Have you ever made macarons?

They look easy enough to make right? Well it’s really not that easy, I can tell you that but when you successfully make some, you feel really great about your baking skills and you start shouting this to everyone, “I AM ZE MACARON MASTA!!!” or maybe that’s just me…

And yes, that was a french accent, and yes, I can make fun of french people because I am french!

Anyways!

Want a challenge?

Stop whatever you are doing and make macarons!

But before we make macarons, let’s talk fashion for a bit. You know (or maybe you don’t) that I went to fashion school a few years ago… and I still love making clothes, even though I never have time to do so…

So I decided to mix it up a bit and get my baking inspirations from fashion!

How am I going to do this you say?

WITH A LOOKBOOK! Oh yeahhhhhhh!!! So now, when you come read and get some recipes on my blog, you will also be getting some awesome fashion ideas! 2 for 1!!!

Food and Fashion(patterns, architecture and textures)! BINGO! How was I not born with this idea?!

Today! Macarons, Yellow and Polka dots!

On the right side of my Lookbook, you can see the  colors that I grabbed from my inspirations.

And with this Lookbook, I decided to make some yummy macarons!

Imagine me, all excited to make macaroons, feeling like a French Pastry Master… Well it didn’t work the first time. Well it kinda did but it made MINI… like extra MINI Macaroons! I am a little embarrassed but I really did tell everyone that I actually did it on purpose. Ahahaha! I mean, they were cute…Look!

Karl said, and I quote: Just put a chocolate chip beside them and say it’s a “Kiss” chocolate, that way people will think it’s actually a batch of normal sized macarons! I love how he always tries to find a solution!

Eheheh…

But I think the reason why they didn’t spread as much as they should have is that I had over beaten the egg whites.

So I tried making macarons for a second time the next day!

I won’t write all the steps down because I found this AMAZING step-by-step guide on how to make macarons online, on another fellow food blogger’s site and I just can’t beat this guide! Here is the link to get it! http://www.pastrypal.com/2011/01/master-the-french-macaron/

It’s free and it is AMAZING! It shows you the dos and don’ts and  it shows you what can go wrong and why it would!

Here are some pictures I took while making my second (and most successful yet) batch!

Make sure you use almond FLOUR!!! Almond meal is too grainy!!!

Make sure you sift your dry ingredients!

Actually, make sure you follow her steps TO THE LETTER, if not, it might not work! Macarons are extremely delicate, so be patient 🙂

I used gel coloring (doesn’t get your hands stained for 10 days). The color was called “Lemon Yellow”, how appropriate!

GENTLY fold your egg whites in your dry ingredients! Did I say GENTLY? It’s extremely important!

Also, beat your whites yourself, if not, you will over beat them and the macarons won’t get larger, just like my mini macarons did!

Pipe your mixture in a piping bag. Once again, very gently!

Pipe so they are about the width of a nickel or so.

You have to let them REST! It can take up to 1h30, maybe more if it’s humid in your house so be patient! Make sure it creates a layer on top, a thick enough one so it does not crack while baking. When they are ready to be baked, you should be able to touch them without it sticking to your finger.

Tadaaaaa! Cute as a button!

I know you’re wondering where the polka dots are!? Well….they are in the frosting! White frosting with little black vanilla beans here and there! You will find some delicious alternative to flavor your macarons in her guide! It is simply amazing!

Again, this is the link to go get the Guide! http://www.pastrypal.com/2011/01/master-the-french-macaron/

Enjoy!

Alex

xo

Lookbook items from:

– Scarf from Modcloth.com

– Purse from Johnlewis.com

– Polka Dot Fabric Pattern from babybedding.com

– Yellow Stairs from architizer.com

-Yellow Dress from asos.com