Meringues Plain And Chocolate Filled Food

MERINGUES (PLAIN AND CHOCOLATE FILLED)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Have egg whites at about 70 degrees. Beat until foamy in an electric mixer or by hand. Add vanilla. While continuing to beat, add sugar one tablespoon at a time. When the mixture stands in stiff peaks on the beater, it is ready for baking. Fill a pastry bag with mixture and pipe onto parchment covered baking sheet, using star tip to create kisses. Bake about 1 hour or longer, depending on the size. Do not remove from the oven at once, but turn off the oven, open the door and leave them for at least 5 minutes. Cool gradually, away from a draft. Remove them from the sheet when cool.
• To prepare chocolate ganache, pour hot, scalded cream over chocolate. Blend until smooth. Cool.
• To fill meringues, crush the bottom lightly with the thumb while still warm. Fill the hollows with chocolate ganache.

CHOCOLATE MERINGUE MONT BLANC CAKE

Steps:

• Grease 2 deep 20cm loose-bottomed cake tins and line the base and sides with baking parchment. Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/ gas 3. Melt the chocolate and butter in a bowl over a pan of gently simmering water, then set aside to cool a little.
• In a large bowl, whisk the whole eggs, yolks and sugars with an electric whisk until doubled in size - this will take about 5 mins. Sieve in the flour, cocoa and baking power with a pinch of salt. Fold the chestnut purée into the chocolate butter mixture, then add to the other bowl and gently fold everything together. Divide evenly between the tins.
• Working quickly, clean the whisks and your large bowl, put the egg whites in the bowl and whisk until stiff. Add the sugar, a spoonful at a time, whisking continuously, until thick and able to hold stiff peaks. Use a spoon to dot the meringue on top of the cake mixture in both tins, then use the back of the spoon to spread the mixture. Fill the gaps to touch the edges of the tins - make nice swirly dips and peaks as you spread. Bake for 1 hr 15 mins until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out with moist but set crumbs. Cool completely.
• When you're ready to serve, make the filling. Put the cream, chestnut purée and icing sugar in a bowl and whisk until softly whipped. Remove the cakes from their tins and place 1 on a cake stand or plate (save the one with the prettiest top for the final layer). Dollop on the cream and swirl out towards the edges (don't worry if you crush the meringue a bit). Place the next sponge on top, dust with icing sugar, then top with chocolate shavings, if using. Best served straight away, but will keep in the fridge for 2 days.

PEPPERMINT MERINGUES WITH CHOCOLATE FILLING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 175 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; secure corners with masking tape. Fit a pastry bag with a small open-star tip (such as Ateco #22). Set aside.
• Make meringues: Put egg whites and sugar in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer. Set bowl over a pan of simmering water, and stir gently until sugar has dissolved and mixture is warm to the touch, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Transfer bowl to an electric mixer fitted with the whiskattachment. Mix on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Mix in peppermint extract.
• Using a new small paintbrush, paint 2 or 3 stripes of red food coloring inside the pastry bag. Fill bag with 1 to 2 cups meringue. Pipe small (3/4-inch-high) star shapes onto prepared baking sheets. Refill bag as necessary, adding food coloring each time.
• Bake cookies until crisp but not brown, about 1 hour 40 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks.
• Meanwhile, make ganache: Heat cream in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until just simmering. Pour over chocolate in a small bowl. Let stand 5 minutes. Gently stir until smooth, about 5 minutes. Let ganache cool at room temperature, stirring every 5 to 10 minutes, until thick enough to hold its shape, about 45 minutes. (If ganache setsbefore using, reheat in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water; repeat the cooling process.)
• Before serving or mailing, fill a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip (such as Ateco #5) with ganache. Pipe a small amount onto bottom of 1 meringue. Sandwich with another. Repeat with remaining ganache and meringues. Transfer to wire racks; let set 30 minutes.

CHOCOLATE-FILLED MERINGUES

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a small bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Add the cream of tartar, vanilla and salt; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form and sugar is dissolved., Line a baking sheet with parchment. Spoon meringue into 6 mounds on paper. Using the back of a spoon, shape into 3-in. cups. Bake at 300° for 35 minutes. Turn off oven and do not open door; let meringues dry for 1 hour. Cool on a wire rack., For filling, in a bowl, beat cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and cocoa until smooth and fluffy. Fold in whipped topping. Process the strawberries in a blender or food processor until pureed. To serve, spoon filling into meringue shells. Top with strawberry sauce.

AUTHENTIC FRENCH MERINGUES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C). Butter and flour a baking sheet.
• In a glass or metal bowl, whip egg whites until foamy using an electric mixer. Sprinkle in sugar a little at a time, while continuing to whip at medium speed. When the mixture becomes stiff and shiny like satin, stop mixing, and transfer the mixture to a large pastry bag. Pipe the meringue out onto the prepared baking sheet using a large round tip or star tip.
• Place the meringues in the oven and place a wooden spoon handle in the door to keep it from closing all the way. Bake for 3 hours, or until the meringues are dry, and can easily be removed from the pan. Allow cookies to cool completely before storing in an airtight container at room temperature.

