Brutti Ma Buoni Cookies (Ugly but Good)

These are so good. If you like meringues and Nutella and Ferrero Rocher, these are for you. (If you don't like those, you're nuts, but you won't like these.) These are Italian cookies that mean ugly but good, and oh man, they live up to the name, at least the latter half. Mmmm. I brought them into the office and they're a big success. Also, they don't have any butter or flour so are healthier than most other cookie options - but there is a lot of sugar, so not that healthy. This is perfect for if you make cinnamon rolls or ice cream or other egg yolk-heavy recipes and have some extra whites to use! I used the Smitten Kitchen recipe but made it a little bigger and cut back on the chocolate a little.

Makes About 40 cookies
Ingredients:
2 cups hazelnuts
1 1/2 cups sugar, divided
1/3 tsp salt
6 egg whites
8oz semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

Chocolate Meringue and Mint Chip Ice Cream Cake

I've been drooling over this recipe since last summer and finally pulled my act together this weekend to make it. Yum! I love ice cream cake, I love mint chocolate chip ice cream, I love meringues. It's a win, win, win. The meringues are light and fluffy and chocolatey and the whole combination is great. Also looks super impressive. I halved the original recipe because there were only three of us and made it round.

Ingredients:
5 1/4 tbsp sugar, divided
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 large egg whites
1 pint mint chocolate chip ice cream, softened

1/4 cup chilled whipping cream
powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla

Patisserie Claude

Any West Village resident has probably stopped in (or at least strolled by) Claude's on West 4th Street. This teeny, unassuming bakery has the flakiest pastries outside of Paris - and their meringues are incredible as well. This morning, I wanted to treat myself to a special breakfast. (After spending two days on Nantucket and indulging in amazing oysters, crab cakes, rabbit tagine, clam chowder, and chicken liver pâté at TOPPER'S and Brant Point Grill, I didn't eat much last night and was finally hungry again this morning.) I got a pain au chocolat (chocolate croissant). It's fabulous! I just finished it and I am now picking up the flakes of crumbs to eat. Their croissants are great too, but I was craving something sweet this morning. If you live in the West Village, or are in the neighborhood around breakfast time, definitely stop in for a latte and a pastry. Or pick up some meringues for a dinner party dessert!


Patisserie Claude
187 West 4th Street (between Barrow and Jones)
New York, NY 10014