If you follow me on Facebook you'll know I've begun to dabble, with much vigor, with a new confection.
If you haven't been following along, let me share.
A couple years ago, while walking thru our local New Seasons, I made a purchase that left a lasting impression on my palate. Though I had just walked 6 miles and was probably hungry for anything, it was the small variety box of macarons, made by Mindy Simmons of Decadent Creations, that did me in.
If you haven't been following along, let me share.
A couple years ago, while walking thru our local New Seasons, I made a purchase that left a lasting impression on my palate. Though I had just walked 6 miles and was probably hungry for anything, it was the small variety box of macarons, made by Mindy Simmons of Decadent Creations, that did me in.
There were five in that box and I ate them all very quickly. No way was I going to share these with anyone.
That was it. That was how it all started.
Lucky for me, just a few days later I joined a friend at the Chocolate Fantasy at Jenkins Estate, which was pretty much just a fancy barn with booths featuring all kinds of sweets for you to sample and buy. I was in luck! My macaron gal, Mindy, was there.
That was it. That was how it all started.
Lucky for me, just a few days later I joined a friend at the Chocolate Fantasy at Jenkins Estate, which was pretty much just a fancy barn with booths featuring all kinds of sweets for you to sample and buy. I was in luck! My macaron gal, Mindy, was there.
Surprisingly, I did manage to get these home uneaten, but after this picture was taken, they were gone.
Since then, Aaron and Ben have taken on the arduous task of scouring the city to buy me macarons from different bakeries. What sweet boys. Would you believe that this is what they do for their father & son date...buy macarons for mom. Really? How lucky am I?!?
Most recently I was able to sample some macarons from Ken's Artisan Bakery, of which I've heard have some of the best macarons in Portland. I don't remember exactly what it was but I had a bright orange cookie with a vibrant red orange filling. It was kumquat and something else. I ate it in two bites and after I had swallowed that last bite, I realized I had eaten it so quickly I hadn't taken the time to fully enjoy it.
It's unfortunate.
These cookies are like nothing else I've ever baked. I've made 6 batches to date (though by the time I finally get around to publishing this post it will probably be more) and none of them have come out the same.
The first batch, honey lavender, came out ok. Since the first batch came out pretty good I thought, "really, how hard can this be?!" I loved the subtle flavor of the lavender with the mild sweetness of the honey. So far I think it is one of my favorites.
Since then, Aaron and Ben have taken on the arduous task of scouring the city to buy me macarons from different bakeries. What sweet boys. Would you believe that this is what they do for their father & son date...buy macarons for mom. Really? How lucky am I?!?
Most recently I was able to sample some macarons from Ken's Artisan Bakery, of which I've heard have some of the best macarons in Portland. I don't remember exactly what it was but I had a bright orange cookie with a vibrant red orange filling. It was kumquat and something else. I ate it in two bites and after I had swallowed that last bite, I realized I had eaten it so quickly I hadn't taken the time to fully enjoy it.
It's unfortunate.
These cookies are like nothing else I've ever baked. I've made 6 batches to date (though by the time I finally get around to publishing this post it will probably be more) and none of them have come out the same.
The first batch, honey lavender, came out ok. Since the first batch came out pretty good I thought, "really, how hard can this be?!" I loved the subtle flavor of the lavender with the mild sweetness of the honey. So far I think it is one of my favorites.
The second batch made me really sad. It was an earl grey cookie and I'd made lemon curd to use as the filling. I was super excited about the flavor but unfortunately the tops all cracked and they didn't have any feet. I really wanted these to work. They got tossed.
The third batch was somewhat a mess. These turned out much smoother and flatter and had nice feet but they spread, got brown on the tops and were underdone. I just threw those all away. Ok, not all of them. I did eat four. They still tasted great.
My fourth batch was raspberry. Like the honey lavender, they turned out pretty good. The problem with these was they they didn't flatten out on top. Really, thats not a big deal. So they were a half success.
My fifth attempt, blackberry basil, looked like they might finally be a winner. They were flat, had feet, were a great shape and size...but when they were done and had cooled, they made me think of whole crab shells you find on the beach. They were as fragile as bubbles and had a big air pocket which made the shell crack if it was in anyway jostled. Arg.
I made my 6th batch of macarons Saturday. I gave up creating a flavor as I was only thinking as far as hoping they'd turn out. The whole time I was working on them I really felt like this was going to be the batch that did it. You can see below what happened.
So I'm kind of obsessed with these things. Don't get me started on how crazy they make me and how finicky they are. But I think that is part of what makes them so alluring. Trying to figure them out and then make them successfully at least twice in a row...that is the challenge! Can you even imagine saying something like that about chocolate chip cookies?
My new friend, Lynelle, is also playing with macarons and we've been sharing experiences, tips, frustrations, websites, and YouTube videos, texting back and forth throughout the day and night. You'd think one of us is bound to figure it out sooner or later, right? Well if I can figure it out, and make them beautifully enough times in a row, I'd sure love to add them to my shop.
If not, maybe I'll just start selling what another friend called, "Weepies".
What's a Weepy, you ask?
Take a look at the picture above and think about how I felt another unsuccessful tray. They still taste great, I only wanted to cry when I look at them.
Let's just hope Weepies never make it to the menu.
Just know this. Even though I have experienced much defeat, it is not over. I am not done yet.
My new friend, Lynelle, is also playing with macarons and we've been sharing experiences, tips, frustrations, websites, and YouTube videos, texting back and forth throughout the day and night. You'd think one of us is bound to figure it out sooner or later, right? Well if I can figure it out, and make them beautifully enough times in a row, I'd sure love to add them to my shop.
If not, maybe I'll just start selling what another friend called, "Weepies".
What's a Weepy, you ask?
Take a look at the picture above and think about how I felt another unsuccessful tray. They still taste great, I only wanted to cry when I look at them.
Let's just hope Weepies never make it to the menu.
Just know this. Even though I have experienced much defeat, it is not over. I am not done yet.
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