Meringue Disks Food

MERINGUE NESTS

Steps:

• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 250 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Beat the egg whites, cream of tartar and salt in a large clean dry bowl with a mixer on medium speed until foamy. Increase the speed to medium high and beat until thick and opaque, about 1 more minute. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time, and beat until stiff shiny peaks form, about 5 more minutes.
• Transfer the meringue to a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip. Pipe eight 3-inch disks on the baking sheets, then pipe around the edge of the disks to create 2-inch-high sides. Bake at 250 degrees F until dry and crisp, about 3 hours. Let cool completely on the baking sheets. Store in an airtight container in a dry place for up to 1 week.
• For the filling, whisk the mascarpone with the confectioners' sugar, then whisk in the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Spoon into the meringue nests; top with sugar pearls.

MERINGUE DISKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees.
• Butter and lightly flour two baking sheets. Trace two eight-inch circles on each sheet.
• In a large bowl, mix the ground almonds, two cups of the sugar and the cornstarch. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat the egg whites until they are frothy. Gradually add the remaining sugar, beating constantly until the egg whites are stiff but not dry.
• Sprinkle some of the almond mixture on the egg whites and fold in. Repeat until all the almond mixture is incorporated.
• Fill a pastry bag fitted with a round No. 4 tip with the meringue. On the baking sheets, squeeze the meringue around the rim of a traced circle. Work toward the center in a circular motion until the entire circle is filled in. Repeat with the remaining circles.
• Bake for 45 minutes, or until the meringue is golden and crisp.

INDIVIDUAL CHOCOLATE NUT MERINGUE CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Load nut meringue into a pastry bag fitted with the plain tip. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Pipe a little meringue into each corner to secure paper. Pipe out 6 3-inch disks on each pan, letting the meringue fall from the tip. Bake at 325 degrees for about 30 minutes until lightly colored and firm. Allow to cool and remove parchment by peeling it off. You will have 12 disks.
• Place cream in medium heavy bottomed saucepan and bring to a simmer. Turn off heat and stir in chopped chocolate. Set aside to melt for five minutes, then whisk until smooth and place in the mixing bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle. Beat at medium speed until cooled and light. Load ganache into a pastry bag fitted with medium star tip.
• Lay out 4 meringue disks in front of you, flat side down. Pipe out spiral of ganache to completely cover disks. Place 4 mote disks on top and pipe out more ganache the same way. Top with remaining four disks and pipe ganache rosette on top of each. Allow to sit at room temperature 2 hours before serve for texture and flavors to mellow. Serve.

IRISH COFFEE MERINGUE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F Draw two 7-inch circles on a sheet of parchment paper.
• Place the egg whites in a spotlessly clean and dry bowl. Add the 3/4 cup confectioners sugar and whisk until the mixture stands in medium peaks.
• Sift the coffee powder with the remaining confectioners' sugar and carefully fold into the egg whites.
• Carefully spread the meringue with a palette knife onto the circles on the parchment paper. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until crisp.
• The disks should peel easily from the paper. Allow to cool completely.
• Add the whiskey to the whipped cream. Place into a pastry bag. Sandwich the meringue disks together with 2/3 of the flavored cream.
• Pipe 5 rosettes on the top with the remaining whipped cream. Decorate with chocolate-coated coffee beans. TO SLICE: Use a sharp thin knife that has been heated by sitting in very hot water.

CHILEAN TORTA DE MERENGUE

Steps:

• MERINGUE DISKS:.
• Preheat oven to 350 deg. F. Grease and flour two 9" springform pans. If you prefer, line them with parchment paper.
• On low speed, beat egg whites and salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer until foamy. At this point, increase mixer speed to high and beat egg whites until they form soft peaks. While still beating, add the superfine sugar one tablespoon at a time. Beat for about 8 minutes, or until you see stiff glossy peaks. Beat in lemon juice (or vinegar) and vanilla extract.
• Mix together the granulated sugar, nuts and cornstarch in a small bowl, then fold this mixture into the beaten egg white mixture.
• Divide meringue equally between the two prepared springforms, then spread to even out. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the meringues are dry. Turn off the oven, remove the springform from the bottom of the pans, and leave meringues in the oven to cool for an hour (leave oven door slightly open).
• After cooling in oven, meringues can be used immediately, stored tightly wrapped for a few days at room temp, or frozen for a couple of months.
• GLAZE:.
• Combine chocolate, butter and coffee in a small heavy-bottomed saucepan. Over low heat, stir mixture until melted and smooth. If you prefer, this can be done in a microwave instead. Once melted, allow to cool.
• FILLING:.
• Halve the cherimoya and scrape the flesh into a mixing bowl using a small spoon. Mash the cherimoya flesh with a fork, hen pick out the seeds and throw them out. Mix the fruit mash with the lemon juice and pisco or brandy. Mix the berries into the cherimoya mixture.
• Softly whip the cream (and stabilizer, if using) in a large bowl on low speed. Increase the speed to high and whip until stiff peaks form. Divide whipped cream in half. Fold the prepared fruit mixture into one half of the whipped cream.
• ASSEMBLY:.
• Place one of the meringue disks on a serving plate with a bit of the plain whipped cream underneath to keep disk from slipping around. Drizzle the glaze over the meringue (don't spread it, though), then spread the fruit on top. Place second meringue disk over the fruit. Using a decorator bag with a 1/4" star tip, pipe 8 to 10 circles of cream around the top of the meringue disk. If using, arrange berries &/or chocolate curls on top of the torte. Sprinkle with powdered sugar (if using the chocolate curls, the powdered sugar should be sprinkled on before the chocolate for a better appearance). Chill for at least 4 hours before serving (can be chilled overnight).
• Slice with a thin, sharp knife to serve.

CRISPY BAKED MERINGUES

Steps:

• Whip the egg whites and salt into peaks.
• Add the vanilla, and continue beating until the mixture forms stiff peaks.
• In a separate bowl, stir the cream of tartar into the regular sugar and whisk into the whites very gradually, a spoonful at a time, until the meringue is stiff and the sugar has dissolved.
• Sift together the icing sugar and cornstarch. Sift over the meringue and gently fold until fully incorporated.
• Pipe or spoon the meringues onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Each meringue should be about the size of a bar of soap.
• Bake at 225ºF/110ºC until cream-coloured and crisp on top when tapped, 1 to 1-1/2 hours.
• Remove from the oven. Cool on the trays. Store in an air-tight container.