Macarons in the Heat

It’s been way too hot here the past few days, so the idea of cooking really isn’t appealing to me at the moment.

However, during a nice breakfast in the kitchen, while Leila was toddling about with a cup in one hand and half a bagel in the other, Mike and I discussed his first experience with a macaron. He described it in religious tones, with amazement and disbelief.

“It melts in your mouth!”
“The edges are sandy!”
“I ate three in one sitting!”

At this point, my mental image involved colored meringue cookies the size of my palm. I wasn’t excited. I didn’t believe him. So I asked him -

“If they’re so great, how come I never got any?” *wink*!

Then the surprise!

Mike came home with a box from Le Panier, a French bakery in Pike Place Market. He told me over the phone that he got one of every flavor. My first impulse was to say, but how are we going to eat ALL those cookies? He knew better than me…

One of every kind!

I am a convert. They are fantastic. Perfect little desserts! Now I need to find the right recipe.

I immediately found the book I Love Macarons, but was disappointed to find out that most reviewers thought that the book was more eye candy than a basis for making tasty treats. They’re notoriously tricky to make, and the results really depend on finding the correct combination of technique and ingredients. There must be a reason why they can’t just be found in any bakery.

I’ll be looking out for some great recipes, if you have one please send it my way!