French Macarons:: Part Un

1st Batch..EEK! 

 You may find this strange but I had NEVER tried a macaroon until this year! Oui! I always thought French macarons were pretty and tres chic. Too chic for me. I mean am still not sure if you spell it Macaroon or macaron? I just figured these french cookies couldn't live up to the hype and never tried one. Boy, was I wrong…Macarons are amazing! They aren't like any other baked good. I was hooked! 

I wanted to try making them at home. I figured I can bake French Madelines why not macarons? My first attempt was an epic fail! I did SO many things wrong. 

• I found the recipe and video online. I watched the video a few times on silence while reading the subtitles. I didn't realize the baker was Australian so the temperature of her oven was in celsius NOT fahrenheit. I thought 150 was a really low temperature to bake but who am I to judge? 
• I used wax paper and I should have used parchment paper. The wax paper started smoking (once I brought the oven's temp to 300).
• Almond flour is hard to find at the super market and it is hard to make without a food processor.  
• I think I over folded.

 Batch A I didn't slam the cookie sheet hard enough on the table before putting them in the oven. Batch B is looking better but I baked them at the wrong temp! They were raw on the inside and brunt on the bottom. None were edible. These macarons made me feel like such a failure! However it is good to be reminded no one is perfect. (It felt like I was making humble pie) I am not giving up I just need to study a little more. Forget the internet, I ordered some books from the library. I went to Costco and got more eggs so I can start practicing.

These are NOT mine…A girl can dream. 

Maple Oatmeal Cookies

 I got Jessica Seinfeld's new cookbook form the library. The Can't Cook Book is loaded with great recipes. It has lots of direction for people who are terrified of their kitchen...Think Carrie from Sex & the City. This cookbook has only a handful of baking recipes. One of the recipes is for Oatmeal, Maple & Raisin Cookies. I am a sucker for anything maple. 

These Maple Oatmeal cookies are super yummy! I didn't add raisins because that's how I roll. Both the Hubby & F.W. thought the cookies tasted like oatmeal snicker doodles. You couldn't taste the maple because the cinnamon is so overpowering.  

Pink Lemonade Cookies

 Today we went to a couple of stores to look at party supplies. While we were out F.W. came across Pillsbury Pink Lemonade Cookies. He has asked if we could buy these types of gimmicky cookie mixes before. Today I gave in as long as he made them. I did not buy the frosting the box recommended putting on top of the cookie. As you might imagine theses cookies are sweet! D didn't like them. He took 1 bite and said not for me. I think F.W. ate them because he made them.

Would I buy this cookie mix again? NO Yet it was nice to have F.W. bake something on his own.

Teacher Appreciation Luncheon

 First crack at Lemon Bars was ho hum. I used Paula Deen's Lemon Bar recipe. I didn't think they had enough lemon flavor so I added the zest of 1 lemon to the recipe. The 1st batch was under cooked and the second batch was over cooked. So lemon bars are not my specialty...yet. 

 Nice spread with my Lemon Madeleine

Today we had a teacher appreciation luncheon for all the wonderful teachers at our local school. It was a really nice party put together by the PTA. The lunch was held in the school's library. We hide the books by covering the shelves with paper. One of the Moms free hand painted a mural of flowers. It looked splendid. All the teachers got succulents potted in mason jars as door prizes.

Thank you teachers!!  

Hello March, Baking & Books

I baked New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies. They are delicious. You really can't eat just one! What makes these cookies different is you don't use all purpose flour instead you use bread and cake flour. Give them a whirl because they really are yummy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/dining/091crex.html?_r=0

My nails are ready for Spring. This mellow yellow is not my typical color...Not sure how long I'll keep them yellow.

 I am currently reading Lessons from Madame Chic By Jennifer L. Scott. Picked up this little nugget of wisdom from the library. We can all stand to be a little chicer.

We met the San Diego Chicken! Being a San Diego native this was a really big deal. As a kid I would see the Chicken at Padres games and he was always on the local news in the 80's. D was not thrilled about meeting the Chicken but both boys were good sports.

Christmas Cookies

 Christmas Eve was filled with lots of baking for Santa. I made Sugar cookies so the boys could decorate. I also made Chocolate Chip and Snickerdoodle. 

Inspiration at Starbucks

Emilie by Julep

When D had his Dinosaur themed birthday party I got this nail polish. I was trying to keep with the theme & thought it was a Velociraptor color. I really loved this color green. Then it dawned on me of course I love this color it is Starbucks Green! It really compliments my trenta Starbucks green iced tea.

Every time we go to Starbucks the boys want a pastry. D loves the Madeleines. F.W. loves the Petite Vanilla Scones. I like the Maple Oat Scone. Today I stopped by Starbucks enjoying my independence after dropping off the boys at school. I was tempted to buy some prepackaged pastries when I was inspired to make some Madeleine cookies at home. Now I just need the boys to get home before I am tempted to eat them all.

1 Stick of Butter Cookies

 Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Doesn't make a lot of dough.

