Strawberry Sweetheart Macarons Filled with Dark Chocolate Ganache—For Valentine’s Day!

Do you still celebrate Valentine’s Day?  I hope you do because I have a special treat for you this year.  These Strawberry Sweetheart Macarons filled with Dark Chocolate Ganache will definitely put a smile on your face, and your Valentine’s.   




My hubby and I still celebrate Valentine’s Day.  But instead of having to fight with the crowds with restaurant reservations, troubles with the L.A.’s traffics and look for a babysitter, we both enjoy celebrating right at home (yeah, that’s a sign of getting OLD!  hahahaha….).  Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy having a date night with my hubby every once in a while on special occasions, but just not on Valentine’s day when almost everyone is dining out!   




The day when I made these Strawberry Macarons, my Baby Girl was so excited and kept requesting to have more of these “heart shaped cookies”, which is how she referred to them.  When my Son got home from school, he did the same.  After he had a couple, he requested that I pack some up for him so that he can enjoy them at school the next day during snack time!  He is so spoiled!  (At least, I bet that’s what the teacher would think when she sees these Macarons in a 4 year old’s lunch bag! hahaha…) I put aside a few Macarons for my hubby’s cousin, who is visiting from Hong Kong; I packed two Macarons for my boy’s lunch bag.  And don’t know how it happened, the whole batch was gone the very next day!  There were 30+ macarons in a batch!  Oh well, I guess I’ll have to make another batch to enjoy on Valentine’s Day then.  




If you don’t feel comfortable in making your own Macarons, please refer to this post here with Tips on How to Make Perfect French Macarons.  Before I made my very first batch, I was very nervous and waited for a looong time before I got the courage to try my hands on them.  After a few trials, I’ve learned a few tips and tricks (as shared in the “How-To” post) and I’m more comfortable with them now.  I hope you’ll give them a try because they are so worth it. 




I've tasted quite a few Macarons from different places, mostly priced from $1.75 to $2.00 each.  Some tasted great, while some were not up to par.  For example, I've tried a Lychee Macaron that tasted more like a bar of soap!  Yike!  I would bet that there wasn't any real Lychee in that thing at all!  The “issue” was the use of artificial flavoring.  If you use quality ingredients and real fruit, you can really taste the difference.  I’m okay with using artificial flavoring.  But only for minor enhancements, and not as the primary source of flavor.  Since Macarons don’t like moisture, it’s much better to use freeze dried fruits in the batter for the Macarons shells.  With the broad availability on freeze dried fruit, making fruity Macaron shells with real fruit is a breeze.  My local Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and Target all carry the freeze dried fruits.  Otherwise, you can always get them online here these days.   
 



I simply filled these Strawberry Sweetheart Macarons with some Dark Chocolate Ganache.  Simple and elegant.  The tartness from the strawberries really balanced well with the sweetness of these cookies (the tartness is something that the artificial flavoring cannot provide).  Strawberry and chocolate is such a classic combination, you can’t go wrong with that.  I used some Valrhona 70% Dark Chocolate to make the Ganache.  It’s rich, smooth and complex.  hm….each bite is heavenly!



I want to wish you all a beautiful, romantic and sweet Valentine’s Day!   So, what are your plans on Valentine’s day?  I would love to hear from you.




Strawberry Sweetheart Macarons with Dark Chocolate Ganache
(Printable Recipe)
Makes: 30 to 35 filled macarons



For the macaron shells:
90 grams egg whites (about 3) preferably aged 3-5 days in the fridge
pinch of kosher salt
30 grams granulated sugar
185 grams powdered sugar
110 grams almonds
10 grams freeze dried strawberries
A pinch of powdered red food coloring (optional)

Prepare the macarons:
In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the egg whites and salt on high, gradually add the sugar until stiff peak forms. Place the almonds, powdered sugar, strawberries and food coloring (if using) in a food processor and pulse until the nuts are finely ground. Add them to the meringue.

Fold the mixtures carefully until you obtain a batter that falls back on itself after counting to 10. The entire process should not take more than 50 strokes. Test a small amount on a plate; if the tops flatten on its own, the batter is ready. If there is a small beak, give the batter a couple more turns.

