Strawberry Meringues

A delicious treat from Italy!! Mmmmmmm!

• Ready In: 3 hrs 20 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 3  egg whites
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1  dash salt
• 1  cup sugar
• 1  quart strawberry
•  sugar (optional)
• 2  ounces  semisweet chocolate
• 2  teaspoons butter or 2  teaspoons margarine
• 1  cup  whipping cream
• 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.