A MACARON OBSESSION COINED

Obsession is defined as the domination of one's thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image or desire…..

I love baking it. I love seeing others eating it. I love seeing it in all different colours. I love the endless possibilities of flavours. I love it smooth, brush stroked, topped or sprinkled. I love it in a row, stacked, boxed or ribboned.

Hazelnut Macarons filled with Irish Baileys Cream Milk Chocolate Ganache

I love biting through its slightly crisp exterior and then into the moist and airy interior until I reach the smooth chocolate or buttercream centre. I love it regular or petite. I love it plain with almond or mixed with hazelnut. I love it flat on a plate or high in a tower. 

To be boxed & ribboned:
Hazelnut Macarons filled with Irish Baileys Cream Milk Chocolate Ganache

I love it for important business clients or as a show of appreciation for valuable employees. I love it for birthdays, baby showers, Hen’s Parties or on Valentine’s Day and Christmas. I love it as part of a wedding celebration for desserts or just to say “Thank-You”.

French Macaron Wedding Favours

Say "Thank-You" with Macarons

I LOVVVVVVVVVVVE A SWEET PETITE TREAT FOR ANY & EVERY OCCASION!

...I didn’t know what it is until when one day I received a very special gift. A beautifully created mock magazine cover titled:

“Tricky Made Easy Julieann Magazine (Issue 1 Winter 2010)

the Sugar packed edition”

feature story

“A Macaroon Obsession”.

A Very Special Gift

Oooh...so that’s what it is.

Tell me Dear Readers what sweet petite treat are you obsessed with?

THE AGE OLD QUESTION - MACAR“O”NS OR MACAR“OO”NS?

For those of you like myself who have recently entered the world of macarons lets get this question over and done with.

From Wikipedia:

 MACARON - “Not to be confused with Macaroon: A macaron is a sweet confectionery. Its name is derived from an Italian word "maccarone" or "maccherone"…derived from ammaccare, meaning crush or beat, used here in reference to the almond paste which is the principal ingredient. It is meringue-based: made from a mixture of egg whites, almond flour, and both granulated and confectionery sugar.The confectionery is characterized by its smooth, domed top, ruffled circumference, and flat base. Connoisseurs prize a delicate, egg shell-like crust that yields to a moist and airy interior. The French macaron differs from macaroons in that it is filled with cream or butter like a sandwich cookie, and can be found in a wider variety of flavors that range from the traditional (raspberry, chocolate) to the exotic (truffle, matcha tea).”

Zesty Lemon Macaron: Lemon zest infused macaron with lemon cream filling

MACAROON -“Not to be confused with Macaron: The word macaroon is applied to a variety of light, baked confections, described as either small cakes or meringue-like cookies depending on their consistency. The original macaroon was a "small sweet cake consisting largely of ground almonds" similar to Italian or Moroccan amaretti.The English word macaroon and French macaron come from the Italian maccarone or maccherone…derived from ammaccare, meaning crush or beat, used here in reference to the almond paste which is the principal ingredient. Most recipes call for egg whites (usually whipped to stiff peaks), with ground or powdered nuts, generally almond or coconut. Almost all call for sugar. Macaroons are commonly baked on edible rice paper placed on a baking tray.”

Macaroon Closeup

 From the People:

“Are we allowed to vent here? It's such a silly thing, but I find it so irksome to see people constantly confusing the coconut macaroon with the French-style macaron. I ask for recommendations on a yummy macaron and I get pointed to bakeries with great cookies "like a huge haystack dipped in chocolate…"

“Ooooh. You hit a nerve. I had a total argument with a well-traveled, well-educated, French-speaking US friend about this very topic. I kept talking about the wonderful macarons I had in Paris and she kept insisting that there was no such thing, only macaroons -- the coconut kind. I just couldn't get it through her head that they were two different things and that the French ones are soooo much better...”

“...people interchange the name A LOT and they are not the same thing...”

“My theory is that macaron is hard to pronounce, so people just say macaroon, and that's where we get into trouble...”

 From Me:

The Language - macarOOn is the English word for and pronunciation of the French word macarOn (thus the frequent interchange of the two words).

The Product - Overtime the words macarOn & macarOOn have evolved into two distinct branding for two very different types of baked goods (why they no longer mean the same thing).

The Devastation - when macarOns become macarOOns (see it with your own eyes).

 (On the left) French Macarons & (on the right) Coconut Macaroons

My Verdict:

Both are maca-RIGHTS.

Until I heard the comment “Macaroons are easy to bake”.....

I just couldn’t help myself but ask “Do you mean macar"OO"ns or macar"O"ns”?

Tell me Dear Readers what’s your verdict?

MY DATE WITH THE MACARON GOD

I couldn’t postpone the date any longer as the birthday party was tomorrow .

Filled with excitement I was to meet with the macaron god for the very first time. After hours of research I should be aware of the god’s likes “...aged eggs...” & dislikes “...overmixing, undermixing, hot ovens...”, the god’s language “...magma...”, idiosyncrasies “...French or Italian...”& fetish “...feet...”. I was ready for this date.

The first hour of our meeting went smoothly.

We talked about our likes & I was trying very hard not to do what was disliked, discovered within the same language there are numerous dialects, my preference for Italian than the French & our common obsession with feet.

The second half of our date however was much more eventful.

Like being on a roller coaster ride I was reaching the top and with great anticipation was about to come down. We were reaching the climatic 5, 6, 7 minute mark when I disappointedly fell silent as I came to the realization that I had no feet experiences to share. Our date was coming to an end.

As the macaron god slowly walked away I was undecided as to whether or not to give this date a second chance. Finally the thought of me showing up to the party empty handed drove me to chase after the macaron god & with a light tap on the shoulder I asked “Time for dessert?”. And as they say the rest is history.

Can you spot the almost empty plate of macarons?  
Pink macarons with 2 different types of fillings: strawberry white chocolate ganache & peanut butter dark chocolate ganache

Tell me Dear Readers when did you nearly not tap someone on the shoulders to make history?

THE BEGINNING: "I'M LATE, I'M LATE FOR A VERY IMPORTANT DATE!"

Like the White Rabbit I seem to be always running. Hopefully one day running to a destination where I can unleash the right side of my brain and with my hands create a product that others equally love and enjoy.

Twice I was running too fast and missed the “Dead End” signs. The first was beading, creating pretty sterling silver jewelry with sparkling crystals and elegant pearls until I found on many occasions I was missing a certain type of bead or link to allow completion of a piece of jewelry that I was fully happy with.

A sterling silver cluster bracelet I created with peach swarovski crystal beads, freshwater pearls and diamonty rondelles

The second was creating baby clothing bouquets. I had so much fun making these and daydreamed how I could have a market stall selling these creations until the cost of operation didn’t seem viable so the bouquets are now in storage and become gifts to others for their new bundle of joy.

A collage of my baby clothing bouquets

My favourite bouquet

Where am I running to now?

It started with my nephew’s 3rd birthday party. For me his mother was the baker and I was always the candlestick maker, so his birthday cake was taken care of.

Mr Petite and I wanted to contribute by providing other sweets to the party and as the birthday boy loved his fruits, Mr Petite made “Fruit salad.. yummy yummy..” with nearly all fruits imaginable so patiently cut to small bite size pieces for the kids and I was left to bring whatever sweet treat I wanted. 

And that's how I entered the world of MACARONS. It was love at first sight so pretty and petite, in so many colors and flavours. After hours of research I finally decided to bake my first batch of macarons.

My name is Julieann and I'm late...for a very important date...a date with the macaron god.

Tell me Dear Readers where are you running to and what date are you late for?