Monthly Macarons (January)

Heya, long time no blog. Sorry guys it feels like ages since I last blogged, no excuse just a busy time at work.

Macarons No. 1

So my new project for 2013 is my mission to master the Macaron. I have tried it twice before with varied success. The first ones I made were plain with a chocolate ganache, they looked and tasted good the only problem was that I did not make the almond meal fine enough (see above).

Then me an my sister tried wir hands at chocolate macarons, these also had a good consistency but when we put them in the oven they developed a load of air bubbles.

Macarons No. 2

 

If you haven't realised yet I am a bit of a perfectionist so I am really annoyed by my recent attempt, they tasted fab but they looked like I'd thrown them out wir second floor window. So I am now on a mission to perfect the macaron, I will try making them each month until I make the most 'awesomest' macarons ever. As I have tried these in Paris and LOVED them and want to take a little of that Parisian luxury to my flat in Orkney.

Macarons No. 3

Any advice would be greatly received xxx

£1 Blackberries

Served warm over frozen yoghurt ... mmmmmm!

 

When at the shop I noticed a bargain but had so many other things going on in the kitchen they got ignored ...

So quick to make - 30 mins max

So I found this recipe for Blackberry & Brandy Sauce on allrecipes.com and thought it must be fate considering I had leftover brandy from the stroganoff.

I'm thinking Sunday pancakes

Really easy - you have got to try it ...let me know how you get on!

Waste Not Want Not

 

After a trip to Paris I was mesmerised by the Boulangeries and there colourful window displays. So I tried to make macaroons, although I am a perfectionist and won't blog properly until I'm happy with them ... Here is a peek though (above).

 

Long story short I then had 4 egg yolks left over, so I racked my brain as to something yummy that uses yolks and I came up with curd. I've made lemon and lime curd several times and thought hmmmm what to do. Blackberries wir on special offer so problem solved.

The recipe came from pinterest (linked to Good Food website) but it is a Raspberry recipe, I just swapped it for blackberries and it turned out no too bad.

I did have to put a desert spoon of cornflour in at the end though as it was struggling to set, I think this might be the very juicy blackberries.

 

Happy with the outcome though ...Very good on toast, if I do say so myself!!!