Marguerites

MARGUERITES

This is simply meringue spread on common saltine crackers, then baked. In a moderate oven "until delicately browned."

Beat whites of 2 eggs until very stiff.

Boil 1 ½ cups sugar
With ½ cup water until a thread forms.
Remove to back of range and add 5 marshmallows cut into small pieces.

Pour syrup mixture over egg whites

Add gently 2 tablespoons shredded coconut
¼ teaspoon vanilla
1 cup walnuts, broken or chopped

Mother made these when she was making meringue for some other purpose, and didn't always add the coconut or nuts. Miss Farmer specified English walnuts. As a child I would have asked what else, but when me moved here we found black walnuts growing like weeds, dropping nuts faster than the squirrels could cope, and one stately English walnut. If we happen to have a summer of California weather, we get fine walnuts. Most years it's too dry, or too cold, or too wet. The tree was already over a foot in diameter when we came 46 years ago. It has moved into the air space left by a nearby maple that blew down and is about two feet in diameter now.