So This is What Paris Tastes Like~ A Macaron Tutorial

My first encounter with a Parisian Macaron- (yes there is only one 'O' in the French kind!) was in Las Vegas about 2 summers ago.  Every morning on the way to my booth at the Las Vegas Gift Show, I would pass by the beautifully colored rows of cookies-confections-delectable little morsels from heaven, and every morning I would give into temptation and eat a few for breakfast with my decaf Americano.  Little did I know that finding another of the same deliciousness would be nearly impossible. And so begins the quest to re-find the perfect Vegas Style French Macaron...

Raspberry Almond, Honey Lemon Drop & Coconut Dark Chocolate Parisian Macarons~Photo Courtesy of Clare Colwin

To be honest, I haven't had much luck.  We have some pretty amazing bakeries in Geneva where I live, some melt-in-your-mouth-crave-their-goodies-fortnightly kind of bakeries. But in my opinion, they are all missing the mark on the Macaron.  At least the one's that I've tried.

Honey Lemon Drop Macarons-My personal favorite by far!

The Vegas Macaron had this crispy/chewy kind of magic thing going on with a sweet but not overly sugary candy type flavor.   It was like my taste buds could actually hear my teeth break through the perfect Macaron crust only to be pleasantly surprised by something between the texture of fresh pulled TAFFY & BUTTER on the inside.  Like an adult ride on a Tilt-a-Whirl, the taste made me feel like a kid again.  And not just any kid, but like one who grew up playing tag on the rues of Paris.  Talk about addictive-who wouldn't want to revisit that culinary revery again & again.  If the Macarons you've tried don't taste like this-keep searching.  You too may find that one perfect bite of a lifetime that makes you forget all others...

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And so, I decided to bake some.  I'd been wanting to try for two years now but it wasn't until my young friend Taylor asked me to bake them for her grad party that I got the gumption to actually try it.  It was an interesting journey to say the least!  I started with the Martha Stewart recipe and after two failed attempts, moved on.  Her ingredient list was typical, but her methods made no sense unless you've made them before.  (Sorry Martha!  After years of being my go to gal, you've been replaced!)   And so I landed here at Jenainthekitchen's blog.  Jena is a genius.  Her photos are perfect, she shows her mistakes, and she speaks in plain English.  Her recipe made all the difference and I see no reason to change it much.  I will tell you exactly what I did to flavor my Macarons after using Jena's base and give you tips on how NOT to fail as I did the first two times...

Raspberry Almond Macarons

TO FLAVOR (per each recipe!)

I used ALMOND FLOUR instead of the hazelnut that Jena calls for.  I believe almond is the more traditional Macaron nut but I am sure hazelnut is delicious too!  (Did you know these glorious little treats are Gluten Free?)

I added 1/2 tsp of Pure Almond extract and about 1/8tsp. of red gel paste food coloring for my Almond Raspberry.  I had intended on adding fresh raspberry puree but wasted it on the first two failed attempts! Lol.

For the Honey Lemon Drop I added the zest of two lemons and 1 drop of buttercup yellow gel paste food coloring.

For the Coconut Dark Chocolate I added 1/2 tsp coconut extract and about 3/4 cup organic, unsweetened shredded coconut.  PLEASE NOTE: The addition of the coconut caused the egg whites to FALL and the cookies to bake much more like an American Macaroon than a French Macaron.  They did not rise like they do in Paris, but although flatter, the shape was pretty much the same and the flavor delicious!  I would make these again even if they don't exactly qualify as French!

I topped the Raspberry with white nonpareils, the lemon with lemon zest, and the coconut with-well-coconut!  (Before baking!)

THE FILLING

I have searched for 'traditional or authentic' Macaron filling but have found that the fillings are all across the board and there is no 'right' way to fill a French Macaron.  I used Swiss Buttercream per Martha S. because I hadn't yet figured out that I shouldn't listen to her when it comes to the Macaron. Lol. Although yummy,  I do not believe it is the best answer for filling these babies.  Mine squished & oozed when bitten.  Not always a bad thing-just not what I was going for.  Next time I will use French Buttercream.  Seems obvious but I didn't even know it existed  until this morning!   Here's how I filled the one's pictured here...