Fill a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip with the batter and pipe batter in heart shapes (1 inch to 1.5 inches in diameter) onto parchment paper or silicone mats lined baking sheets. Preheat the oven to 280F. Let the macarons sit out at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour to harden their shells a bit and bake for 20 to 22 minutes, depending on their size. Rotate baking pans once half way through baking.

For the Dark Chocolate Ganache:
4 oz dark chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules
Place chocolate and instant coffee in a heat proofed bowl.  In a small sauce pan, heat the heavy cream until simmer.  Pour hot cream into the bowl of chocolate mixture and stir until smooth and shinny.  Let cool slightly before use.

To Assemble:
With a small teaspoon, fill 1 macaron shell with a teaspoon of cooled chocolate ganache and top with another shell.  Fill the rest of the macaron shells.  Place filled macarons in room temperature until chocolate ganache harden.


This recipe is shared with:

Pink Saturday
Sweets for Saturday
Everyday Sister Sharing Sunday
Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Theme Baker Sunday
Mingle Monday
I'm Loving' It
These Chicks Cooked
Foodie Friday
Friday Food
Kitchen Fun and Craft Friday
Friday Favorite

A Quick and Healthy Amuse Bouche—Baked Stuffed Green Olives

An amuse bouche is a single, bite-sized hors d’œuvre.  Amuse-bouches are different from appetizers in that they are not ordered from a menu, but, when served, are done so according to the chef's selection alone.  The term is French, literally translated to "mouth amuser".  These Baked Stuffed Green Olives certainly are mouth amusers! 



My Baby Girl adores olives... any kind of olives.  Whenever I open the door of the refrigerator or kitchen pantry, she always spots a can or a jar of olives and asks for some.  Of course, I’m more than happy to serve her some and enjoy a few with her together.    They are such a healthy and tasty snacks.



These Baked Stuffed Green Olives are super simple to prepare and take this healthy treat to a whole new level!  To continue with the healthy trends, I bake them in the oven instead of frying.  With the panko coating, they are super crunchy and you can’t tell that they are baked and not fried!  Let them slightly cool down before biting into one.  You can feel the burst of the juicy and salty olive along with its wonderful aroma.  Then comes the gooey melted cheese in the center.  I truly enjoy the different texture in each layers of these stuffed olives.  They are the perfect small bites before a meal, or, you can serve them as appetizers on the game days and gatherings.   



I’m submitting this recipe to this month’s Kitchen-PLAY progressive party sponsored by Lindsay Olives.  Come check it out and join in for the fun.  Here’s the link for the contest rules. 








Baked Stuffed Green Olives (Printable Recipe)


1 can (6 ounces) Lindsay Green Ripe Oives, drained
2 ounces Brie
1/4 cup flour
1 egg
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil, for drizzle

Preheat oven to 475 degree F.  Line a baking sheet with foil or silpat, set aside.

In a small shallow dish, slightly whisk the egg. Set aside.  Place the panko breadcrumbs in another shallow dish, set aside.

Stuffing a small piece of cheese into each olive.  Dust the stuffed olives with flour.  Roll them around to make sure they are all covered.  Shake off excess flour and dip them into the whisked egg.  Then, coat them in the panko breadcrumbs.  Place them on the prepared baking sheet 1/2-inch apart.

Drizzle the olive oil on top of the stuffed olives and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown.  Thread them on cocktail skewers or place them on a small plate to serve.  Wait until they are slightly cool down before serving.


I'm sharing this recipe with:

Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Mingle Monday

Palmiers 2 ways—Italian Savory Palmiers & Vanilla Sugar Palmiers

Palmiers are one of my all time favorite cookies.  Some people call them elephant ears, palm leaves, or French Hearts.  Back in Hong Kong, we called them butterfly cookies.  And these butterflies always fly their way straight into my tummy.  No matter what you call them, they are definitely decadent treats.




You can find sweet palmiers at many bakeries or even packaged ones from supermarkets in the cookies isle.  However, if you’ve never tasted a fresh palmier from the oven, I highly recommend you to make some.  Not only they are easy to make, they are WAY better than the packaged ones from the grocery.  The ingredients are super simple as well.  There are only 3 ingredients for the sweet palmiers.  Thanks for the convenience of store bought puff pastry, all you need are vanilla sugar and salt to make this treat.  They are elegant for parties, and simple to make on any afternoon if you want a quick pick me up treat. 

