Christmas is here! Peppermint Candy Cane Meringues

It is Christmas Eve!  Can you believe it?  I am sitting in the recliner, with my cup of coffee, tree is lit, and I am just thinking about Christmas's past.  Missing my son and granddaughter this holiday season but thankful to have my son home from Iraq safe and granddaughter thriving and as precious as ever. 

I am going to do a little last minute shopping.  I am the one who has all her shopping done and on Christmas Eve decides everyone needs just one more little something.  I am going to convince him to go to the mall food court and have lunch so we can people watch and get some chuckles.  Are we the only ones who do this?  I bet we aren't!  Tonight is our big Christmas dinner, before midnight Mass.  Tomorrow is our annual Christmas chinese food!!  We have watched "A Christmas Story" a dozen times, which is a low number for us by now!  I hope you are indulging in all of your own Christmas traditions with the people you love. 

I am a terrible meringue maker.  I make pavlova, and it always turns out.  Meringue cookies do not, so you do the math, because I just don't get it!!  This year my luck seems to have turned around.  I am not sure if it is because i used meringue powder or just that the stars were all in proper alignment!  I had meringue powder left from my royal icing, and that phase quickly ran its course, so I wanted to use this powder up.

Peppermint Candy Cane Meringues

3 tsp meringue powder
1/4 cup cold water
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
1 candy can smashed to smithereens!
3/4 cup sugar
food coloring (optional)

Preheat oven to 225 degrees.  In a bowl combine powder, water, extract, food coloring, and half of the sugar.  Beat for 5 minutes slowly adding in the remainder of the sugar.  Put mixture in piping bag with star tip and pipe into small stars on  parchment lined cookie sheet. Sprinkle tops with candy cane dust and put in the oven for 30-40 minutes.  Turn oven off and leave in the oven until completely cooled.  You can also drop the cookies by spoonfuls if you desire. 

I hope you enjoy these cookies.  They aren't so quick as far as eating them but quick and painless to make and wait for.  They are SO delicious!!

Merry Christmas to you all........you are a blessing in my life!!

Your "everytime a bell rings an angel gets her wings" chefwannabe
Chris

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