By Lisa Maliga,
Copyright 2016-2018
CHAPTER 1Introduction
A
funny thing happened when I baked my first batch of French macarons. They
didn’t turn out the way I hoped they would. So I decided to make another batch.
And another. And another. I wanted macarons with those ruffled edges known as feet.
I wanted them to be brightly colored and light as air, and without hollows. In
other words, I wanted a perfect batch of macarons. And I kept trying until I
got it right.
Making
a pound cake from scratch is the most advanced baking I’ve ever done. This
dessert contains the most basic ingredients found in your pantry and fridge:
eggs, butter, flour, sugar, vanilla extract and baking powder. As long as you
have a hand or stand mixer and measure your ingredients correctly, it’s not
difficult to bake.
Macarons
also require few ingredients: two types of sugar, egg whites, almond flour, and
color. That’s it as far as the cookies, a/k/a shells go. The fillings can be
diverse: jam or jelly, caramel, Nutella, butterscotch, lemon curd, etc. You can
make your own whether it’s buttercream, chocolate ganache, or a fruity homemade
jam.
I’d
never used a piping/pastry bag before. In fact, I thought they were only used
for decorating cakes and cupcakes. It took me two dozen tries to get the
perfect macaron with a smooth yet slightly rounded top, little frilly feet that
are the hallmark of this delicacy, and without hollow insides. The filling was scrumptious
too – lemon butter curd. What’s that? You’ll find out as I’ve included the
recipe.
After
discovering local bakeries and stores that sold macarons, I didn’t have to
settle for a limited selection of colors/flavors. I didn’t even have to drive
to the nearest store that sold them in their freezer section. Nope, I could
have fresh macarons whenever I wanted. Well, whenever I had a few hours to
spare…
I
took copious notes each time I baked a batch. I also took photos, though not
always of every step. Still, for the past eleven months, I’ve learned so much
and now want to share some tips and recipes with anyone who’s motivated to bake
these delicacies.
Baking French Macarons: A Beginner's Guide is FREE with your Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M8QIIWI
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01M8QIIWI
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01M8QIIWI
Paperback edition: https://www.amazon.com/Baking-French-Macarons-Beginners-Guide/dp/1539636593
Paperback edition [UK]: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Baking-French-Macarons-Beginners-Guide/dp/1539636593
Here's the book trailer...
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