Click here for the post to read about how to make your own vanilla sugar at home.  Otherwise, they are just one click away if you prefer to order them online.




Onto the Italian Savory Palmier.  These are definitely wonderful appetizers and perfect for any parties or gatherings.  You can fill the dough ahead of time and keep it chilled in the refrigerator.  Then, simply cut out individual cookies and bake them right before your party.  They are unique and packed with tons of flavors.  Crispy and buttery puff pastry, filled with the classic Italian flare of pesto, sundried tomatoes and parmesan cheese.  The pine nuts add a crunchy texture and wonderful nutty flavor. Since a package of puff pastry comes with two sheets, you can (and should) definitely try both recipes out.  

Thank you for stopping by today, I hope you’ll enjoy today’s recipes. 







P.S.:  I think these cookies are in perfect shapes for Valentine's Day too!





Italian Savory Palmiers (Printable Recipe)
Makes: 28 cookies

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, defrosted
2 tablespoons pesto
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
2 tablespoons finely chopped sundried tomatoes in oil, drained
2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

On a lightly flour surface, unfold one sheet of puff pastry. Roll it with a lightly floured rolling pin until it's 9 by 11-inches. Spread the sheet of puff pastry with the pesto, and then sprinkle with the cheese, sundried tomatoes, and the pine nuts. Sprinkle with teaspoon salt.

Working from the short ends, fold each end halfway to the center. Then fold each side again towards the center until the folded edges almost touches each other. Gently fold one side over the other and press lightly. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at 1 hour.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Cut the chilled puff pastry in 1/4 inch thick slices; place them cut side up and 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on a wiring rack.
 
 

Vanilla Sugar Palmiers (Printable Recipe)
Makes: 24-26 cookies

1/2 cup vanilla sugar
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 sheet puff pastry
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Combine the sugar and kosher salt. Evenly sprinkle 1/4 cup of the sugar/salt mixture on a clean working surface. Unfold a puff pastry onto the sugar and sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of the sugar mixture on top, spreading it evenly on the puff pastry. With a rolling pin, roll the dough until it's 13 by 13-inches square and the sugar is pressed into the puff pastry on top and bottom.

Fold the sides of the square towards the center so they go halfway to the middle. Fold them again so the two folds meet exactly at the middle of the dough. Then fold 1 half over the other half, like closing a book.
Slice the dough into 3/8-inch slices and place the slices, cut side up, on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

Bake for around 6 minutes, or until the bottom is caramelized and brown; then turn with a spatula and bake another 3 to 5 minutes, until both sides are caramelized. Cool on a wiring rack.

Note:  You probably will have some sugar left on the board after rolling the puff pastry and that's okay.


This post is linked up with:

I'm Lovin' It

Mendiant with Fleur de Sel

A mendiant is a traditional French confection composed of a chocolate disk studded with nuts and dried fruits representing the four mendicant or monastic orders of the Dominicans, Augustinians, Franciscans and Carmelites.  Well, or it simply means indulgence to me! 



If you need a simple last minute dessert to complete your Holiday Meal with a sweet ending, this is it! This is a quick and easy treat to make and unbelievably decadent.  I used roasted pistachios, dried cranberries, roasted almond, and candied orange peels as toppings.  You can simply use any dried fruit and nuts you prefer.  I love these toppings because they add so much vibrant Holiday colors to the mendiants.  The different textures and flavor just complement each other really well. 



This time, I used some Scharffen Berger 70% Cocoa bittersweet chocolate as the base.  If this is not pure indulgence, I don’t know what is.  Use a sharp serrated knife for chopping to make your life much easier in the process.  I chopped about one pound of chocolate (minus whatever amount that mysteriously disappeared) and started the tempering process.    



If you want to learn how to temper chocolate, check out Anita’s site Dessert First for the detail instructions. My mendiants came out nice and shiny, thanks to Anita’s informative post.  I’ll do a summery in my recipe below.



Beside the dried fruit and nuts, I also sprinkled some Fleur de Sel on top to finish these mendiants off.  The saltiness really compliments the dark chocolate nicely and rounds out the flavor.  The Fleur de Sel also adds a subtle crunch while the smooth and silky chocolate melts in my mouth.  hm….



