Candy canes are starting to hit store shelves, but it's a bit too early in the season (or a bit too close to the excesses of Thanksgiving) to start mainlining sugar right and left. If you still want to get your pepperminty fix, try using the candy canes in this recipe for Peppermint Meringues. Meringues are basically egg whites and a little sugar, which makes them a great low-calorie, fat-free snack. Candy cane pieces (or any hard mint candy) are the not-so-secret ingredient in these refreshingly minty treats, and they're a great solution the next time you get the urge to binge on holiday sweets.
Announcing the About.com Holiday Cookie Exchange!
Every year around holiday time, the About.com food guides get together and exchange our favorite holiday cookie recipes. For the next several weeks we'll be including these recipe links in our blog posts, to spread the holiday cheer and introduce our readers to some new recipes.
First up is Barbara Rolek, our Guide to Eastern European food, who has two delicious and unusual cookies to share.
Kolaczki exist in most Eastern European cuisines and are spelled variously as kolaci, kolache, kolacky, kolachky, among others. Fillings run the gamut of apricot to raspberry to prune to cheese, and some truly untraditional flavors like pineapple are sneaking into the mix. This recipe starts with a flaky cream cheese dough.
Czech Bar Cookies or cukrovi are a delightful blend of nuts, almond paste and strawberry filling. Best of all, they're easy to make and keep well.
Peppermint Meringues Photo ©2007 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.
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