Mocha Macaron Madness

The first time you do something is usually the time it doesn't always turn out the best. I have experienced this many times in the kitchen. My personality gets really frustrated when things don't turn out right the first time, but I have to push myself to keep going. Today I attempted the French beauty: the macaron. I found this cookbook by Michael Paul called Sweet Paris that I just love. Definitely a good place to start for me given that I have never made any kind of French dessert before. The actual recipe isn't hard, a few steps and not that many ingredients; but just like all French recipes its the technique that needs to be mastered. After making these I realized the taste is there, but the presentation maybe not so much. 

Looking at a picture in the book of these things and then looking at the ones I made made me a little sad, but it was the first time! If you ever attempt French macarons, pipe more of the mixture onto the baking sheet than you think should be. I made them too small and they ended up a little thin coming out of the oven. Find a recipe and try them! I made mocha macarons (of course with me there had to be coffee). 

I Love Paris

I sit here writing this and I dream. I dream about walking the streets of Paris taking it all in. Watching those crazy drivers and mopeds go by, hearing the European sirens, and smelling the cigarette smoke and fresh bread around the corner. This is what I dream about. There's something magical about it all for me. I can't quite put my finger on what exactly it is, but I can tell you one thing: I love Paris. 

I've been to Paris once (once is enough to fall in love). I think one of the most magical experiences I had was one evening after dinner. I went to a café for a late night cappuccino that had an amazing view of the Eiffel Tower. As it started to get dark, the tower started to illuminate. To me it wasn't a touristy event; it was an event that any Parisian could experience on any given day. I was sitting outside enjoying my favorite beverage and gazing at some of the most beautiful city lights I have ever seen. How could things get any better? It's the small moments that get me. Yes, I went up the tower on the trip, but for some reason even that couldn't measure up to the moment at the café. That is what Paris is to me. Not the places all the tourists go, but the moments that make Paris your own. 

Follow me this summer as I journey through cookbooks and memories of my favorite city in the world.