Strawberries & Cream Meringues

I was kind of skeptical of posting this recipe up, not because it doesn't taste good, I mean no matter how much you screw the recipe up, meringues always taste delishhhh ;D It does take quite a few attempts to get it right, (I succeeded on the third attempt WHOO! ^^) but I couldn't pass this recipe up, because I really enjoyed it and it was a successful surprise for my cousin's birthday party :) Although, word of advice, don't put the decorations on it until half an hour before serving, I thought the party was earlier so I prepared it super early ... my fault entirely ^^"

As per, my inspiration came from Pinterest (follow me if you're not already :D), I just love the colours, it's so pretty too! Check out the original recipe by Libertine Eats <= here! (I promise the link works, it just takes longer than other links :P) Scroll down for my version of the recipe :)

Ingredients

Egg Whites (2)

Caster Sugar (100 grams) - The recipe says 120, but I think it's a little too sweet

Corn flour / Potato Starch (A pinch)

Salt (A pinch)

Fresh Strawberries (Chopped) (As many as you want)

Hotel Chocolat Strawberries & Cream Puddles (As many as you wish)

Kitchen Utensils

Electric Whisk 

Mixing Bowl

Bowls

Kitchen Scales

Large Metal Spoon

Baking Tray

Baking Time :D!

1) Preheat the oven to 140°C and line your baking tray with baking paper. 

2) Separate the egg whites from the egg yolk, and place the egg whites into the mixing bowl, with the pinch of salt. (I placed the egg yolk in another bowl, cling-filmed it and placed it in the fridge for egg fried rice later xD)

3) Take your electric whisk (Handheld or not), and whisk the egg whites until you can turn the bowl upside down without anything falling from the bowl.

4) Measure out the correct amount of sugar, and combine the corn flour/potato starch with the sugar in a separate bowl.

5) Take the sugar mixture and gradually add a spoonful to the egg white mix whilst you whisk the mixture, until all the sugar mixture has been mixed in with the egg whites. It should look like the image below, glossy and clumping to the whisk.

6) Take the large metal spoon and spoon the meringues onto the lined baking tray. If you want to decorate it afterwards, I recommend making a small well in the middle of the meringue, by using the back of the spoon to press into the centre of the meringue. (Depending on how big you want them and how big your baking tray is, you can make as many as you want.)

7) Place it into the oven and bake undisturbed for approximately 40 minutes. Undisturbed, as in do not open the oven door, otherwise the meringues might deflate, turn the oven light on if you have one and check on it ever so often. Depending on how big you make your meringues, 40 minutes should be just enough, so that it won't get burnt, but to be safe, I poked a toothpick into it, and if it comes out clean then you're all good :)
8) Leave to cool in the oven with the oven door open, and the oven turned off, until it has completely cooled. Then decorate to your hearts content ^_^!

Meringues are really delicate desserts, so do be careful when transferring them to a prettier plate. Decorate it however you want, I just chopped up some strawberries and chocolate to decorate mine, but really, it's all down to what you love :) If I had pistachios, I would have chopped some up and sprinkled them on too! But I guess I can always do that next time :D I hope you enjoy this and have a beautiful summer enjoying this glorious sunshine, and munching on this! ^_^!

 Stay safe & keep smiling, 
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=(^Y^)= ♡