ORANGE CREAM MERINGUES WITH CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Make meringues:
• Preheat oven to 175°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Beat whites with cream of tartar and salt using an electric mixer at high speed until they just hold stiff peaks. Gradually add sugar, beating at high speed until whites hold stiff, glossy peaks.
• Spoon meringue into pastry bag and pipe 6 mounds (2 inches in diameter and 2 inches high) on baking sheet.
• Bake meringues in middle of oven until crisp but still white, about 2 hours.
• Turn off oven and let meringues cool in oven 1 hour, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• Make sauce and filling:
• Melt chocolate in evaporated milk in a small heavy saucepan over very low heat, whisking until smooth, then cool. (If sauce seems too thick to pour, thin with water.)
• Stir together sour cream and zest in a small bowl.
• Just before serving, make a hole in base of each meringue with your finger and spoon in 1 tablespoon of orange cream. Put each meringue on a plate and spoon 1 tablespoon chocolate sauce over it.

CHOCOLATE CHIP & PECAN MERINGUE BARS

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a small bowl; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes., Preheat oven to 325°. In a large bowl, cream butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks, milk and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Press into a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan., With clean beaters, beat egg whites on medium speed until foamy. Gradually add remaining brown sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high after each addition until brown sugar is dissolved. Continue beating until thick and glossy. Stir in chocolate chips and pecans. Spread over dough in pan., Bake on a lower oven rack until meringue is lightly browned, 25-30 minutes. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Using a serrated knife, cut into bars. Store in an airtight container.

CHOCOLATE FILLED MERINGUE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Beat egg whites and cream of tartar at high speed with a mixer until foamy.
• Gradually add the 1/2 cup of sugar, 1 Tbs at a time, until stiff peaks form and sugar is dissolved - about 2-4 minute.
• Stir in 1/2 tsp vanilla extract and chopped pecans.
• Drop by teaspoonfuls onto baking sheets lined with aluminum foil.
• Dip a finger in the Tbs of powdered sugar and make an indentation in the center of each cookie.
• Place in the oven and immediately turn the oven OFF. Don't open the door for at least 8 hours.
• Remove from oven, and carefully peel cookies from foil.
• Combine butter, cocoa, and half and half in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
• Add the 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar and beat well with an electric mixer.
• Stir in remaining 1/2 tsp vanilla.
• Just before serving, pipe cocoa mixture into the indentation of each cookie with a star tip - if you have one.

PEPPERMINT MERINGUE SANDWICHES WITH CHOCOLATE FILLING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 175°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Fit a pastry bag with a small open-star tip (such as Ateco #22).
• Make meringues: Put egg whites and sugar in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer. Set bowl over a pan of simmering water, and stir gently until sugar has dissolved and mixture is warm to the touch, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer bowl to an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Mix in peppermint extract.
• Using a new small paintbrush, paint two or three stripes of red gel-paste food coloring inside the pastry bag. Fill bag with 1 to 2 cups meringue. Pipe small (3/4-inch high) star shapes onto prepared baking sheets. Refill bag as necessary, adding food coloring each time. Bake cookies until crisp but not brown, about 1 hour 40 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks.
• Meanwhile, make ganache: Heat cream in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until just simmering. Pour over chocolate in a small bowl. Let stand 5 minutes. Gently stir until smooth, about 5 minutes. Let ganache cool at room temperature, stirring every 5 to 10 minutes, until thick enough to hold its shape, about 45 minutes. (If ganache sets before using, reheat in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water; repeat the cooling process.)
• Fill a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip (such as Ateco #5) with ganache. Pipe a small amount onto bottom of one meringue. Sandwich with another. Repeat with remaining ganache and meringues. Transfer to wire racks; let set 30 minutes. Cookies can be stored in a single layer in airtight containers at room temperature up to 2 days.
• Use a new small paintbrush to brush two or three evenly spaced stripes of gel-paste food coloring along the length of the inside of a pastry bag fitted with an open-star tip. Fill the bag with meringue, and pipe star shapes onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Each time you refill the bag with meringue, paint new stripes inside.

DOUBLE MERINGUE FINGERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 130C degrees (250F degrees).
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
• Whisk the egg whites in a clean, grease-free bowl until standing in peaks.
• Add half the sugar and whisk until thick.
• Add the remaining sugar and whisk again until really thick and glossy.
• Gently fold in the grated plain chocolate.
• Spoon mixture into a star-nozzled piping bag.
• Pipe 28 X 9 cm (3 1/2 in) long fingers onto baking sheets.
• Bake for 1-1 1/2 hrs or until dry.
• Leave to cool.
• When meringues are cold, break the milk chocolate into a bowl, stand it over a pan of hot water and stir until melted.
• Cover a baking sheet with clingfilm.
• Dip undersides of the meringues into the chocolate, then place chocolate-side down on the baking sheet.
• Leave to set.
• Spoon excess chocolate from the bowl into a grease proof paper piping bag.
• Snipp off the end and drizzle chocolate over the meringues.
• Allow to set.
• Whip the cream until stiff, then use to sandwich the meringue fingers together.
• Serve within 3 hours of filling.