I decided to do my first video blog about the first recipe I ever remember making, a meringue.  Meringues are notoriously hard to make since small things (like yolk and oil) can ruin it and it’s hard to tell when it’s right.  It turns out I had so much information to share that the blog wound up VERY long.  Therefore, I have split it into 3 parts.

The following is Part 1.  I can pick these videos apart (I am my own worst critic, afterall), however, for my first attempt, I think it turned out pretty well.  I learned a lot by doing this and I look forward to do more in the near future.  Special thanks to Mike for his awesome taping and editing!

So without further ado…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3aTq1s8H7o]

(When posted, you can find the rest here:  Part 2 and Part 3)

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RECIPE
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Meringue Shell

Ingredients:

• 4 egg whites, room temp.
• 3/4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat to 275 degrees F
2. Beat egg whites until frothy (using a standard mixer makes this much easier)
3. Add cream of tartar and beat eggs untill very stiff
4. Add sugar by the spoonful alternatingly slowly
5. Very slowly add vanilla by hand by pouring it down the side of the bowl and slowly folding it in
6. Pour into buttered spring form
7. Bake at 275 for 1 and 1/2 hours
8. Turn off oven, then open oven door slightly and let cool in oven over night
9. Flip cooled meringue over to expose the concave bottom, which can be filled

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Balsamic Strawberries

Ingredients:

• 1 pint of strawberries, sliced thin
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

Directions:

1. Pour balsamic vinegar into a medium saucepan and place over a low flame
2. Stir in sugar
3. Add strawberries and cook under low heat until berries are soft, about 5-10 minutes
4. Strain out extra juices (into bowl, so you can save it for delicious toppings!)

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Homemade Spiked Schlag (whipped cream)

Ingredients:

• 1 pint of heavy cream
• 1/4 cup sugar (or more to taste)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup flavored liquor of choice (such as amaretto)

Directions:

1. Pour heavy cream into a stand mixer bowl
2. Add sugar and vanilla extract
3. Turn on mixer and beat until stiff (about 10 minutes)
4. Fold in liquor
5. Serve immediately

Tags: balsamic strawberries, balsamic vinegar, Egg white, hard meringue, how to make whipped cream, how to peak egg whites, meringue, meringue cake, meringue shell, meringue torte, recipe, recipes, schlag, vlog