Chocolate Meringue Kisses

• 1  cup  confectioners sugar
• 3 egg white, stiffly beaten
• 1/2  cup  crushed saltine crackers
• 1/2  cup  walnuts or pecans, chopped
• 1  teaspoon  vanilla extract
• 1 6-ounce package semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Using a large bowl, fold the confectioners sugar a little at a time into the stiffly beaten egg whites. Add the crackers, nuts, and vanilla, and fold in gently. Melt the chocolate over a double boiler and allow to cool slightly. Fold the melted chocolate into the egg white mixture. Using a greased cookie sheet, drop the mixture by rounded half teaspoonfuls. Place in the oven and bake for 12 minutes. Remove cookies from oven and repeat until batter has been used up.

Yield: 4 dozen
Preparation time: 25 minutes
Cooking time: 12 minutes
Ease of preparation: easy

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen