New Zealand and the tree that blooms at Christmas
Merry Kirihimete! Everywhere it was possible to hear only this that, in the Maori language, means Merry Christmas. In fact, Will and Joy had thought that it was still too early to return to the cold lands of the northern hemisphere and had decided to continue the journey to New Zealand. They were sprawled out in the shade of a tree that the locals called pohutukawa, or New Zealand Christmas tree, due to its characteristic of blooming around Christmas. And in fact the tree, under which Will and Joy rested, was laden with red flowers, which looked like splashes of color set in a thick emerald green foliage. A few steps from their feet there were a small beach of white sand and just beyond the sea with shades of turquoise and cobalt. After a while, however, Will and Joy realized they were hungry and so they set off in search of a restaurant. Will was a bit awkward in his jandals, or Japanese sandals, New Zealand thong sandals, but the saleswoman had been adamant, only that model was used there and he had to adapt. Finally they found a pastry shop and there they tried the best dessert they had ever tasted, the pavlola, a crunchy meringue nest that contains a heart of cream and decorated with so many berries that Will almost moved. Needless to say, Joy regretted being born a dog for that time. Will was still enjoying that heavenly sweet when he noticed a little boy walking past him with his mom loaded with carrots, pineapples and a few beers… but what was he doing with all that stuff? Seeing his curious gaze, the innkeeper explained to Will that in New Zealand there was a somewhat peculiar tradition. Even in New Zealand the children left a small snack for Santa Claus and his reindeer but it consisted of carrots for the reindeer and beer and pineapple for Santa Claus! Well, Will thought with a smirk, for Santa Claus it is better here than when he comes by me, since I only leave him a few salad leaves. As he relaxed stretching his legs in front of him, he thought that he was starting to get tired of the heat, maybe it was time to go back to the cold ...
The Pavlova
Your mouth is watering as you imagine Will eating pavlova, right? So let's see how to prepare it with some small variations ... a little more healthy. You need 4 egg whites, 200 grams of whole sugar, 2 teaspoons of corn starch, 1 teaspoon of white wine vinegar, half a teaspoon of vanilla powder. Beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until they are almost stiff, slowly incorporate the sugar, continue beating the mixture. When the meringue is shiny and firm, add the starch dissolved in the vinegar and the vanilla. Arrange the meringue on a baking sheet covered with baking paper. Form a disk about three fingers high and with a hole in the center. Bake in a ventilated oven at 150° C for an hour. Then let it cool in the oven with the door open. For the cream, you need 800 ml of coconut milk from the fridge, half a teaspoon of vanilla powder and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar. Take the solid part of the coconut milk and beat it until whipped, add the sugar and vanilla. Fill the pavlola with coconut cream and finally decorate with berries at will.
