Calla Lilies

Calla Lilies

1 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
3 large egg whites
3/4 c. granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Filling:
1/2 c. heavy cream
2 Tbls. granulated sugar


1. Preheat oven to 400, lightly grease 2 baking sheets
2. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. In a large bowl, beat the egg white until stiff but not dry. Beat in the sugar and vanilla extract. Gradually fold in the dry ingredients. Beat for 2 min.
4. Drop the dough by spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets.
5. Bake for 8 to 10 min, until golden. While the cookies are still hot, roll each one into a cone shape and place seam side down on wire rack to cool.
6. To prepare filling, beat the cream and sugar together until it holds soft peaks. Just before serving, fill cones with whipped cream. For variations, add chopped fresh fruit to the filling.

** My baking notes. Dough making went smooth enough, but after I took the cookies sheets out of the oven and began rolling them, I quickly realized they had to still be HOT to roll or they were too brittle. I put both sheets back in the oven, turned down the heat to 250 and began doing it this way: Open oven, scoop one cookie off with spatula, toss into other hand with the oven mitt on it, toss down the spatula while closing the oven with my foot, and roll and blow on it while walking over to the wire rack. Had to blow on it to get it to stiffen up enough to not unroll the second I put it down and end up in the shape of a "U". Then quickly repeat the sequence for all of the cookies. That's why some of them are a little more "golden" than the others.

Emmy was sorely disappointed she didn't get to help out with this step because it had to be done while the cookies were so hot.

We filled them with a decorators sleeve and tip as soon as they were cooled, and tried them out. I was less than impressed. Emmy thought they were great! We had to run to the school to pick up Josh, so I placed them on a plate and stuck them in the fridge. When I came back they were nicely chilled and tasted much better, actually!

They're more work than the average "every day" cookie, but I think they'd be a great make-ahead recipe, frozen up for a special occasion and can be easily dressed up with fruit or sprigs of mint.

Overall, though, only 3 STARS.