VERY LOW CARB ~ Mini Peppermint Meringues

Ten of these light and tasty bites have less than 5
total calories and less than 1/4 a gram of carbs!

Ingredients:

2 large egg whites
1/4 cup Lakanto powdered Monkfruit sweetener (or sweetener of choice)
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract
red gel or paste food coloring
parchment paper
pastry bag
star tip

You can choose different food colors for a variety of holidays and sporting events:
red & white ~ Valentines Day & Christmas
green & white ~ Saint Patrick's Day
red, blue & white ~ 4th Of July 
yellow & black ~ Pittsburgh Steelers (My husband's favorite team.)  

Method:
Preheat oven to 240*. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together egg whites, sweetener and cream of tartar. Set the bowl over, but not in, a saucepan of simmering water. Cook, whisking constantly, until the sugar is dissolved and the whites are very warm to the touch. (Approximately 3 - 5 minutes.)
Remove from heat. Use an electric mixer, beat on low speed, gradually increasing the speed to high, until soft, glossy peaks form. (Approximately 5 - 7 minutes.) Beat in the peppermint extract.
Transfer 1 tablespoon of the meringue to a small bowl and tint with red coloring. Color another tablespoon of meringue with blue coloring. Use a paintbrush or wooden skewer and the tinted red meringue to paint 2 vertical lines in a pastry bag fitted with a 3/4 inch star tip.Repeat with the blue tinted meringue.
Carefully spoon the white meringue into the bag, while being careful not to smear the red and blue meringues.

Pipe 1 inch stars onto parchment lined baking sheets. Bake until the meringues are just set on the outside. (Approximately 20 - 30 minutes.) Slide the parchment with cooked meringues onto wire racks to cool completely. Use a spatula or knife to remove the cooled meringues from the parchment paper.

Makes approximately 80 mini meringues. Store in an airtight container.

Nutritional info for 10 meringues:
4.68 calories ~ .01 grams fat ~ .13 grams carbs ~ .9 grams protein