Chocolate Hazelnut Meringue Cookies

I do not know what it is with me.  I have been working out hard at the gym trying to keep myself in shape, but I just cannot seem to get my eating habits where they should be.  When I get hungry for a snack, I should just grab a fruit or a vegetable, but I don't.  What do I do?  I munch on cookies!!  I munch and munch and munch.  If you look at the recipes so far that I have posted, you will see a little trend...COOKIES!  I guess I just have a thing for them.  So as you have seen in my earlier posts, I have been trying to bake things that are a little healthier, well other than the canistrelli that I made last week.  So after I made the canistrelli, I had some hazelnuts left over, and one thing I never like to do is waste food.  If I use only part of an item, I usually try to make something else that calls for that ingredient so as not to waste anything.  I think I am getting old..scratch that...I know I am getting old because I have a very hard time throwing anything out.  I was over my  grandparent's house one day, and I went to get a glass of milk and noticed the milk had expired a week earlier.  When I told my grandfather the milk was not good, his response was, "it is fine!"  "I drank it this morning!"  Okay, maybe I am not that bad.  Anyway, I had the hazelnuts left over; so I decided to make this cookie.  Though, it is not exactly "healthy", it has very little fat, and it definitely quenches my cookie/chocolate craving. 


Now back to my grandfather.  We call him Puppy, and anyone who knows him knows that he is well...hmm...how should I put this?  Well, he is not exactly the most pleasant guy you would ever meet.  Do you remember the TV show All In The Family?  Archie Bunker?  I know I am dating myself again.  Well my grandfather is the Italian version of Archie Bunker, and my grandmother, Nonnie Rosie, she is Edith his wife.  Seriously, it is true.  I love my grandfather very much; though, he makes it challenging sometimes to do so.  He is about 4 feet 11 inches and probably the grouchiest guy you could ever meet, but he just loves these cookies which is amazing because he usually doesn't like anything.  So if he likes them, I think you will too.  Easy to make and grouch pleasing!

To make these cookies, place eggs, cream of tartar, salt, cocoa, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl, beat on medium-high, until soft peaks form.  Gradually add sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.  You can tell if stiff peaks have formed by pulling the mixing attachment out of the egg mixture, and the mixture will stand in a stiff peak without flopping over.  Keep beating until it gets to this point.

Not a great picture, but if you look closely, you can see that the mixture stands in a stiff peak and does not flop over.

Gently fold in chocolate chips and hazelnuts.

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a parchment or wax paper lined baking sheets and bake at 300 for about 25-30 minutes until the tops get very lightly golden brown.

 Chocolate Hazelnut Meringue Cookies
2 Egg whites
1/8 Teaspoon of cream of tartar
1/2 Teaspoon of salt
1/8 Teaspoon of vanilla
1 Teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa
3/4 Cup of sugar
3/4 Cup of Chocolate chips
3/4 Cup of hazelnuts, chopped

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Line baking sheets with parchment or wax paper.

In a large mixing bowl, beat together eggs, cream of tartar, salt, vanilla, and cocoa until soft peaks form.  Gradually add sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.  Gently fold in chocolate chips and hazelnuts.   Drop by teaspoonfuls onto lined baking sheets.  Bake for 25-30 minutes until tops are lightly golden brown.  Allow to cool for a few minutes on baking sheets.  Gently transfer to a wire rack.  Allow to cool completely.  Keep in a container that permits a little air to prevent them from getting too soft. 

***I also would like to tell you about a delicious burger I made last night.  Oh my goodness, it was so good.  It was featured by Velva at Tomatoes on the Vine.  If you want the recipe to make this incredibly tasty burger, click HERE.  Definitely check it out; she makes these burgers with the scrumptious buns featured by Cathy at Wives With Knives; for these click HERE.

I am so amazed at how many incredibly talented and creative bloggers I have come across.   They have introduced me to some unbelievably delicious recipes.  I have decided that when I try one, I will mention it in my post.  Next time I will take a picture.  I did not think of it this time.  So make sure you check the bottom of my posts for some of the yummy things I have tried.