Aki's Kitchen - Recipes


Christmas Log ... continued		Desserts 1 2 3
	Decorating the Log With Meringue Mushrooms: This is where you use your imagination and anything goes. I like to place the mushrooms in a cascading fashion; start from where the log touches the board and them move upwards and over to the top (picture 1). Place the largest size caps over the joint and arrange mushroom accordingly. You may need to remove a whole mushroom, at times, to place caps, stems or smaller whole mushrooms, underneath it. Mushrooms look better if placed in odd numbered clusters: 3, 5 and 7 (picture 2). Variations: cut the caps lengthwise to create halves and stagger them one on top of each other as in a brick laying formation. You can also place a cap next to a stem; they don't need to be assembled (picture 3). The Final Touch: In a small bowl, sift the 1/4cup cocoa powder; you don't want any lumps at this point - you'll see why. Place about 1/2 teaspoon of the sifted cocoa powder into the sieve. Hold the sieve about 2 inches above a cluster of mushrooms and gently tap the sieve once, or twice, to give them a speckled look. Repeat speckling the other clusters in the same manner. When completed, tap sieve to dislodge any cocoa in the mesh. In another small bowl, sift 1/4 - 1/3 cup icing sugar; make sure there are no lumps. Place all of the sifted icing sugar into the sieve. Hold the sieve about 8 - 10 inches above the log and sift mainly over the chocolate cream to give the effect of a light snowfall; don't completely cover chocolate (bark). Gently sift a bit of icing sugar over the mushrooms to slightly cover them; don't over do it, because the sugar may cover up the chocolate speckles. Refrigerate roll loosely tented with foil paper, or store in a cake box loosely closed, allowing the mushrooms to remain crisp. Don't worry about the mushrooms becoming soggy, because they will still taste as good as when they were crisp. Enjoy making and eating this holiday favourite of mine.

1. Start placing mushrooms in the joint areas and then build upwards to the top.

2. Build clusters of mushrooms using various sizes, caps and stems alone.

3. The backside view of the log.
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*Looking Back at Everything You've Made!* This isn't a difficult dessert to make. The longest part is making the mushrooms, which take a few hours to bake. The rest is quick and easy.