Honey Lemon Drop Buttercream Filling

Raspberry Almond-I added about 2 Tbs. Raspberry Jam to a half recipe of Swiss Buttercream, then I spread about 1/2 tsp. of the jam on the cookie and topped each with a piped dollop of the flavored buttercream. Easy peasy.

Honey Lemon Drop-I added the zest of one lemon and about 2 Tbs. Orange Blossom Honey to a half recipe of buttercream-then piped a dollop onto the cookie. YUM.

Coconut Dark Chocolate-I heated 1/2c. Heavy Cream to a boil, then added half a bag of Ghiradelli chocolate chips and a pat of butter to make chocolate ganache.  Let it cool slightly, then spread onto cookie with a spoon before sandwiching together.  Viola!

NO FAIL TIPS

The coarser the nut flour, the less smooth the cookies.  It is NOT a must to have smooth cookies, they taste the same either way, it's just a personal preference of how you want them to look.  My food processor just happens to be broken, so- I blended my flour and powdered sugar in a bowl with a stick blender to make it a bit smoother-it worked just fine.

Weigh your ingredients.  The first two attempt were measured.  FAIL.  The last three were weighed.  SUCCESS.  Coincidence?  I am not willing to find out Lol.

When piping, I did not use a tip.  I  used a 16" pastry bag and just piped straight out of the end of the bag. It was super easy and they turned out perfect.  It helps to watch a video on technique first.  (Don't listen to Martha-she's crazy!)  You will get it in ten seconds after watching someone else do it-promise! If you get a little undesirable peak on the top while piping, just wet your fingertip and tap it down a bit and they will bake smooth.

Piping the Honey Lemon Drop filling

Let your cookies REST!  Again, listen to JENA.  She recommends letting the piped cookies rest on the baking sheet for 40 minutes.  That is how they get their perfectly crispy crust and form their fabulous little french 'feet' on the bottom-a characteristic must of the Macaron!  DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!

After 4 minutes, crack the oven door to finish baking-just like Jena says.  My first two attempts failed in part because the cookies browned before forming their feet on the bottom.  I believe baking with the oven door cracked, solved that issue.

Jena recommends baking for about 16 minutes total.  I was afraid that I wouldn't have that nice flat surface on the bottom and left some of mine in for up to 20 minutes to be sure and nothing bad happened! Lol.   Better safe than sorry in my book.  If you are unsure if yours are baked flat on the bottom, just try peeling back a corner of the parchment from one of the cookies, if it sticks and falls apart-leave it in until you can peel back to reveal the flat surface.  Keep in mind, it is easier to peel when cooled, but you should at least be able to peel back a tiny bit to see if they are done.

Finally-if yours are not perfect in your eyes-eat them anyway!  They all taste wonderful even if not traditional.  take my Coconut Dark Chocolate ones for instance...I almost threw them away but the thing that made them flawed, is what also made them delicious!  If I can do it, you can do it!  Oui, oui!

I would love to hear if this tutorial was helpful or if you have any more tips you'd like to add or if you have found the perfect Macaron while out & about!  Take a minute to leave a comment!
xo,
Sherri

Taylor & Raegan's Grad party Macarons.  Presentation is everything!

So was I able to re-create the carnival ride paradise like in Vegas?  Not quite.  But mine came closer than any other I've tried and that is a huge, culinary success in my book.  I'll take it.  And I will keep going back to the drawing board and posting my successes and failures right here. Thanks for tagging along.

Go Ahead, Make My Week

I don't believe that I've ever seen Magenta colored Peonies?  Perfect for my favorite Anthro Hummingbird Vase.

Who knew a bouquet of freshly cut Peonies from a thoughtful neighbor could mean so much?

The lovely plumes perched proudly in my favorite place in my most adored room of my house for almost a week without falter. 

Every morning I would wake to their bright & happy demeanor, every evening I said 'goodnight' by breathing in their glorious smell just one more time.  Both times I would think of my neighbors and wonder at what lovely people they must be, making a mental note to get to know them better.  I must do that.

The gift from my new friends' garden made my day, everyday, for almost a week.  Even more than that, it inspired me to want to make someone else's day.   Pay it forward so to speak. 

