Decorating with Crochet Easter Eggs #Crafts #Easter

Although spring really hasn't come here to the UP, I decided I needed to get some  colour into our house.  So I have started to do some of my decorating for Easter...

Candy Cane Meringue Kisses

I have never made meringue before... 

But I saw these somewhere on Facebook with candy cane kisses

 and thought they looked wonderful, I am not sure where I found them
so if you posted it let me know so that I can give you credit.

The first batch I made I used the candy cane kisses and tinted the meringue with red food colouring.

The second batch, I used chocolate kisses and mixed in candy cane crumbs in the meringue.

Both smell heavenly.

Candy Cane Meringue Kisses

recipe adapted from Angel Kisses: King Arthur Flour 

2 egg whites

1/4 tsp cream of tarter

dash of salt

1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp sugar

Hershey kisses - I used candy cane kisses and chocolate kisses

1-2 drops of red food colouring

crushed peppermints

red coloured sugar or sprinkles

Preheat oven 200 degrees F

In large bowl, mix egg whites, cream of tarter, and salt.  Beat until egg mixture until it forms peaks, add sugar slowly and continue to beat until stiff and glossy.  Add food colouring if you like.

Line cookie sheet with parchment paper and place a candy cane kiss on the paper about 2 inches apart.  Using pastry bag and star tip, pipe meringue around candy cane kiss.  Bake in 200 degree oven for 1 1/2 hours.

Turn off oven.  You can now add coloured sugar or sprinkles at this time.  Return the meringue back to oven and leave in until completely cooled - at least 3 or more hours or even over night.   I was able to make 21 -24 meringue kisses.

For the meringues that I made with the chocolate kisses, I crushed about 1/8 cup of candy cane and mixed into the meringue before piping it around the kisses.  I did not put food colouring in the meringue or use sprinkles with these.  Some of the pieces of candy canes were bigger then the others.

Meringue with 2 drops of red food colouring,
ready to be piped around kisses

meringue piped around candy cane kisses

meringue piped around chocolate kisses

Both types of meringue kisses, to show how they are piped
around the  Hershey kisses

Enjoy

Links: Tasty Thursdays, Thursday Treasures, Wednesday Extravaganza 

Related articles

• On Your Menu: Meringue Snowmen and Snowballs (wtvr.com)
• Candy Cane Fudge Truffles (marlys-thisandthat.blogspot.com)

Santa's elves Gingerbread house and Bloggers Unite for Sandy Hook

After the terrible tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School,

many bloggers got together to show their support

 to the families of the victims and the community of Newtown.

Today, December 21st, bloggers are going to unite and bring cookies or a craft.

To find more information about this please go to Your and Mine ARE ours and  Crazy for Crafts.

I found this on Tammy's blog ~ Yours and Mine ARE Ours

As I was trying to think of something to make or do to show my support

My thoughts went to making a Gingerbread House.

I loved making Gingerbread Houses with my nieces and nephews over the years,

and I wondered if any of these children that lost their lives had ever made one or 

if they were going to be making one this Christmas.

I haven't made a gingerbread house for many years but this year

My gingerbread house is going to be a tribute to all the children and adults that lost their lives

in the senseless tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14th.

This will not bring them back but it is my way of showing support to the families and the loved ones of 

these fallen victims.

May God give you the strength and comfort you through these trials.

After cutting out and baking my elves gingerbread house,

 I decided to decorate the pieces before putting them together.

the roof

the walls, front and door

 After decorating the roof and the walls, it was time to start putting it together

Once the walls together, I knew that I need a bit of support before I put the roof on.

a straw made a good beam

a picture from the side... not the best picture

a close up of the final project from the front..

I will be posting the recipe for the dough that I used for the gingerbread house hopefully this weekend.

I used the leftovers to make cookies..

Here is where I found my pattern.

Linked to  Daily Dish Gingerbread competition, Elizabeth's Kitchen Bloghop 

related articles

Gingerbread House Competition at the Daily Dish (marlys-thisandthat.blogspot.com)

The Presidents Remarks On Sandy Hook Elementary School Tragedy (theobamacrat.com)

Cookies and Crafts for Sandy Hook {#BloggersforSandyHook} (doctoratehousewife.com)