Love

My  mother believed that God was love. She never parted from a friend or family member without a hug. One of Mom’s favorite holidays was Valentine’s Day, the time when it was easy to tell people “I love you” in any way possible. Growing up, we baked heart shaped cookies, made our own valentines and cooked special meals for Valentine’s Day

When our kids were growing up and desserts were for special occasions only, Valentine’s Day merited one of those extra fancy desserts that my mother created. A merengue heart with a scoop of chocolate, cherry or vanilla ice cream on it, topped with a drizzle of hot fudge sauce was just one of the ways she said “I love you” to her family.

Merengue Hearts

Preheat oven to 300 degrees

2 egg whites

¼ teaspoon cream of tartar

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup powdered sugar

Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff. Slowly add the sugars and continue beating until peaks form.

Put a layer of wax paper on your cookie sheet and spoon the merengue onto the wax paper, in the shape of 4 inch hearts. Make a depression in the center of each heart to hold the ice cream. Bake at 300 degrees for 10 – 12 minutes, until the merengues are  just beginning to brown.Remove carefully from the wax paper. These are best the day they are made.

Hot Fudge Sauce

2 oz. unsweetened chocolate

1 Tablespoon butter

1/3 cup boiling water

1 cup sugar

2 Tablespoons corn syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla

Melt chocolate in a double boiler. Add butter and melt. Blend in boiling water. Add sugar and cornstarch. Bring to a boil over direct heat. Do not stir. Boil for five minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. If you boil for eight minutes instead of five, the sauce will harden on your ice cream (also in the fridge, reheat in a microwave).

Serve to someone you love.