Sometimes all it takes is the smallest gesture.  Sometimes, somebody else's little gesture is all we need to get through a rough or lonely spot.  Go ahead, make someone's day.  You'll be glad you did.
xo,
Sherri

^{Mark 12:30-31}
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.”



Who will you bless today?  How will you bless them?

Little Old Ladies with Rhubarb:A Garage Sale Tale

There were over 100 garage sales in my neighborhood last weekend,  I found my happy place and spent  a mere $37 on new treasures by the time I got to #'s 3 & 4.

Table~$10, Greeting Card Display~$5

There's more to this tiered table than meets the eye...at the bargain price of only ten bucks, I managed to score a dessert display that will serve as a brightly colored focal point when propped atop another table at a grad party for two beautiful young girls in a couple of weeks.  It will be gorgeous and add just the right amount of vintage fun!

In the background is an iron greeting card display that is now serving as my inspiration to finish my line of cards that I've been dreaming and talking about forever!  Five bucks is a small price to pay for motivation ;)

From left to right: Garden Fresh Rhubarb~$FREE!, Vintage Cake Tin~$.50, Tart/Muffin Top Tin~$.25. Glass Cake Stand~$1

I found these treasures, while on my morning walk, at the sale that the neighborhood church was having as their version of a 'garage' sale.  Since I was supposed to be exercising, not shopping, I was cashless.  The sweetest old ladies boxed up my booty and set it aside with a post it note that I'd be back.   When I returned hours later I spotted a new addition to their sale...RHUBARB.   A woman explained that it came from Gladys' garden that very morning.  I was torn!  I only had $2 to pay for my original finds but longed for the pink & green veggie like the bumble bees long for summer after their winter slumber.

A wee bit savory, a lot tart, and oh so yummy when baked with sugar, cornstarch, butter and a just a touch of nutmeg.

The grey haired angel must've seen my internal struggle evidenced by the look on my face, because the next thing I know she was telling me to take some rhubarb home.  I was like a kid in a candy store.  I felt my whole face light up and wanted to hug her like a long lost grandma at the thought of it.
"I couldn't." I stammered.
"Go ahead." She insisted.
So I did.  And that rhubarb sang as Individual Tarts with Strawberry Orange Blossom Cream for our Mother's Day Brunch.  (I got to use my new twenty five cent tart pan too!)  I even made one with a gluten free Hazelnut crust for my mom. She said she was in heaven as the sweet-tart fruit took her back to her childhood at every bite.  (I meant to take pictures and write the recipe down as it all came together, but I get in a zone when I cook or bake and I almost always forget! Ugh!) If you would like the recipe, I think I can write it from memory and if I get enough requests, I will post it!

The cake tin housed my homemade Lemon Meringue Pie for the same brunch but I have yet to use my new cake stand.  Maybe it will serve as the crown jewel on top of the blue table at the grad party?

 I also scored a lovely, gold framed mirror.  At a vast 5 1/2 x 2 1/2 feet , it is just the thing I've been looking for to add drama and light in my master bedroom.  A steal at $20.

If it's been awhile since you've ventured out into yard sale land, remember, it's not all onesies and baby toys.  There are treasures to be had around every corner.  Tell me of your latest find with a comment, you know you want to! Lol.
xo,

P.S.  Dear Karen, my walking and now garage sale buddy, I know you wanted the cake tin too and I can't help but feel a little guilty that I snagged it without asking you!  You can borrow it anytime and I will be sure to fill it with something yummy and let it spend the weekend at your house someday soon.  I will also keep my eyes open for another and if I find one I will be sure to grab it for you!

On Moms, Mothering and Being the Wicked Stepmother

As Mother's Day approaches, I thought I would go back and re-read what I wrote last year at this time.  I had to smile.  Some things are exactly the same, others so beautifully different.  My eldest, now 21, calls me just to say she loves me always at the exact moment that I need to hear it.  Love that the Lord is using my October to encourage and bless me in ways I never dreamed possible. What a difference a year makes.  Read my word's from last year for yourself and see the miracle of prayer and God's faithfulness as we travel this road called Motherhood...

