Introduction: Chocolate Meringue Strawberries

This is a dessert that my wife loves.  I make it for her birthday, Valentines Day, and anytime I mess up.  There are a few steps but very easy.  While this makes a layer cake I have modified this to make cupcakes and that worked great to.  The last step is how to make this into cupcakes.  I am submitting this to the Valentine's Day Challenge.  Please vote if you like this also please leave a comment if you make this. 

Warning- when my wife takes some of this into work her co-workers get very jealous and what her to bring them some.

Step 1: Ingredients

This is what you need:
Hardware:
Cookie sheet
Parchment paper
Pam
Mixer- hand or stand
Chocolate mixer - electric fondue pot or double boiler
Oven
Sauce brush - I use a silicone BBQ sauce brush

Ingredients:
14oz chocolate- I recommend Toblerone
2/3 cup Half and half
3 egg whites
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
8oz strawberries - more or less depending on taste

Step 2: Make the Meringue Base Layers

This recipe is based off of "Chocolate Meringue Cookies" http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chocolate-meringue-cookies/ 

-Preheat oven to 300 degrees
-Spray the cookie sheet with Pam and place parchment paper to cover cookie sheet- Pam helps parchment paper stick to sheet
-Mix sugar and coco powder
-Combine egg whites, cream of tartar, and vanilla.
-Beat until the whites form soft peaks.
-Then slowly add sugar mixture while continuing mixing until stiff peaks.  (I have only ever had it get to stiff peaks once, so get it close it still turn out just as good.
-Make three strips of meringue - see picture below
-Bake 25 to 30 minutes. 
-Let cool- it should look like the last picture

Step 3: Make the Chocolate

In whatever you decide on melting your chocolate in, add 2/3 cup half and half and your chocolate.
Slowly melt chocolate and try not to eat it
The half and half allows the chocolate to be liquid at a lower temperature and keeps the chocolate from becoming rock hard when it cools.

Step 4: Coat the Cooked Meringue

Lightly coat the cooked meringue with melted chocolate. 
I use a silicone BBQ brush. 
This prevents the cooked meringue from becoming soggy from the strawberry juices

Step 5: Add Stawberries and More Chocolate

-Cut up your strawberries
-Layer them on the coated cooked meringue
-Drench in chocolate and stack them

Step 6: Add More Chocolate

Once stacked add as much chocolate as you want see picture below

When ready to serve slice like a loaf of bread and enjoy.

Step 7: Cupcake Modification

So in step 2 instead of making three strips fill cupcake wrappers 1/2 way full - when cooking they will expand so leave room.
Cook for 25 minutes but keep an eye on them to make sure they don't burn if they cook quicker or take longer.
When cooked take them out and let cool.

-When I made these the centers fell when cooking, that is what we want.
-Melt chocolate the same as step three
-Cut the strawberries
-Place one strawberry in the fallen center of the cupcake
-Top the cupcakes with chocolate and place in refrigerator
- Once chocolate cools and firms up serve.