Rhubarb Lime Eton Mess

Eton Mess is an English dessert combining fruit, whipped cream and meringue all tossed together.  Its like berries and cream but then you get a little crunch from the meringue. 

This dish is a take on one of my very favorite dishes made by my friend Joanna.  She was the pastry chef at a restaurant I used to work at and every spring her lime cheesecake with rhubarb compote would come on the menu.  It was so good!  I was really looking to create something that brought those flavors together.  I made this "Eton Mess" with a lime whipped cream, stewed rhubarb and vanilla meringue.  This totally satisfied my craving for that sweet and tart dessert.

Rhubarb compote

4 cups chopped rhubarb
1 cup Sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 beet cut into wedges for extra color (optional)

Place all ingredients into a sauce pan.  Cook over medium heat until rhubarb starts to release some juices and it starts to boil.  Turn down the heat to low and simmer for about 15 min or until rhubarb has cooked down to a mush.

Lime Whipped Cream

1/2 cup Lime Juice
1Tablespoon lime zest
 7.5 oz sweetened condensed milk (1/2 a can)
8oz whipping cream

Stir together the lime juice, zest and condensed milk and set aside.  Whip cream until firm and then fold in the lime juice mixture with the whipped cream.

6 bakery meringue shells, broken into pieces

In a tall glass layer a spoonful of whipped cream, a spoonful of rhubarb compote, and then a few pieces of meringue.  Repeat once or twice depending on the size of your glass.