😋 🍓An Interesting Dessert - The Slow Life Stories - Bedtime Stories for Adults - Calming Stories for Grownups and All Ages

0:02 Welcome to The Slow Life, a village filled with cozy stories for everyone. I'll read this story 2 times to help you zone out or even fall asleep during the second reading. This story is called An Interesting Dessert, and it's about a picnic lunch, sleeping on a cloud and accomplishing something together. Plans with friends had been made weeks ago for us to meet in the park for a picnic. We'll each contribute some food and drink and I promised to provide an interesting dessert, not knowing at that point what I would make or buy to take along.

0:59 I'd mentioned this to my niece. Without hesitation, she suggested that I make Pavlova. I slowly nodded, knowing that I'd heard of this dessert but had no idea what it actually was. When I asked my niece, she admitted that she also had never had it, had never seen it that she knew of, nor did she know what Pavlova was. Hmm. Well, I'd promise to show up with something interesting and out of the ordinary, so Pavlova it is. She offered to pitch in, and we agreed that we would make enough of whatever it was for her to have some for herself. As we prepared to research what we were in for, one of us commented that it sounded like a form of dance. This amused us even more when we found out that this particular treat was in fact named after a ballerina. We weren't so far off in our thinking, nor were we disappointed when we saw the first images of it online. Pavlova.

2:24 It looked fluffy, although it said crispy on the outside, which also sounded wonderful. It looked sweet, just the flavour we wanted. It looked completely out of the ordinary, more like a decoration than a food. And it looked completely lovely, exactly the masterpiece. I want to present tomorrow on the day of our picnic, not wanting to leave it until the morning of. My niece and I will make the meringue part of the Pavlova to day. The recipes said this would also help it to become a bit more crisp, which is part of its charm. Tomorrow we'll add the cream filling and the fruit topping. To finish it off.

3:19 We've made two of the meringue bases that look like clouds. The second one will be our tester, which neither of us will mind doing for the cause. If it's a flop, I will still have time before the picnic to visit the bakery for one of their treats instead, but so far, so good. The meringues surfaced as a subtle mat Sheen of ivory or eggshell white. The odor shell has fine cracks, which is just like the photo we have and is a sign of its crispness that is ideal contrasting with the soft and chewy centre. Once they cool off in the oven, we use our Test 1 to poke out a bit and the centre has also turned out just as we'd hoped, soft like marshmallows.

4:22 We agree that she'll come back over in the morning to help with the cream and putting them all together. Not surprisingly, I dream of floating on clouds and wake up with a soft smile, giving my pillow a squeeze and a sniff just to check. My niece arrives after breakfast and after a tea and a chat we take the meringue bases out of the well sealed containers. They've stayed crisp and are shaped like a nest that will cradle the cream filling. And then we'll host the vibrant fruit that will sit on top of the fluffy cloud. She takes a turn whipping the fresh cream until its pillowy and light.

5:16 Together we fill the nests of meringue, spreading it like icing back and forth and in figure skates, taking much longer than we need to as we enjoy the motion of the task. Without saying a word, the generous amount of cream settles in beautifully just shy of the edges. Then comes the decoration, A colourful medley of fresh fruit. We've chosen a classic combination of Ruby red strawberries, vibrant green Kiwi slices and the deepest coloured blueberries. The fruit glistens juicy and bright as we spoon it on top of each dessert, adding bursts of colour and freshness that will balance the sweetness of the meringue. Finishing up, we stand shoulder to shoulder like 2 proud parents watching their baby sleep soundly. We've done it altogether.

6:28 A Pavlova looks like a celebration in dessert form. Elegant and festive, delicate and airy. We've placed them each Shanna Cakes stand as something this visually stunning deserves to be on a pedestal. I'm going to wait until the picnic to try it. But she selflessly offers to make sure it tastes as it should. Slicing into it reveals the layers. Crisp, soft, creamy. A beautiful creation that we're pleased has turned out so well.

7:11 I've given her a fancy dessert bowl and a dainty spoon to honour the time we put in to making it and the beauty that it turned out to be. Just as patience was needed to create what she's about to taste, she also takes her time with this step. I can hear the bit of crunch that is the spoon breaking in to the outer shell. It goes quiet as it reaches the marshmallow like centre and the colourful juice from the fruit seeps a little into the cream for the perfect mix of flavours. As she takes the first bite, I gather from her closed eyes and the smile that begins to form that we've accomplished something wonderful together.

8:07 She opens her eyes and nods, subtly raising her index finger to signal me to give her a few more seconds to let it sink in, or maybe to recover from the place she just went. I don't need to ask her if it turned out well enough to serve to my friends at the picnic. Her reaction gave me the answer. I pull out a stool for her to sit and finish her piece of Pavlova at the kitchen island while I pack the rest of my things for the park. I invite her to come along, but she already has plans for lunch. Laughing that she started backwards with dessert, she lifts the cover off the cake stand of the one we've already cut into.

