How to NOT fail in making macaroons :)

Macaroons. A fear of many. But... you shouldn't be scared!! It's really quite simple =)!!! Just follow this recipe.. and if I can do it.. so can you!!! Even those that have failed at it many times before.. have followed this recipe and succeeded ^^ and its adapted from MASTERCHEF!! =p

Ingredients: (basic macaroon)

225g pure icing sugar
130g almond meal
3 egg whites
60g caster sugar

note: you can add other flavourings, essences, colourings as you wish *be creative* ^^

Filling:

Chocolate ganache - cooking chocolate and cream

Raspberry cream - whipped cream, frozen/fresh berries and sugar

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 120oC

2. Sift icing sugar and almond meal into one bowl then sift the mixture into another bowl and again into the original bowl. (Recipe says 3 times but I've done it 9-10 times ^^ the more times the better!!)

3. Whisk 3 egg whites with electric beater until doubled in size. While beating, slowly add caster sugar and whisk until firm peaks formed. (you can add essence or food colouring at this stage)

4. Fold almon meal mixture into egg white mixture until smooth and glossy. (be careful to mix with CARE.. be GENTLE ^^.. coz this is a CRITICAL part!!!!)

5. Place mixture into piping bag and pipe 4 -5cm diameter circles onto lined baking tray. (HAHHAH BAKING TRAY XD!! haha sorry =p lammeee)

Leave to rest for 20 minutes until macaroons form a skin (Also very crucial!!!)

6. Bake for 20 minutes or until macaroons can be lifted from the tray. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Tip: use a knife to take macaroons off the tray

Chocolate ganache: Melt chocolate in a double boiler and add cream (i'm not too sure about amounts.. you can guestimate =p)

Raspberry cream: Heat berries in a pot with a little caster sugar until they are just broken down. Whip cream with a little sugar. When berries are cooled then add to the cream.

and... CONSTRUCT YOUR MACAROON =D =D =D



Raspberry cream 17-01-11 (maybe we should have baked it longer xP)

 

Chocolate ganache - 25/07/10



ok so these didn't taste AS good as the bought ones..will try and improve the recipe =) but good enough!

PRICE: $2 each =) hehe

Brissy Baking day!

What more could you want than baking with friends? =)

Decided to have a Baking day!! except.. we failed a lot xP
First on the menu:
1) KONYAKKU JELLY (yes i know its not baking.. but still cooking). Just follow the instructions on the packet.

Me and Katie with our heart jelly :)

  

*Tip: make sure the water has come up to the boil before you put the powdered acid in xP

2) CREPES

• 1 cup plain flour, sifted
• 1/4 cup caster sugar
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• Milk, enough for a smooth batter

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Add a lil oil/butter in a pan and make the crepe!~~ Serving suggestion: ICECREAM! =D

for AUSTRALIA DAY ^^

3) CHOCOLATE CHIP BISCUIT TUILLE

aka. failed choc chip biscuits



This became....



THIS!

 *Tip: add more flour or else the biscuits will join together to form a slice XP

HOWEVER u can save it by curling the joined biscuits around a rolling pin to form a tuille ^^

4) SPINACH and RICOTTA TRIANGLES
(i'm not TOO sure about the ingredients coz i didn't make it.. =p)

• 1 cup of spinach, chopped
• 2 rashes of bacon
• 1 medium brown onion, diced
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• Filo pastry

Fry onion, spinach and bacon in pan till spinach wilted and onion and bacon browned. (if spinach is frozen kinda.. try and squeeze out all the water). Take pan off heat and fold in ricotta cheese. Lay sheets of filo pastry on board, spread melted butter on each sheet and layer another sheet on top. Cut pastry in half lengthways, place filling in and fold like a triangle. Brush with egg wash and bake at 180oC for 10-15min or till golden brown.

5) BAKLAVA (Terie's recipe)

• Filo pastry
• Mixed nuts (e.g. walnuts), crushed
• Sugar

Spread melted butter on each layer of filo pastry, top with crushed nuts and sugar and layer more filo pastry (HAHHA terie tell me if i'm saying this wrongly xD). Bake at 180oC till golden brown!!

6) MACAROONS!
I will write a separate blog on this =P hehe.. but lets just say it was a success :D

Special thanks to the Chai's for letting us invade their kitchen and ingredients. And to all those who were there =) =) DK, Tez (Daniel XD HAHHAHHA), Kelvin, Katie, Law and Em!!
Had an awesome baking day even tho we FAIL =P