So I'm back, sort of.
I got the urge to bake yesterday, and since meringues are so simple, I figured I'd made some more. :)
Not much of a story this time, I'm a bit under the weather, but I'm going to be making dinner tomorrow consisting of DUCK, duck fat fried potatoes, and an apple pie...so stay tuned for an in depth post on those, probably Monday. :)

Chocolate-Dipped Peppermint Meringues:
4 egg whites
1 cup of granulated sugar
1 tsp of cream of tartar (or lemon juice, if you prefer)
1 finely crushed candy cane
1 cup of melted chocolate (for much much later :) )
Preheat oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit
Please please please do not whip these by hand, unless you have the arm strength of a thousand men.
Whip the egg whites and cream of tartar together until soft peaks form.
Add in the sugar, a few tablespoons at a time, with the mixer going until it's all incorporated. Whip until stiff peaks form. (dip the whisk in the whites, and the whites on it should stand straight up when you hold it up )
Mix in the candy cane powder, and put the meringue in a piping bag.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, and pipe the meringues out in whatever shape/size you want.
Bake them for 2 hours
If you don't have as much time, or a short attention span, make them on the small side, and bake them for less time,but be certain to check them after an hour. (take one out, and let it cool for a bit on the counter, then check the doneness by snapping it in half)
(mine are fairly large, and browned because I spaced out while they were in the oven XD )
After letting them cool for a few minutes, dip the bottoms in chocolate, and set them back on the parchment paper until the chocolate sets up.
Enjoy! (and hide them from your relatives :3 )
Saturday, January 1
Chocolate-Dipped Peppermint Meringues
Wednesday, November 17
Pumpkin Pie Spice Meringues!
You know, every time I go to type "meringue", I always want to type "merengue" instead.
Interesting Kiara Tidbit o' the Day! XD
Anyhoooo. Last night, I whipped egg whites by hand for an hour while watching TV, because my mixer bowl was dirty and I figured I could use the exercise.
I have poor decision-making skills, obviously.
Anyway, here are pictures, and the recipe! :)

I couldn't decide which I liked better XD
Pumpkin Pie Spice Meringues:
1 cup granulated sugar
3 egg whites
1 tsp of vinegar (or cream of tartar. You need acid, that's all :) )
1 tbs pumpkin pie spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger)
Tiny dab of orange food coloring.
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. This won't take long, so I'd do it when you're almost done whipping the egg whites.
Whip the egg whites until frothy, then slowly add in the sugar.
Then add the vinegar and spices, and continue to whip.
When it gets to soft peaks, add in the food coloring.
Whip whip whip whip whip until they're stiff, glossy peaks. (they'll hold their shape when you lift the whisk straight up, the tip should curl over , but it should be a defined peak)
You can either just put the meringue into a sandwich baggie and cut the tip off and pipe little blobs, or put a nice tip in a pastry bag. I used a Wilton 1M for mine.
Now the baking time really depends on your oven and the size of the meringues, so the first time you make them, I'd suggest making a small test batch (if you have time), or to at least make more than you need, so you can break a couple open and check if they're done.
For me, personally, these needed about an hour. Generally, they'll take between that and 2 hours, but like I said, it depends on their size, and your particular oven. :)

