random thoughts on giving thanks

What am I thankful for this year?  Hmmm let me count the ways.

Thank you for my family... for friends... for a wonderful life... thank you for the laughter and smiles.  Thank you also for the faith... for the hope...  and yes LOVE!

Thank you for the music (sounds like an ABBA song haha!)  that makes me dance... for movies and sitcoms... for facebook and twitter for keeping us in touch...

Thank you for the tears... for the challenges... even for death and how it brought our families together and stronger than ever before.

Thank you for another year's worth of fun through food blogging  and thank you for holidays, because it gives us the reason to indulge on blissful desserts... like this sweet indulgence of having a slice of brazo de mercedes and enjoying it bite by bite...

And finally, thank you for allowing me to share the recipe with you. Happy Thanksgiving!

Ready to take a bite?  haha!

Brazo de Mercedes
Brazo de Mercedes is actually a rolled meringue with custard filling. When you bite into it, it's fluffy and sweet... It takes you to another level when you get to taste the custard filling... so velvety that melts in your mouth...

For the meringue:

10 egg whites

1 1/4 c of sugar

1 tbsp of vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cream of tartar

1/2 c of confectioner's sugar fordsting

For the filling 

1 c condensed milk

1 c evaporated milk

8 egg yolks

lemon zest (you could op to add the rind as well)

Procedure:

For the meringue

Preheat oven  to 400 degrees.  Beat the egg whites and the tartar together  until stiff.  Add the sugar gradually and the vanilla extract.  Do not overbeat   Spread the egg mixture on a large baking tray lined with parchment paper.  Bake until brown.

For the filling:

Mix all the ingredients and simmer it on a double broiler  Continue stirring until the mixture is reduced to a  thick and creamy mixture. Add the lemon zest and continue stirring.  

Spread the filling on the sheet of meringue and roll them together.  Bring it back to the oven and until the surface is slightly brown.  Sprinkle a generous amount of confectioners sugar.  Enjoy!