May 7, 2011
I spent the morning with about 40 women at a friend's wedding shower.  Some of us mom's, all of us daughters. The bride had lost her mom a long time ago, her sister and shower hostess is one of my closest friends.  As I observed the happy faces in the fun atmosphere of celebration, I couldn't help but wonder if it was enough.  Was there enough love in that room to ease the pain of those that don't get to celebrate with their mom tomorrow?  I hope so.  I'm glad I got to be a little part of that love.  And what of a bride who's mother is absent on her most anticipated day?  Who can ease her heart?  

As I ponder these things I think on my own daughters.  My eldest is 2o. She's beautiful & warm & funny.  At 20, I thought my mom was controlling and out of touch.  At 40 I know my mom is kind, loving, creative, compassionate and a lover & keeper of PEACE.
At 20-my daughter is me and it makes my heart hurt for me and for my mom.  Can't wait for the day that my first sees a bit more in me and embraces all the love I have for her in spite of my mommy screw-ups.

My middle daughter is 14.   She's creative & gorgeous & deep thinking.  At 14, my mom was still my hero-I even got my hair cut like hers!  My daughter at 14 would rather shave her head than hear that she looks anything like me.  And as far as friendship?   I adore each second with her and long for the day that she calls me 'friend' again.  For now, I have to put on my big girl pants and LOVE her sternly to save her life even when it's hate that stares back at me.

My youngest is 9. She's silly & playful & looks like a fairy.  She is my step-daughter and serves as a reflection proving that I am still in need of a Savior each and every day.  Somehow this innocent little 9 yr old beauty is able to bring out all the ugly in me by just sitting there doing nothing more than being 9 yrs old.  I guess that when I dreamed of getting married, I never thought I might have to compete for my hubby's love & affection.  In fact, I thought marriage was the end of competing with other girls.  Enter WICKED.  I'm not reaching for any poison apples or anything crazy, however, I do find myself sympathizing with Cinderella's step-mom and have to snap out of it.  "What's wrong with me-I'm Christian!"  I slap myself back into reality and buy her some Wonka candy to contradict the black in my heart.  If I could sew, I'd make her the most beautiful dress to align myself with the fairy godmother instead of the ugliest of step mothers.  I can't sew...so I pray and buy candy instead.

My ALWAYS painting was inspired by the sometimes rocky, always glorious road of mothering.

Who knew 'momming' would be so difficult?  So painful sometimes.  Who knew 'daughtering' could also be so difficult?  Love is always a little messy I guess.  But it's also SO worth it.  I wouldn't give up being mom to my girls for anything in the world.   I wouldn't trade my mom for all the moms in the world either.
xo,                                 

Did this post encourage you?  Make you laugh, cry or run to the phone to call your Mom? Lol.  I would really love to hear about it. Take a sec to leave a comment. You can also join the discussion at my Facebook community.  See you there :)

The Caterpillar's Quandary: A Life's Lesson

Look closely.  Life is not always as it seems.

What seemingly confines you today, might just be a means to grow your wings for tomorrow.

Cocoon.  Chrysalis.  Khrysos....Gold.

I was surprised to learn that the word we use to describe the morphing chamber of a caterpillar comes from the Greek word for GOLD.  

...And then it made perfect sense. The root is in the refining process that makes them beautiful.

Earthen metal, once defiled and tainted with impurities, emerges as perfected brilliance only after an extended stay in a fiery furnace.

Weighted creatures, once cursed to crawl underfoot of the rest of creation, burst skyward and beautiful after the confining and seemingly claustrophobic conditions of their own making.

Ahhh and there it is.  Whether we find ourselves in a heated struggle of someone else's doing, or the binding effects brought on by our own mistakes, the outcome can be beautiful.  I imagine it's up to us.

Let this time have its way with us.  Don't give up on life in the pain and the waiting.  Let life give us up to something even greater.  

Find our shine. Grow our wings.  Dawn anew.   E  M  E  R  G  E with our new found attitude.  One that not only says "I survived."  But one that bellows "I PREVAILED and I like this new me even better."  This me, this you-that sparkles anew and flies to heights that only yesterday were beyond our reach.
xo,
Sherri 

FLUTTERBY my very first painting for The Alphabet Line collection.

 

 Galatians 6:9

 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

He has made everything beautiful in its time. 

Romans 5:2-4

 And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

 2 Thessalonians 1:4
Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.