even, 1/2 to 3/4 inch coverage of the shape is important. then, armed only again only with my trusty spoon, i make a well in the middle of the shape and build the edges of the shape up a bit. of course, i do not make a hole in the middle of the heart, just a heart shaped well that will be of vital importance later on in this recipe. it is not beyond me to add a little extra meringue around the edges to get the desired effect.

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