name! 🙂
Happy Canada Day to you – wish we'd had better weather. Stormy clouds and some rain here but it was clear for the fireworks 🙂
What a beautiful and delicious dessert! Perfect for any celebration, Beth. Happy Canada Day to you!
A walk on Lake Ontario sounds lovely. Hoping to walk along Lake Michigan this weekend on a trip with my boyfriend. What a delicious looking dessert!
We love Canada also! Glad to see you had your own relaxing celebration. Love this eton mess with a raspberry twist. I can't get enough raspberries lately.
I don't think I've had Eton Mess since…jr high? Happy belated Canada Day!
Your dessert looks lovely, I have to try it while berries are in season. Happy Canada Day to you and your beautiful country.
Sounds like you had a beautiful day, great pics! And this is one of my favorite desserts, I should make it again soon. The addition of raspberry sauce will make it even better.
Beautiful !! happy Cana day!! xoxo
Sounds like you had a great Canada Day! And such a nice looking dessert — perfect way to celebrate. 🙂
what a fantastic way to celebrate canada day! since jeopardy is pretty much the only thing i watch these days, i found out about the holiday thanks to alex trebek. 🙂
Happy 150th to Canada! Your Eton mess looks like a delicious way to celebrate!!!
Happy 150th 😀 I love Eaton Mess and I am sure its absolutely perfect with raspberries.
Happy Canada Day, Beth. Looks like you celebrated in great style, that Mess looks delicious.
Amalia
xo
Happy Canada Day Beth! The dessert looks really elegant!
Happy Canada Day! I am finding that our Independence Day is becoming more of a family holiday than I ever expected with my two non-local daughters both coming back two years in a row. It sounds like a nice family holiday for you as well.
I have so many leftover egg whites in my freezer–your dessert looks like a great solution!
Happy Canada Day, Beth. Your dessert looks so pretty and dreamy.
Anu
https://www.mygingergarlickitchen.com/
Happy Canada Day! Lovely dessert.
This looks like the perfect dessert for a summer celebration! The raspberries and sauce sound delicious.
Beth Im worry by you . Something happened in your blog ??
I dont understand this message .
I love the idea of a raspberry Eton mess. The tartness should undercut the sweetness of the meringue.
I recently tried making licorice meringues but had no licorice powder so used anise liquid flavouring. As soon as I added the flavouring the meringue totally deflated.. not sure what happened because I have made meringues before – I have been unable to find the licorice powder where I live so perhaps you could tell me what might have gone wrong??? Thanks
how are you? many times dont heard about you dear Beth !