October 2009 Daring Bakers’ Challenge – Hello Kitty Remix

The 2009 October Daring Bakers’ challenge was brought to us by Ami S. She chose macarons from Claudia Fleming’s The Last Course: The Desserts of Gramercy Tavern as the challenge recipe.

I was really excited/worried about this month’s challenge as I’ve always wanted to try making macarons but knew of their reputation of being rather temperamental. I did so many steps wrong (no food processor and sieve so dry mix was lumpy, overfolded, difficult to pipe without the right tip, etc) and was fully convinced that it was going to be a disaster. But when I peered into the oven, I saw feet! I decided to make them into Hello Kittys again. I need more practice with piping it into different shapes and making them smoother, but not bad for a first try, I think!

I flavoured half of mine with honey chai latte powder and the other half with Horlicks. The chai ones I filled with spiced dark chocolate cream (ginger and cinammon). The Horlicks ones I left plain because I liked the malty flavour on its own. I think Ovaltine or Milo flavoured ones would be delicious. Like Ovaltinies!

I found macarons overwhelmingly sweet. Having never tasted them before, I somehow expected them to taste more like marshmallows. The sickly sugary sweetness was a surprise to me, though I’m not sure why given the ungodly amount of sugar in the recipe. Filling it with something sweet seems like such an overkill. I tried to make a second batch with less sugar and they failed spectacularly, so the sugar is obviously important. If anyone knows a way to make a less sweet version, do let me know!

September 2009 Daring Bakers’ Challenge – Hello Kitty Remix

The September 2009 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Steph of A Whisk and a Spoon. She chose the French treat, Vols-au-Vent based on the Puff Pastry recipe by Michel Richard from the cookbook Baking With Julia by Dorie Greenspan.

Personally, I’d much rather buy pre-made frozen puff pastry. This takes way too much time and work for something that is so readily and cheaply available. Hello Kittying them, however, was fun.

Hello carbohydrates!

I’ve signed up for the The Daring Bakers and Cooks Challenge (http://thedaringkitchen.com) with Rach so here is the blog in which I will talk about said things.