Mint Meringue Kisses

These cute and festive Meringue Kisses willbe sure to please you and your guests this Christmas!  We just made them today, because my Mom had seen this post a couple weeks ago.  So we made a couple of adjustments and came up with these!  Yum!  :)


Mint Meringue Kisses:
6 tsp. Meringue Powder
1/2 c. plus 1 T. Water

1/4 t. Mint Extract
1/4 t. Cream of Tartar
Pinch of salt
3/4 c. Sugar
Red/Green Food coloring, optional
Paint brush/piping bag/mixer
Wax/Parchment Paper

In a mixer whip together meringues powder, water, cream of tartar and salt until soft peaks form.  Then add sugar and continue to beat on high until stiff peaks form.  Fold in mint flavoring carefully.  Paint stripes alternating green and red in piping bag if desired.  Then scoop meringue "dough" into piping bag.  Dot onto baking sheet and set in 225 degree oven to dry for about 90 minutes.  (See this post for more detail and tut.) 

Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshakes (like Chick-fil-A's)

I have this confession...that I have an absolute obsession with the Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshakes at Chick-fil-A.  And the bad part is that they are seasonal....  So I tried making them at home, and viola, they turned out just as fantastic!  :)  Cheaper, and somewhat more available!  :)

 All you need is some of this...  (which is unfortunately limited edition...so I may have to go buy a few hundred more....;)  And some milk and chocolate chips!  You'll also need a blender or an immersion blender.  (I love and use both of mine a lot, but I actually think the immersion blender did a much better job with this than my regular one...)

The best part about doing this yourself is that you can make it as thick (or as thin, if that's the way you roll) as you want it!  Just add less or more milk.  I used about two scoops of ice cream, 10 chocolate chips (pounded with a meat mallet inside a ziploc) and a dash of milk to make mine nice and thick.  If you'd like yours a little more immediately drink-through-a-straw-able you'll want to add some more milk.  I'm kind of a weirdo who loves to eat shakes with a spoon...because I like them that thick and yummy!  :)  Anyway, make it how you want it, and you can garnish with some extra candy canes to be super festive!!  Enjoy!!  :)

Yummy!  I think I'm going to go make some more tonight....