Pecan Meringues Food

ULTIMATE MERINGUE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 110C/ 100C fan/gas ¼.
• Line 2 baking sheets with non-stick liner or parchment paper (meringue can stick on greaseproof paper and foil).
• Tip 4 large egg whites into a large clean mixing bowl (not plastic). Beat them on medium speed with an electric hand whisk until the mixture resembles a fluffy cloud and stands up in stiff peaks when the blades are lifted.
• Now turn the speed up and start to add 115g caster sugar, a dessertspoonful at a time. Continue beating for 3-4 seconds between each addition. It's important to add the sugar slowly at this stage as it helps prevent the meringue from weeping later. However, don't over-beat. When ready, the mixture should be thick and glossy.
• Sift one third of the 115g icing sugar over the mixture, then gently fold it in with a big metal spoon or rubber spatula. Continue to sift and fold in the remaining icing sugar a third at a time. Again, don't over-mix. The mixture should now look smooth and billowy.
• Scoop up a heaped dessertspoonful of the mixture. Using another dessertspoon, ease it on to the baking sheet to make an oval shape. Or just drop them in rough rounds, if you prefer.
• Bake for 1 ½-1 ¾ hours in a fan oven, 1 ¼ hours in a conventional or gas oven, until the meringues sound crisp when tapped underneath and are a pale coffee colour.
• Leave to cool on the trays or a cooling rack. (The meringues will now keep in an airtight tin for up to 2 weeks, or frozen for a month.) Serve two meringues sandwiched together with a generous dollop of softly whipped double cream.

CHOCOLATE PECAN MERINGUE TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Draw two 8-inch circles on a sheet of parchment paper and place it on a sheet pan, pencil side down.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt on high speed for one minute, until frothy. With the mixer on high, slowly add the 2/3 cups sugar and 1 teaspoon of the vanilla and beat on high for 2 minutes, until it makes firm, glossy peaks.
• Divide the meringue between the two circles and spread into two flat 8-inch disks with a rubber spatula. Bake the meringues for one hour, turn the heat off, and leave the meringues in the oven for 2 hours. Remove them from the oven and allow to cool completely to room temperature on the sheet pan.
• With a large flat spatula, carefully transfer one disk, rounded side up, to a totally flat serving plate. (It's okay if the top cracks a little.) Spread the chocolate pecan filling evenly on top. Place the second meringue, rounded side up, on top.
• Combine the heavy cream, the 2 tablespoons sugar, and the remaining 1 teaspoon of vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on high speed until it forms firm peaks. Spread the whipped cream on top of the torte. Decorate with the shaved chocolate and refrigerate for 2 hours or for up to a day and serve cold.
• In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade, process the pecans until finely ground. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl set over a pan of simmering water, whisk the eggs, sugar, and cornstarch together, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Whisk the mixture almost constantly, until it is 130 to 140 degrees and thickened like custard. Set aside to cool to room temperature, whisking occasionally.
• Set another bowl over the pan of simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Put the chocolate and espresso in the bowl and heat just until the chocolate melts, stirring occasionally. Stir in the Kahlua and vanilla and set aside to cool to room temperature. Whisk the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture, then whisk in the butter, one tablespoon at a time, whisking until smooth. Stir in the pecans. The filling can sit at room temperature for up to 4 hours.

CANDIED BACON AND PECAN MERINGUE TART WITH COFFEE FROZEN CUSTARD

Steps:

• For the coffee frozen custard: Roughly chop the coffee beans and add to a pot, along with the milk. Heat until steaming.
• Whisk the egg yolks, whole egg and sugar until lightened, about 30 seconds. Temper the eggs by slowly whisking in some of the hot milk. Add back to the saucepan and heat to 170 degrees F on a thermometer, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and whisk in the cream, vanilla and espresso powder. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, then cool in an ice bath.
• Transfer the frozen custard base to an ice cream maker, churn according to manufacturer's instructions and then freeze until firm.
• For the pate brisee: Combine the pastry flour, sugar and salt in a food processor. Pulse to mix. Add the butter and pulse until blended and the mixture looks like sand. Drizzle in the eggs, 4 teaspoons water, and vanilla; process just until a dough comes together.
• Transfer the dough to the counter and shape into two 1-inch-thick disks. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
• For the filling: Cook the bacon until crispy, though not burned. Drain on paper towels. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat, leaving the remaining fat in the pan.
• Roughly chop the pecans and add them to the bacon skillet, along with the brown sugar and a pinch of salt. Cook over high heat until the sugar melts. Reserve in a bowl.
• Cream together butter, reserved bacon fat, white sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix in the vanilla and orange zest.
• Add the eggs in 3 additions, scraping the bowl in between. Blend well.
• Add the light corn syrup and dark corn syrup; blend until smooth. Reserve.
• Par-bake the tart shell: Roll out lemon-size pieces of pate brisee to a 1/4-inch thickness. Place over nine 4-inch tart pans and gently press in.
• Roll the pin over the tart pans to cut away excess dough, then prick the dough with a fork. Place the tart pans on a baking sheet and freeze for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the foil over each tart and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Pre-bake for about 15 minutes, or until the tart shells are lightly browned. Remove the pie weights and foil. Raise the oven temperature to 400 degrees F.
• Finish the tart: Place enough pecans in each tart shell to fill them level, then crumble over some bacon. Pour the filling into the tart shells, filling up to the edge.
• Bake the tarts for 10 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F and bake for another 20 minutes. Let cool.
• For the meringue: With an electric mixer, whip the egg whites until foamy. Slowly add the sugar and then the vanilla; whip to a medium peaks. Transfer to a pastry bag.
• Pipe a rosette of meringue onto each tart, then toast with a kitchen torch.
• Serve the tarts with a scoop of the coffee frozen custard.

