Tuesday, October 27, 2009

French Macaroons - Daring Baker October 2009


Where did time go? I haven't had the chance to blink yet, and it's time for another daring baker's challenge.

First of all, you must forgive the lack of creativity in the photos, nor the quality the photos I might say. I'm in the midst of moving back to Jakarta, and I barely have a chair to sit on, let alone a table to shoot the macaroons. I had to do it on a piece of chopping board on the floor. My apartment is completely empty now. The boxes was picked up today to be shipped to Jakarta. I still can't believe that a tiny person can accumulate so much stuff. My cargo actually weighs a shocking 400 kgs!! These past weeks has been filled with packing, packing and more packing. It's not an easy job to pack 7 years of your life!!

The reality is starting to sink in now.. 15 more days to go.. No turning back!!

Even in the midst of my move, my bestfriend made a request for some of my baked goods. She consider this as her way to ask for a piece of me to stay here with her. She is planning to freeze some so she can enjoy my homemade baked goods, even if I can't be here to make it for her. Not easy ones I might add. She asked for hot cross buns, croissant and macaroons. That's why I was quite overjoyed when I found out that this month's challenge is french macaroons.

Before I start yapping about the macaroons, here is the mandatory lines that need to be said each month: The 2009 October Daring Bakers’ challenge was brought to us by Ami S. She chose macarons from Claudia Fleming’s The Last Course: The Desserts of Gramercy Tavern as the challenge recipe.



I made macaroons before, but this recipe is new for me. I was not in the mood of making dozens and dozens of macaroons. My goal is only make enough macaroons for my friend, I don't think I'm up for macaroons these coming days, and M is not the type of person to crave for them unless I put it in front of his eyes. So leaving some in the freezer is definitely not an option, nor carrying them all the way to Jakarta (don't think they travel well). So in the flavours, I have to take my friends taste buds into consideration. She doesn't really like rich desserts, she is more into fresh stuff, something fruity perhaps. So in welcoming Spring which finally has sprung here in Melbourne, I decided to showcase some of spring and tropical fruits like kiwi, watermelon and lychee. I still put in chocolate as it is always a safe option. However, I don't feel like making 6 (oh, I forgot to mention lavender & rose) different buttercream/ganache, so I decided to use cream cheese buttercream and just put the different pate de fruit in the middle. I planned to made the turkish delight for the centre of the rose macaroons, but was just to overwhelmed with everything, so decided to cross the road to Thomas Dux Grocer and pick up a pariya turkish delight. I wanted to colour the shells, but I think I was in a hurry when I did the macarooning after colouring the batch, the white shells are the only ones that work. So I got creative and use the white shells and paint different colours on them to indicate the flavours. It's pretty too =)

lychee

kiwi

rose with turkish delight centre

This would be the last daring baker's challenge I bake in Melbourne.. sob sob.. In the good side, I'm moving to a bigger house with more crockery and tableware to play with. However, an insufficient oven (believe it or not, my mom only have a small microwave oven!!) and the daunting humidity looms.

As always, thank you ladies for yet another fun challenge. Till next month =)

**PS: I'm sorry if I don't have time to comment on your macaroons, I don't have a computer anymore, let alone an internet connection. I'll try my best, but no promises. The only time I can be online is at M's house, and I can't be too long, as he needs the computer too.**

19 comments:

  1. GASP! Gorgeousness!!!! Your macarons are SO pretty!!!!!

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  2. they are pretty and look perfect

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  3. Hope the move goes well! Your macarons look amazing =D. I adore the idea of a turkish delight centre. I might have to make some of that for myself!

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  4. Lovely shells! Wonderful colors! Well done!

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  5. Wow, you really are DARING! Six flavours and every single one sounds delicious. Your macarons are simply perfect.

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  6. Beautiful colours and shells. Cheers from Audax in Australia.Well done.

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  7. love the turkish delight center. actually love them all.

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  8. I love the painted colors on your macarons!! BEAUTIFUL! Good luck with your move and I hope you get settled in your new home soon. :)

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  9. Oh wow! Your macarons are SO pretty gorgeouess shells...amazing fillings! great job!

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  10. These are gorgeous! I love the way you swiped paint across the tops.

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  11. I love the painted shells!! They're gorgeous. Can you tell me what you used, and how you did it? I tried to do that with coffee, but it was too runny...

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  12. Aaargghh you're moving BACK??? Oh dear.....All the best with the move, and truthfully I can't begin to imagine where I'd start packing if I hever had to move back. I mean, how am I going to take my oven (because even though my mom has an ancient gas oven she never uses, it doesn't hold a candle to my fan forced electric one here), stand mixer, ice cream maker and all the kitchen contraptions i've collected over the years?!!!

    But at least I'll get to see you when I go back to Jakarta. And you better develop a recipe to make all the yummy sweets last the crutal weather back home before then! Because I'll be expecting it, hehe!

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  13. Wow! Gorgeous and so elegant. I love the colors of your shells. Great job.

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  14. Oh my gosh! Such delicate macarons! I love them!

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  15. excellent brush strokes! so pretty! i wanted to make designs on mine--but realized oil paint brushes probably shouldn't be used on food :P i think i need to invest in a culinary paint brush. hehehe.

    i am so sorry to hear about your computer/internet problem! no computer and no internet is hell for a blogger! good luck!

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  16. Holy beautiful, Batman! Those are some seriously gorgeous macarons..and what a great idea to paint on the color instead of coloring the shells and getting food color all over the place like I did..LOL I also LOVE LOVE your unique flavors with the pate de fruits. Phenomenal all around!

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  17. Your macaroons are little desserts work of art! They're too beautiful to eat. Inspiring and nice photography. =)

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  18. Very pretty! I didn't get to this, but these are very good!

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