A few weeks ago I REALLY wanted to bake. However I only had a stick of butter and I didn't want to go to the store. So I looked through my cookbooks & online for a cookie recipe that only needed 1 stick of butter. I don't remember if I found the recipe for these cookies in a book or on the web. However I am glad I wrote the recipe down. Everyone in the family loves them! I am planning on making them Labor Day weekend so the boys will have them in their lunch boxes for the 1st day of school. This makes about 24 chocolate chip cookies.

1 Stick of unsalted Butter
3/4 cups Brown Sugar
3/4 cup Sugar
2 large eggs at room temp.
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
2 1/4 All Purpose Flour
3/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 cup of Chocolate Chips

Sift together Flour and Baking Soda in a medium bowl and set aside. In a large bowl using a mixer Cream butter and Sugars together till creamy. Add the vanilla then stir in Eggs. With the mixer on add in Flour. Use a spoon to mix in Chocolate Chips. 

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. take the cookies out right when the cookies get brown on the edges.

Madeleine

2nd try turned out twice as nice

I found a lot of recipes online for Madeleines but it seemed no two were the same. The recipe I settled on is a very basic vanilla cookie from Williams-Sonoma Foods of the World, Paris By Marlena Spieler. The 1st batch I made I used whole wheat flour so the texture was kind of gritty and I burned them. The second batch I used All Purpose Flour and they turned out great! I think better than Starbuck's. I can't wait to try Maple Madeleine next!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

So proud to announce I (finally) made some killer Chocolate Chip Cookies. Now I need to give them away before I eat them all.

Need some chocolate in the New Year?

Chocolate Cookies

I tried a new cookie recipe for New Years. If you are in need of chocolate these are the cookies for you.

I got the recipe from Martha Stewart's Cookies. These cookies are chocolaty goodness. They are easy to make. I still have dough left over and I am going to crush some candy canes to roll the raw dough in before I bake them. You could make these for Valentine's Day by rolling the dough in pink or red sanding sugar.

Pre heat oven to 350

2 Cups flour

3/4 cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa powder

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

pinch of salt

1 1/4 cup butter (2 1/2 sticks)

2 Cups sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons Vanilla

Sanding Sugar for rolling (optional)

Sift together Flour,Baking Soda, pinch of salt and Cocoa powder in a medium bowl.

Beat Butter and Sugar on medium speed till light and fluffy about 2 minutes. Add Eggs and Vanilla till well combined. Reduce speed and mix in flour mixture. Form dough into flat disk and refrigerate dough for about an hour.

Preheat oven to 350 Roll dough into balls you can roll them in sanding sugar (I did not). Bake 10-12 minutes.

Rustic Maple Cookies

Pull from the oven right when the edges are golden
These cookies might not be much to look at but they are delicious and very easy to make.

Glazed Maple Cookies

From Everyday Food 2010

Bake 350

Bake for 12-15 minutes

3 cups All Purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt the original recipe calls for 1 teaspoon salt but I use 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1 cup Butter @ room temperature

1 cup sugar

1 cup 100% pure maple syrup

2 large egg yolks

In a medium bowl whisk flour and salt together and set aside. In a large bowl use mixer and beat butter and sugar together until it is light and fluffy. Beat in 1/2 cup maple and egg yolks. With mixer on low beat in flour mix. Drop batter on a baking sheet. Use your thumb to slightly flatten cookie in the center. Bake at 350 for 12-25 minutes. Pull the cookies from the oven right when the edges get golden brown. Let the cookies cool. If you want to do the glaze simmer 1/2 cup maple syrup till it reduces. spoon over cooled cookies.

BOCC

the other day i made some yummy cookies. i used a recipe from the cookbook the joy of cooking. i changed the recipe a little by adding butterscotch chips and chocolate chips. they were gobbled up before i could get any pictures. however here is the recipe if you want to try them at home.

butterscotch oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

preheat over to 350

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

2 pinches of salt

sift these dry ingredients together and set aside.

in a large bowl mix together 1cup softened butter

1/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

after that is creamed together stir in the dry ingredients €and 3 cups quick oats blend well now stir in 3/4 cup chocolate chips and 1/3 cup butterscotch.

bake for 12-14 min or until golden brown.

Maple Sugar Cookies

These cookies are a BIG hit in my house. They get eaten up before I can take a picture of them! Sugar cookies are expected but adding the maple turns the classic sugar cookie into a taste sensation.

1 stick unsalted butter at room temp
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
half of an egg yolk
1 1/2 cup flour
pinch of salt

Set oven @ 335 makes about 18 medium size cookies

Sift flour and salt set aside. Cream butter and sugars together till they are creamy. Add half an egg yolk and the maple syrup cream for a minute. Now mix in flour & salt. blend it all together. flatten out the dough on saran wrap (so its easier to roll out) put it in the fridge for 20 minutes or the freezer for 10 minutes. roll the dough out and use your favorite cookie cutters. You can decorate these cookies but I think they taste best plain. bake @ 335 for 8-9 minutes take them out of the oven right when the corners get golden. Now try not to eat them all yourself!