February 26, 2009

Barefoot Bloggers- Meringues Chantilly and Giveaway Winners

Meringues Chantilly, this week's Barefoot Bloggers recipe, is quick and simple, but leaves you feeling like you've just enjoyed a nice "Barefoot in Paris" experience (see my tall man and I at Versailles, above. I don't think we could have enjoyed Meringues on that day, though, because Ina strictly prohibits you from making them when it's humid!). With some sugar and egg whites and a hard working KitchenAid, you can pull off a pretty impressive dessert in only a few minutes prep (plus hours in the oven!) I've seen this recipe on Barefoot Contessa a couple times and was happy to finally make it. I served it with strawberries and whipped cream for some of our new friends. They don't know about my weird habit of photographing my food, so I neglected to take any photos of the final product.

Let me know how you served this and what people thought. My testers thought it tasted kind of like cotton candy! My son just picked out the whipped cream and strawberries, haha. He must be related to me after all (sometimes I wonder when I see my husband running around in miniature!)

Now for the giveaway winners... you should all know I was perfectly random and didn't even rig my mom to win. She's going to be disappointed, but these lovely ladies won't be:

Melody said...
My favorite healthy breakfast needs lots of protein to keep me satisfied. My blog has a recipe for yummy mini quiche that are great for a quick breakfast! Thanks for the giveaway!

shortSTACKSlife said...
papaya with cottage cheese!!

Carolyn G said...
My healthy breakfast is oatmeal and orange juice and a banana


Please email me your address by Sunday night or I will choose more winners (I just need ShortStacks). :) Thanks ladies and to everyone who entered!

Meringues Chantilly
from Ina Garten
Ingredients
6 extra - large egg whites, at room temperature (I used seven large eggs)
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Kosher salt
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, divided
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Whipped Cream
Berries

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a small glass and a pencil, draw 6 (3 1/2-inch) circles on each piece of paper. Turn the paper face-down on the baking sheets.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites, cream of tartar, and a large pinch of salt on medium speed until frothy. Add 1 cup of the sugar and raise the speed to high until the egg whites form very stiff peaks. Whisk in the vanilla. Carefully fold the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar into the meringue. With a large star - shaped pastry tip, pipe a disc of meringue inside each circle. Pipe another layer around the edge to form the sides of the shells.

Bake for 2 hours, or until the meringues are dry and crisp but not browned. Turn off the heat and allow the meringues to sit in the oven for 4 hours or overnight.

Spread some of the sauce from the stewed berries on each plate. Place a meringue on top and fill with whipped cream. Top with berries and serve.

18 comments:

  1. I really liked these - and don't worry about the humidity. I just made them on an incredibly sticky summer's day (but I did let them cool in the oven overnight, and I resisted the temptation to open the oven door and check on them, so no humid air could get in). Love the Versailles pic. It is so beautiful.

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  2. Your meringues turned out beautifully. They look so dainty and delicate! I love that they just melt in your mouth--just like cotton candy. YUM.

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  3. Lovely meringues!! I bet they just melt in your mouth!! Nice job!

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  4. Haha! I made something new that I wanted pictures of once with new friends over... I felt the same way. I didn't take pictures either.

    As for the meringues... I just made cookies and did a fig & honey thing and a chocolate bottom on some. They were delish!

    ~Cat

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  5. Your meringues look awesome, even if you didn't get a picture of the finished product (LOL at your comment about your new friends not knowing about your little food photography hobby. I think I am going to have to set up a system with my hubs where he moves our guests out of the kitchen right before serving time so that I can get my pictures!) I am so glad that you liked these! I didn't get to make them, but can't wait to try them sometime soon, especially after reading about yours!

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  6. Love the photo of you and your husband at Versailles! These meringues were so easy and yummy, but I think your testers hit it spot on. They DO remind me of cotton candy. I'm also shy about photographing food in front of people. Your meringues look perfect. I bet they were great with strawberries!

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  7. I think meringues are fun to make, and they look so pretty. I'm not such a fan of the taste, though! My kids thought they were a little too hard to eat, but we all loved the stewed berries and whipped cream.

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  8. Lots of us have weird photo habits. I hate cotton candy so you can guess....this was a pretty dessert though

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  9. Popped in to say hi! They look divine!

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  10. I always think these look SO beautiful!

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  11. Meringues are so much fun to make! These look great!

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  12. Oooh, I love those, they are just so adorable and pretty!

    Lucky you to have visited France! How fun :)

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  13. Yours look perfect! We loved them and I agree-perfect for a dinner party.

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  14. Your meringues look great and I love the photos!

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  15. i agree with the cotton candy comparison! that's exactly what it tasted like!

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