Poached meringues (floating island)

Someone said once that simple desserts are the best... We agree with this, as Poached meringues are amongst our favorite! All you need for this recipe are eggs, milk, superfine sugar and vanilla pods (or vanilla sugar, but it's not as tasty).

Pour the milk in a large pot or pan and place it on low heat. Add 3 tablespoons of sugar and scrape the vanilla seeds into the milk (whisk a bit to disperse them). Add the split vanilla pods, too and bring the milk to a simmer. (If you're using vanilla sugar add only one tablespoon of sugar and 15g of vanilla sugar).

Let it on low heat so it would reach the boiling point slowly. 

Separate the egg whites and whisk them and 150g sugar with an electric beater until the mixture forms shiny, firm peaks. If you want more control, beat the withes without sugar until they get firm. Start adding the sugar, slowly, while still beating the whites. After all the sugar is in keep beating them for 7-8 minutes. 
Check that all the sugar is melted (if it's not, you can feel it when tasting, or between your fingers).

By now the milk is boiling (keep the fire low and stir often so it doesn't spill over). Remove the vanilla pods. Use a spoon to take small balls of meringue and place them carefully into the milk. Boil them about 30 seconds on each side and place them on a deap serving platter, or a big enough plate.

We used a ceramic tray for the boiled meringues.

Remove the milk from the fire after all the meringue is boiled.
Use the beater on the egg yolks and add the rest of the sugar in. Beat them until the sugar is melted.

Pour the yolks in the milk, and whisk thoroughly. Put it over the fire until it starts to simmer again.

When the first bubbles show up, remove it from the fire and pour it over the meringue. If the milk is to hot when adding the yolks, or if you boil it to much it might spoil. If it does, the taste should be fine but the aspect will suffer a bit.
Let it chill in the fridge before serving.
Enjoy!

Ingredients:

 - 6 eggs;
 - 1L milk;
 - 250 gr de zahar
 - 2 vanilla pods.