Boccone Dolce (sweet Mouthful)

Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 6 egg whites, room temperature
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 6 ounces semisweet chocolate
• 3 tablespoons water
• 2 1/2 cups whipping cream, whipped
• 1 1/2 pints fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced lengthwise
• 6 -8 large strawberries (garnish)

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 250 degrees.
• 2 beat egg whites with salt until foamy.
• 3 add cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form.
• 4 gradually beat in sugar until meringue is stiff and glossy.
• 5 line baking sheet(s) with waxed paper and trace 3 circles 8 inches in diameter.
• 6 evenly spread or pipe meringue into circles.
• 7 bake 1 hour.
• 8 turn off heat and let meringues dry in oven for another hour.
• 9 remove from oven and carefully peel off waxed paper;let cool completely on wire racks.
• 10 melt chocolate with water in top of double boiler and stir until smooth.
• 11 spread over 2 meringue layers and let stand until set.
• 12 to assemble: place one meringue circle chocolate side up and spread with 1/2 inch layer of whipped cream.
• 13 cover with half of sliced berries.
• 14 repeat with second chocolate-covered layer.
• 15 top with plain meringue and frost entire cake with remaining whipped cream.
• 16 garnish with whole strawberries and refrigerate 24 hours.
• 17 seasonal fresh fruit such as raspberries, blueberries or sliced peaches may be substituted for the strawberries.