Monday, March 15, 2010

MacTweets Spring Fling and Lessons Learned with Bonnie


You know, the macaron is the new cupcake. I keep hearing and reading it and so if it takes me 24 batches of macaroons to figure out how to get everything right I'm going to stay at it. Really.

Last week I made three batches--two bad and one GREAT. Oh, success is so sweet. I was invited to Bonnie's kitchen of City Home/Country Home to make mac's with her and was smart enough to say YES. Not only did we enjoy each other's company, but I also learned a few things that I missed in the first wonderful mac cooking day spent with macaron experts Barbara of Barbara Bakes and Tiff of Food Finery.

This is what I learned in Bonnie's kitchen:
  • Use meringue powder, 1/2 teaspoon for every egg white
  • Scrape down your bowl several times while you are whipping the whites and sugar
  • DO NOT over whip the whites, something I have a problem with, but whip until stiff peaks form and you can turn bowl upside down (see picture)
  • Add almond flour/sugar mixture in three sections, scraping down the bowl after additions
  • When all the flour is mixed in, deflate mixture until a small dollop of batter flattens on a saucer (see picture)
  • Use a cookie sheet that has an "air pocket"
  • pipe macaroon's, decorate and let rest until a skin forms (in our altitude and on that particular day it took 30 minutes)
  • After baking, let cool completely before taking off the pan
Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Bonnie made delicious tangy lemon shells filled a perfect not too sweet Italian buttercream. My shells were made with homemade vanilla sugar (via Bonnie's pantry) and filled with Bonnie's Italian Buttercream with a spread of my lemon curd. Both were dyed yellow, but tasted so completely different. It was perfect. The very essence of spring!


Thanks Bonnie for the tutorial in your lovely kitchen. Check Bonnie's blog for her story of our kitchen escapade. For much inspiration and eye candy visit the blogroll of MacTweets for the Spring Fling MacAttack 5 .

27 comments:

  1. Hip Hip Hooray! Three cheers for Bonnie and Cristie! Barbara and I are at it today so... wish us luck! Yours both look fantastic! xo

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  2. Baking with a friend is always more fun than baking alone. I wish I had your photograpy skills. Thanks for trading and sharing photos. I learn something each time I talk with you. Lets do this again soon!

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  3. Cristie! Those are perfect!!! Look delicious :)

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  4. Look at those tall macs with perfect feet! Definitely looks like spring!

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  5. I continue to be so impressed with your mac abilities! Each batch looks better than the last.

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  6. Beautiful effort! Yours have the puffy look I had wished for. I'll be saving Bonnie's and your tips!

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  7. That is most definitely a perfect looking mac!

    These are beautiful and the mac advice is great! I would really, really love to bake these with you-I always learn so much in your kitchen!

    It is easy to see how these were snatched up so quickly, they look/sound absolutely divine!

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  8. sorry to have taken so many for myself, but really, mom, these were the REAL DEAL!!!

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  9. You are a diligent student and I give you an A+ in macarons!!! :)
    How fun to bake with other bloggers! Lucky:)

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  10. Oh they are PRETTY PRETTY PRETTY! I love the way you ladies are baking together, and learning from each other. Thanks for the analysis... maybe one day mine shall be as nice as yours! Love the flavours!!
    Thanks for joining us at Mactweets!

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  11. Really pretty! You are so lucky to have fellow food bloggers and mac makers nearby to bake with and learn together. Both your post and Bonnie's are brilliant with information - I have learned so much and next batch am taking your advice!

    Gorgeous, perfect little macs, really pretty and they sound so delicious! Thanks for another Mac Post!

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  12. They are beautiful! I really want to try them one day... 24 times to get them right, eh?..

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  13. The macs really are gorgeous! You guys are mastering these cookies. I need to come bake with you soon:)

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  14. You are so dedicated and they look perfect. Have fun making more! I'm happy to be your official taste tester, just send me the word.

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  15. Some great tips, and some fabulous macs! I am going to try out a few of your suggestions daaaaaaaahling.
    *kisses* HH

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  16. My friend, you almost make me brave enough to try these. Almost lol. I can't believe how stunning your's look.

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  17. Those macarons are gorgeous! They look so perfect!
    Cheers

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  18. They look great! They are still on my list to make:) I hope to get to them soon.

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  19. Well done! They look brilliant! (I had about 15 failed batches in December/January)

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  20. If you'd like the Irish soda bread recipe just let me know, the only reason I didn't post it was I ran out of time and was tired, but had full intention on sharing :)

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  21. That must've been so fun! I've seen these types of little guys around and think they are so cute!

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  22. These macarons are awesome! It's wonderful to be able to bake with a friend - must have been fun! :)

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  23. Thank you for the gracious comments on my macs! Your blog is beautiful and your macs are amazing!! I wish I had one right now - lemon anything is my absolute favorite!

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  24. Just so pretty and I love the light yellow color too!

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  25. Where did you get that silpat with the template printed on it?

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  26. Good question about the silpat and the template! It is a regular silpat with a paper template slid under. I have taped a "handle" made from another piece of paper on my template so that I can easily pull the paper out after the mac's have been piped.

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