Syllabub with Meringues (or something crunchy)

turn the oven to 300° fahrenheit (if you have a convection option use this)

put the egg whites in a bowl that will sit easily over a heavy bottomed pan which is half filled with water (a sort of improvised bain marie) and gently start to heat the egg whites

add the sugar as the egg whites start to reach blood temperature and stir them till they completely dissolve into the egg whites, this will take a bit of time but is recognisable when the egg whites become opaque, still liquid, and there are no more sugar granules in the basin, be sure not to heat much at all otherwise the eggs will cook

when the sugar has dissolved take the bowl off the pan of water and set it on the counter and then whip with an electric mixer of any kind, or by hand if you are made of stern stuff, for about 15 to 18 minutes, till the egg whites are completely stiff and hold their shape when you spoon them

with a teaspoon and a silicon spatula spoon generous clouds of egg white, well spaced as they grow a bit, onto a cookie sheet lined with greased parchment, or better still a piece of silpat and slide into the oven for 45 mins

when the hour is up turn off the oven and leave the meringues in for another couple of hours to cool there, during which time they will dry out but leave a slightly gooey bit inside

NB: (there is an alternative method for cooking the meringues, especially if your prize them extra snowy white, which is to heat the oven to 160 and then turn the oven off as you put the meringues in, leaving them all night.  I am however never quite organised enough to do this)

whip the cold cream in a cooled metallic bowl (put the bowl in the fridge or freezer before if possible) till it is starting to firm up

add the sugar and keep whipping to incorporate

add the amaretto in two or three goes and keep whipping the cream till it regains its form

add the lemon juice in two or three goes and keep whipping the cream till it is just about to pass the point at which it becomes buttery

to serve put a generous dollop of syllabub on each plate and then place a meringue or two on top, and for a final decorative touch sprinkle a bit of the lemon zest (I like to make strands) on top for decoration (if the whole thing looks too anaemic please garnish with what ever there is around such as; thin slices of granny smith apple, a couple of raspberries, a mint leaf)

note - if serving this later it is almost a good idea to whip it slightly past perfect and then hold it in the fridge, like this it wont be necessary to re-whip for serving