Strawberries and Cream Pavlova Hearts

Ok so i'm all for preparation but the amount of Easter stuff already in stores is a little nuts, pretty sure its been there since boxing day too. Hey store people, don't you know its valentines day that comes next!

To get you in the valentines mood I thought I'd share these strawberries and cream pavlovas I made a couple of weeks back. Funny fact is, up until Christmas this year I had never made a pavlova, they were always my Mum's thing. Since my mango Christmas pav (which I might share soon) I've become a bit infatuated with them, making three more since plus these yummy little guys.

You could make these for someone you love this valentines day, or better still make them for yourself if you love pavlova!! The strawberries and cream filling is a little bit lovely and perfect for the occasion,  you know because they're strawberries and they're red!

Strawberries and Cream Pavlova Hearts (printable recipe)

Heart Meringues
3 egg whites
pinch of cream of tartar
3/4 cup caster sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cornflour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

To make the meringues- preheat your oven to 120 degrees c. Cover a baking tray with baking paper, grease the paper lightly with butter and dust with corn flour. Shake of any excess flour.

Add the egg white and cream of tartar to the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk until soft peaks form.

Once the egg whites reach soft peak stage, gradually add the sugar and continue beating until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is thick and glossy.

Sift in the cornflour and add the vanilla, gently fold through.

Spoon the meringue mixture into a piping bag with a large round tip. Pipe heart shapes onto the prepared baking tray and smooth over with a butter knife. Try to keeps the hearts close to the same size and shape.

Bake uncovered for about one hour until the meringue feels dry to touch, turn off the oven and leave the meringue inside to cool with the door slightly ajar.

Strawberries and Cream Filling
300 mls thickened cream (whipping cream)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons sugar

1 punnet strawberries (thinly slice)
1/4 cup strawberry jam

For the filling-Beat the cream, vanilla and sugar in a bowl till soft peaks form, be careful to not over whip the cream.

Warm the strawberry jam in a small saucepan over low heat, until thin.

Spoon a dollop of whipped cream onto a heart meringue, top with some strawberry slices and a little drizzle of strawberry jam. To finish the pavolvas sandwich on a second meringue heart and enjoy!