I have had a huge interest in baking since college. My first real job, I would wake up early to make fresh bagels to bring to the office (fairly easy once you get a routine), and frequently hosted pageant parties where girlfriends would wear crowns while enjoying wine and dessert treats.
After many successes with established recipes, I must have felt my ego needed a check - I started to write my own. Years before I knew what a blog was, I created recipes. I still shudder when I think of all that was lost with a laptop death a few years ago - chills as I type that now.
Fast forward several years, adding a new challenge of baking vegan and gluten free. Friends and family subjected to enjoying flat loaf cakes with a smile, and a good stretch where all I made was variations of brownies "because I wanted the result to be dense and fudgy". Well, that part is still true.
French macarons were something I did not attempt as a vegetarian, when I could have easily used eggs. Nope, I had to wait until the challenge would be much greater. After a couple not so pretty fails, I summoned the willpowder to keep going.
With attempts at clever jokes came success! With this amazing product I created a cardamom macaron and filled it with dark chocolate ganache. Then I resumed breathing. Whew.
Before I share a recipe I will be making more batches. While these tasted amazing and had the similar textures to a classic macaron, I want to perfect their appearance while hopefully making them less delicate. I want to make other bright colors (for cardamom flavored I chose a pale green). I just want more excuses to make these and have that elation again! I was giddy all day. After I resumed breathing.
What was your last elated success, in cooking or otherwise?
Laura says
Wow! I've never had macarons, because I've never seen vegan macarons before. But I would LOVE to try one of these and I love baking... so I'm waiting for your recipe!
Kathy says
My last elated baking success had to be today. I was making some suppose-to-be vegan cookies and they came out nice, cakey-ish (my favorite kind), and round! Then again, I get happy whenever I can bake something that comes out right!
http://milk-and-tea.blogspot.com
spabettie says
congrats on the cookies! 😀 I just saw them - they look tasty!
Dan Brellis says
Please... share this recipe. Ever since visiting Paris (and unable to eat any) a few months ago, I've been so envious to make a vegan macaroon.
Barbara | Creative Culinary says
More suffering for a macaron. In all honesty, I have yet to have one that makes all the trials and tribulations worth it but this is pretty interesting since egg is just part of the essence of a macaron. How ever will you change that I wonder!
BTW...Skype is so easy. Install, send an invite to connect to a friend's user ID and either chat via text or via 'call.' I keep my camera off...people ALWAYS say...oh, your camera isn't working? Nope...I work from hope and enjoy the luxury of working sans makeup in sweats...not meant for primetime or Skype!
spabettie says
for me the macaron is a challenge - if I wasn't having fun I wouldn't do it! 🙂 and thank you for the skype info - sounds easy! you are SO good for my learning - still have the favicon on my to do list... 🙂
Brandy says
I made my first ever raw foods entree this weekend and it was the most amazing thing I've ever eaten - Raw Lasagna. And I can't wait to make it again!
And these look super yummy!
spabettie says
I have wanted to make a raw-sagna for a long time... congrats on a success!
Richa@HobbyandMore says
the macarons looks fab.. i am going to start pinging you every hour for the recipe soon :):)
spabettie says
😀
Stephanie @ extremebalance.net/blog says
goddess and heroine. That's all. 😀
(and my NORMAL macarons had me in fits of joy not long ago...)
spabettie says
*bows in curtsy* 😉 THANK YOU my friend. so you KNOW the fits of joy I mean!!
Dorry says
These are beautiful, Kris! Very impressive - and I loved reading this post because I could *hear* your excitement and passion about baking. You really are seriously talented! <3
spabettie says
thank you, Dorry! 😀 I have a list of flavors / colors I want to try, and there's one called The Dorry - lavender cookie with pale yellow buttercream! 🙂 if I ever have a bakery, you'll be a star attraction!
Dorry says
That's the coolest thing I've ever heard! <3 <3 <3 <3
Lauren @ www.cravingsgoneclean.com says
They're so pretty! Looking forward to seeing the recipe. I've always wanted to try making macaroons.
spabettie says
thank you, Lauren! they are pretty fun...
Stephanie, The Recipe Renovator says
Oh. My. God. I can't believe you made those vegan and gluten-free, but still need to "perfect" them. How much better could they look? Seriously? I was in Paris in June and yours are every bit as beautiful. You rock.
spabettie says
oh, wow, thank you, Stephanie! *blushes* I don't know if they stand up to PARIS, yet... 😉 but thank you! I'm excited!