Strawberry Meringues

 

Ingredients for 8 servings:
1. 3 egg whites
2. 1 teaspoon vanilla
3. 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
4. 1 dash salt
5. 1 cup sugar
6. 1 quart strawberry
7. sugar
8. 2 ounces semisweet chocolate
9. 2 teaspoons butter or 2 teaspoons margarine
10. 1 cup whipping cream
11. 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Directions:
1. Place egg whites in small mixwer bowl; let stand at room temperature for about 1 hour.
2. Cover baking sheets with parchment paper. Draw eight 3-inch circles on parchment paper.
3. For meringue, combine egg whites, vanilla, cream of tartar, and salt.
4. Beat till soft peaks form.
5. Gradually add 1 cup sugar, beating until stiff peaks form.
6. Spread meringue over the 8 circles, using about 1/3 cup for each. Using back of spoon, shape into shells.
7. Bake in 275º oven for 1 hour. For crisper meringues, turn oven off; dry meringue shells in oven with door closed about 1 hour. Peel off paper.
8. Halve strawberries; sweeten with a little sugar, if desired.
9. Melt chocolate and butter; cool.
10. Combine whipping cream and powdered sugar; beat until stiff peaks form.
11. To assemble, drizzle aoubt 1 teaspoon of the cooled chocolate mixture over each shell.
12. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the whipped cream for garnish;divide remainder evenly among the shells.
13. Top with the halved strawberries. Garnish with reserved whipped cream.

Enjoy your meal!