Italian Meringue

Whites of 5 eggs beaten to a stiff froth, 1 pound sugar, 1 teaspoonful vanilla extract, ¾ cup water; put sugar and water over the fire in a saucepan (one of agateware is best); stir until sugar is dissolved; next put saucepan over the fire and boil till the sugar begins to foam; then take some of the boiling sugar in a spoon and blow it; if it flows off the spoon in large bubbles it is ready to use; wipe the rim of saucepan clean with a damp cloth and remove the sugar from fire; let it cool for 2 minutes; then pour it slowly into the beaten whites, stirring constantly.