Meringues
INGREDIENTS for 2 dozen. lb. of pounded sugar, the whites of four eggs. AVERAGE COST, with cream, 1s.
Whisk the whites of the eggs to a stiff froth and, with a wooden spoon, stir in quickly the pounded sugar; and have some boards thick enough to put in the oven to prevent the bottom of the meringues from acquiring too much colour. Cut some MERINGUES. strips of paper about 2 inches wide; place this paper on the board and drop a tablespoonful at a time of the mixture on the paper, taking care to let all the meringues be the same size. In dropping it from the spoon, give the mixture the form of an egg and keep the meringues about 2 inches apart from each other on the paper. Strew over them some sifted sugar and bake in a moderate oven for hour. As soon as MILK. they begin to colour remove them from the oven; take each slip of paper by the two ends and turn it gently on the table and, with a small spoon, take out the soft part of each meringue. Spread some clean paper on the board, turn the meringues upside down and put them into the oven to harden and brown on the other side.
When required for table fill them with whipped cream, flavoured with liqueur or vanilla and sweetened with pounded sugar.
Join two of the meringues together and pile them high in the dish as shown in the annexed drawing. To vary their appearance finely-chopped almonds may be strewn over them before the sugar is sprinkled over; and they may be garnished with any bright-coloured preserve. Great expedition is necessary in making this sweet dish; as, if the meringues are not put into the oven as soon as the sugar and eggs are mixed, the former melts and the mixture would run on the paper instead of keeping its egg-shape. The sweeter the meringues are made the crisper will they be; but if there is not sufficient sugar mixed with them they will most likely be tough. They are sometimes coloured with cochineal and if kept well covered in a dry place will remain good for a month or six weeks.
TIME.-Altogether, hour.
SEASONABLE at any time.