9:03 With eyebrows raised, she looks at me and tilts her head. OK, just one taste. An interesting dessert Plans with friends had been made weeks ago for us to meet in the park for a picnic. Will each contribute some food and drink and I promised to provide an interesting dessert, not knowing at that point what I would make or buy to take along.

9:44 I'd mentioned this to my niece. Without hesitation, she suggested that I make Pavlova. I slowly nodded, knowing that I'd heard of this dessert but had no idea what it actually was. When I asked my niece, she admitted that she also had never had it, had never seen it that she knew of, nor did she know what Pavlova was. Hmm. Well, I'd promise to show up with something interesting and out of the ordinary, so Pavlova it is. She offered to pitch in, and we agreed that we would make enough of whatever it was for her to have some for herself. As we prepared to research what we were in for, one of us commented that it sounded like a form of dance. This amused us even more when we found out that this particular treat was in fact named after a ballerina. We weren't so far off in our thinking, nor were we disappointed when we saw the first images of it online. Pavlova.

11:09 It looked fluffy, although it said crispy on the outside, which also sounded wonderful. It looked sweet, just the flavor we wanted. It looked completely out of the ordinary, more like a decoration than a food. And it looked completely lovely, exactly the masterpiece. I want to present tomorrow on the day of our picnic, not wanting to leave it until the morning of. My niece and I will make the meringue part of the Pavlova today. The recipes said this would also help it to become a bit more crisp, which is part of its charm. Tomorrow we'll add the cream filling and the fruit topping. To finish it off.

12:04 We've made two of the meringue bases that look like clouds. The second one will be our tester, which neither of us will mind doing for the cause. If it's a flop, I will still have time before the picnic to visit the bakery for one of their treats instead, but so far, so good. The meringues surfaced as a subtle mat Sheen of ivory or eggshell white. The odor shell has fine cracks, which is just like the photo we have and is a sign of its crispness that is ideal contrasting with the soft and chewy centre. Once they cool off in the oven, we use our Test 1 to poke out a bit and the centre has also turned out just as we'd hoped, soft like marshmallows.

13:07 We agree that she'll come back over in the morning to help with the cream and putting them all together. Not surprisingly, I dream of floating on clouds and wake up with a soft smile, giving my pillow a squeeze and a sniff just to check. My niece arrives after breakfast and after a tea and a chat we take the meringue bases out of the well sealed containers. They've stayed crisp and are shaped like a nest that will cradle the cream filling. And then we'll host the vibrant fruit that will sit on top of the fluffy cloud. She takes a turn whipping the fresh cream until its pillowy and light.

14:01 Together we fill the nests of meringue, spreading it like icing back and forth and in figure skates, taking much longer than we need to as we enjoy the motion of the task. Without saying a word, the generous amount of cream settles in beautifully just shy of the edges. Then comes the decoration, A colourful medley of fresh fruit. We've chosen a classic combination of Ruby red strawberries, vibrant green Kiwi slices and the deepest coloured blueberries. The fruit glistens juicy and bright as we spoon it on top of each dessert, adding bursts of colour and freshness that will balance the sweetness of the meringue. Finishing up, we stand shoulder to shoulder like 2 proud parents watching their baby sleep soundly. We've done it altogether.

15:14 A Pavlova looks like a celebration in dessert form. Elegant and festive, delicate and airy. We've placed them each Shanna Cakes stand as something this visually stunning deserves to be on a pedestal. I'm going to wait until the picnic to try it. But she selflessly offers to make sure it tastes as it should. Slicing into it reveals the layers. Crisp, soft, creamy. A beautiful creation that we're pleased has turned out so well.

15:56 I've given her a fancy dessert bowl and a dainty spoon to honour the time we put in to making it and the beauty that it turned out to be. Just as patience was needed to create what she's about to taste, she also takes her time with this step. I can hear the bit of crunch that is the spoon breaking in to the outer shell. It goes quiet as it reaches the marshmallow like centre and the colourful juice from the fruit seeps a little into the cream for the perfect mix of flavours. As she takes the first bite, I gather from her closed eyes and the smile that begins to form that we've accomplished something wonderful together.

16:52 She opens her eyes and nods, subtly raising her index finger to signal me to give her a few more seconds to let it sink in, or maybe to recover from the place she just went. I don't need to ask her if it turned out well enough to serve to my friends at the picnic. Her reaction gave me the answer. I pull out a stool for her to sit and finish her piece of Pavlova at the kitchen island while I pack the rest of my things for the park. I invite her to come along, but she already has plans for lunch. Laughing that she started backwards with dessert, she lifts the cover off the cake stand of the one we've already cut into.

17:48 With eyebrows raised, she looks at me and tilts her head. OK, just one taste. I wish you sweet dreams.