Party piece Pavlova

I have been making this regularly at family gatherings- birthdays, Christmas etc for years. It goes down very well and I daren't turn up without one anymore as I know everyone will be looking forward to a piece!

I remember having a few disasters at first- too crunchy, no squidgy mallow, collapsed middle, burnt edges, but just like making bread you learn from experience and now I just know when the mix looks right. Nowadays this recipe is guaranteed to make an impressive party piece each time.

Ingredients: the following ingredients are for a small pavlova, I always double everything!

- 3 egg whites

- 1 tsp corn flour

- 1 tsp vinegar

- 175g caster sugar

- cream and fruit to decorate

Method:

- whisk egg whites until stiff- they will be fluffy and can be turned upside down

- mix vinegar and cornflour together and add to eggs along with HALF the sugar

- whisk again until stiff- this time the mix will be glossy looking but can still be turned upside down safely! If not, keep whisking.

- fold in the remaining sugar until just combined- do not agitate the mix too much

- spoon out onto a lined baking tray

- bake for 45mins at 150 degrees fan

- turn the oven off but leave the pavlova in the oven until cool

- whisk the cream and spread on top

- add fruits of your choice