MRS. STEWART'S PECAN PIE W/ MERINGUE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Prick pie shell with a fork.
• Bake pie shell for 10 minutes or until golden brown; remove from oven and allow to cool.
• On a baking sheet, place pecans in a single layer and roast in oven until fragrant, checking every few minutes to avoid burning; remove from oven and let cool.
• In a medium microwave safe bowl, beat egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, and flour on medium speed with an electric mixer, beating until thick and pale.
• Add sweetened-condensed milk, water and vanilla and beat until well combined.
• Microwave on high (100 percent power) for 5 1/2 minutes, stirring halfway through, or until mixture is a thick pudding-like consistency.
• Stir in pecans.
• Let cool for 20 minutes.Spoon filling into pie shell.
• Increase oven temperature to 400°F
• In a clean, medium bowl, beat egg whites at high speed with an electric mixer until foamy.
• Gradually add 3 tablespoons sugar, beating until stiff peaks form.
• Spread meringue over pie, sealing to edge.
• Return pie to oven and bake for 5-10 minutes or until merigue is slightly brown.

CHERRY-PECAN MERINGUES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat egg whites, cream of tartar, salt, and vanilla until soft peaks form.
• Still beating, very gradually (1 tablespoon at a time) add sugar to egg whites. Continue to beat until sugar has dissolved and stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Gently fold in chopped dried cherries and chopped pecans.
• Drop meringue mixture by rounded tablespoons onto prepared baking sheets, spacing about 1 inch apart. Bake, switching baking sheets halfway through, until meringues are dry, about 2 hours. Cool completely on baking sheets. These can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

PECAN PUFFS (MERINGUE COOKIES)

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
• Gradually add sugar, beating until stiff peaks form (5-8 minutes).
• Fold in vanilla and pecans.
• Drop by well-rounded teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets.
• Bake at 200 degrees for 50-55 minutes or until firm to the touch.
• Store in airtight container.

PECAN-MOCHA MERINGUES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Line heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper. Press brown sugar and cocoa powder through sieve into small bowl to remove any lumps; whisk to blend. Using electric mixer, beat egg whites, coarse salt, and cream of tartar in medium bowl until very soft peaks begin to form. With mixer running, gradually add sugar, then espresso powder; beat until medium peaks form. Beat in brown sugar mixture by tablespoonfuls. Continue beating until meringue is very stiff and glossy, 2 to 3 minutes. Fold in chopped pecans and chocolate chips, if desired. Drop mixture by rounded tablespoonfuls onto prepared sheet, spacing about 1 inch apart. Place 1 pecan half atop each meringue, pressing very lightly to adhere.
• Bake meringues until dry but still slightly soft when pressed with finger, about 25 minutes. Turn off oven. Cool meringues in oven with door closed until crisp, about 1 1/2 hours. DO AHEAD: Meringues can be made up to 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

BROWN SUGAR PECAN MERINGUES

Steps:

• First, mix both sugars, set aside. Whip whites on med. up to a soft peak. Add sugars one tablespoon at a time, while mixing. When all sugar is added, turn on high and whip to a stiff peak. Fold in pecans and vanilla. Drop by spoonfulls onto parchment lined cookie sheets. Smooth with the back of the spoon into rounds a half to 3/4 inches thick. Bake at 300 for 30-40 minutes or until dry and a light golden brown. Makes 24 big cookies.

PECAN MERINGUES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 225 degrees.
• Beat egg white until stiff. Add brown sugar to egg white and beat until smooth. Fold pecans into mixture, using a large wooden spoon and stir until nuts are well coated. Drop by spoon onto un-greased cookie sheets. (About 2 pecan halves per spoonful).
• Bake until golden brown and meringue is completely dry - about 1 hour.

PECAN MERINGUE COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 250°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• 2. Using an electric mixer, beat the egg white until stiff and gradually add the sugar, salt, and desired spice. Beat until the mixture looks shiny. Stir in the nuts.
• 3. Using two spoons, place full teaspoons of the mixture on the sheet, leaving 1 1/2 inches between each cookie. Flatten out the tops.
• 4. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cookies appear dry on top. Use a spatula to gently remove the warm cookies from the oven and cool on a wire rack. Store in a sealed jar.