Blog-checking lines: The January Daring Cooks Challenge will ensure that no matter where in the world you are, you will have a bit of snow! Kim from Ask a Foodie challenged us to make Ouefs à la Neige, or “Eggs in Snow”. I made floating islands using fructose.
Head straight on to the Recipe For ♥ Floating Islands ♥
I am one of those people who actually loves to shop. One who can lose oneself in a shopping centre, spending hours looking at what each store has to offer. I am also one of those people who hates crowds. So, December is a very trying time for me. I spend as little time in the shops as possible, as they are always full of people. This is good for our local stores but not for me! I keep a running shopping list of what I need and when I am desperate for one item on the list I pack my shopping bag with my wallet and phone and walk the block down to the local Woolworths.
Today’s inspirational recipe from Lavender and Lime ♥ Floating Islands ♥ #LavenderAndLime Share on X
The other day some gentleman (and I use this term loosely) was shopping with his child. They took up an entire aisle, without leaving space for anyone to pass. The first time this happened I waited patiently and they ignored me. The second time I actually said something! And to make it worse, they had a staff member assisting them in blocking the path. My usually pleasant shopping experience was anything but pleasant with having to navigate my way through crowds of people who are oblivious to others.
Floating Islands
When making Floating Islands you have to give the meringues space to poach. I did mine one at a time, not crowding the pan in any way to allow each fluffy white pillow of egg white to poach slowly and gently. The custard is made with a lot of sugar which makes it overly sweet when eaten alone, but with the snow egg added on top, the dish is perfectly balanced.
Floating Islands
Ingredients
- 500 mls milk
- 4 eggs separated
- Pinch of salt
- 23 g fructose
- 1 vanilla bean split open and seeds removed
- 125 g fructose
Method
- Place the milk into a medium size sauce pan
- Bring to the boil and reduce the heat to a rolling simmer
- Make sure at all times you do not let a skin form
- Place the egg whites into a stand mixer bowl with a pinch of salt
- Whisk until stiff peaks form
- Slowly add the fructose until glossy and firm
- Use wet serving spoons to quenelle the meringue
- Gently place the meringue onto the milk and poach for 2 minutes
- Gently turn over and poach for a further 2 minutes
- Place the cooked meringue onto kitchen cloth to dry
- Touch the meringues as little as possible
- Repeat this until you have cooked all the meringue
- Place the vanilla into the milk and leave to infuse
- Place the egg yolks and the fructose into a bowl
- Whisk until at the ribbon stage
- Whisk in half of the milk and return to the sauce pan
- Stir with a wooden spoon over a low heat for 5 minutes, until slightly thickened
- Strain into a pouring jug and set aside to cool completely
- Place into the fridge for an hour
To assemble
- Pour the custard into a deep dish, or deep bowls
- Gently place the meringues onto the custard
- Serve immediately, or place into the fridge until you are ready to serve the dessert
Click on the links for conversions and notes.
What I blogged:
- one year ago – Radish At Ons Genot, Stellenbosch
- four years ago – Oyster Mushroom Cannelloni
Oh not big on shopping, but dont mind the crowds. Weird I guess. Gah, some people really are very rude, sorry your shopping experience was interrupted by that. Great recipe, love the name of it.
Anna, I admire you for coping with crowds. It makes life a lot easier 🙂
Oh boy this looks good! I also hate the crowds and oh my goodness living in HK has been a challenge living with 8 million of your closest friends. I think after 6 years it is starting to not bother me as much. You kind of get used to it.
I would never cope for too long in a big city!
I love Iles Flotante. Just watched an episode of the Great British Bakeoff and the island were the technical challenge. It stumped many!
I have seen that series of GBBO. I am so looking forward to the next one 🙂
The first time I had this in Paris, I thought I died and went to heaven. I’ve made it a few times and every time I feel incredibly lucky to be alive. 🙂
How amazing to have tried this dessert in Paris 🙂
Oooh these look perfect!! And I am the same way as you… love shopping, but hate crowds. I love online shopping, too 🙂
I don’t do much online shopping!
It’s been ages since the last time i had floating island!!!
you made me craving on it again my friend…..
Glad to have done that Dedy 🙂
I was a Londoner, born and bred (as they say) so I too don’t mind the crowds too much. This post took me back over 25 years to one of my very first “proper” dinner parties in my early 20’s. I made duck with blackcurrant as a main course and floating islands as my dessert….not sure I’ve made either of them again since, perhaps I need to!
What a great sounding dinner party Tanya 🙂
Oh, Floating Islands, haven’t made these forever – probably the last time was a practical exam at Uni and that’s probably why! Yours do look very pretty – Tandy.
Thanks Rachel, hope you give them a try again 🙂
I need to be in the mood for shopping otherwise I would not do it, especially when it is crowded…I love this dessert, but never had tried to make at home…thanks for the tip of poaching the meringues one by one…
Hope you are having a fantastic week Tandy…
Hope you try this Juliana 🙂
Wow, such a long time since I made these, Tandy… thanks for the delicious reminder! We have some great village like shopping centres five minutes from The Blue House, so it’s quick and convenient to pop up there… but both Peter and I hate it when the stores are crowded… being retired, we try to pick the ‘sweet spot’ in the day when mothers aren’t there with screaming kids… though now it’s the holidays, there is no quiet time. Lovely recipe. Thanks.
I don’t do screaming kids at all! Glad I gave you such a great reminder Liz 🙂
I’ve never heard of this, but darnit if I don’t like it :).
Glad I could introduce you to something new Kay 🙂
This looks marvelous! Love those floating islands.
Thanks Laura 🙂
I cannot stand lots of crowds either. Guess I’m like this meringue?
All soft and fluffy 😉
I’ve never heard of these!! but oh man these look so fun! What a unique recipe idea! 🙂
They are fun to make 🙂
Looks delicious. Yeah, I’m one who loves to shop too… as long as it’s for groceries. I can spend hours in a grocery store, although, it doesn’t usually take that long. I’m not much of a shopper other than that. For everything else I just dash in and out.
Thanks for the compliment 🙂
Are those blueberries in your pudding? I like the “crowded” analogy of you in the shopping aisle and your meringues.
They are indeed 🙂
What a lovely, light dessert and good tip on not crowding them too! I learnt that the hard way 😛
Me too!