Fleur de Sel ("Flower of salt" in French) is a hand-harvested sea salt collected by workers who scrape only the top layer of salt before it sinks to the bottom of large salt pans.  They are a little pricey compared to your daily kosher salt or table salt, but it worth every penny.  Besides, you’re going to need just a small amount in a batch of mediants. 



If you haven’t decided on your Holiday desserts, or want to add a quick and easy treat to your menu, give this simple recipe a try.  These mendiants will make a lovely addition to your packaged home made gifts as well.  I think Santa will prefer these over the chocolate chip cookies too! 






Mendiant with Fleur de Sel  (Printable Recipe)
1 pound bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon instant espresso powder
1 cup dried fruits and nuts (I used dried cranberries, candied orange peels, roasted pistachios and roasted silver almonds)
1/2 to 1 teaspoon Fleur de Sel

Melt 3/4 of the chocolate and espresso powder in a double boiler or metal bowl set over a saucepan of 1-inch simmering water.  Please make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water.  Stir with a rubber spatula until chocolate is melted.  Do not let chocolate exceed 120 degree F.

Removed bowl from heat and stir in the remaining of the chocolate to cool down and thickened.  When the temperature of the chocolate drops to 82 degree F, place the bowl over the pot of simmering water again until it reaches 88 degree F.  At this point, do not let the temperature of the chocolate gets over 91 degree F.  Otherwise, will need to start the tempering process over.

Drop a small spoonful of melted chocolate onto silpat or parchment lined baking sheet.  Gently top melted chocolate rounds with dried fruit and nuts.  When the chocolate started to cool down a bit, sprinkle Fleur de Sel on top.

Place baking sheet in refrigerator until mendiants are set, about 15 to 20 minutes.  Store in airtight container.



This recipe is shared with:


Full Plate Thursday
Foodie Friday
Sweets for Saturday
Friday Food
Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Tuesday Talent Show
Success U

Mini Brioche

This is my very first time making brioche.  Boy oh boy, it could be another serious and dangerous addiction, right after the Meringue cookies and Almond Cookie Crisps!   Seems like I have quite a few addictions on food/cookies.  What can I say, I'm just a girl who really enjoys eating.  But tell me how can I resist these little cuties?  They are smooth, soft, silky, egg-y and buttery.  So perfect especially when they're still warm from the oven.  So perfect for fall; so perfect whenever I need a small bite to keep me going on a busy day.




Although the egg wash on top cracked a little bit, they are still perfect to me, perfectly imperfect.   If you know why they're cracked and have the solution to solve the "problem", please kindly leave a comment to let me know.  I'm planning to make these mini brioche again and again.  



With a bit of butter and fruit preserve, this is a simple yet scrumptious breakfast.  I re-heated them in the microwave the next day and they tasted just as wonderful.  If you haven't try making bread at home, this could be an easy recipe to get started.  I promise, you're going to love the result.




If you haven't enter the Tom Bihn Shopping Bag (up to $49 Value) giveaway yet, click here to the original post to enter.  Best of luck, my friends.


I'm submitting this recipe to the Holiday Recipe Swap.  Come join the fun at the My Baking Addiction and GoodLife Eats Holiday Recipe Swap sponsored by Red Star Yeast. 





Mini Brioche:  Printable Recipe
Makes 10

1/4 cup warm water (110 to 120 degrees F)
1 1/2 teaspoons active dried yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour (divided)
1 teaspoons kosher salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 egg mixed with 1 tablespoon milk, for egg wash

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, combine the water, yeast, and sugar.  Mix with your hands until the yeast and sugar dissolved.  Allow mixture to stand for 5 minutes. Add the eggs and beat on medium speed for 1 minute, until well combined.  Turn the mixer to low speed, add 1 cup of the flour and the salt; mix for 5 minutes. With the mixer still on low, add 1 more cups plus 2 tablespoons of flour and mix for 5 more minutes.

Transfer the dough into a large buttered bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight.
The next day, allow the dough to sit at room temperature for at least 2 hours. Meanwhile, grease 10 mini brioche tins. Set aside.


In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook, add the dough, softened butter in chunks, and mix for 2 minutes.  Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of flour as needed for dough to form a ball. Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface.  Evenly divide the dough into 10 balls and place them in the tins. Cover the tins with a damp towel and set aside at a warm place of the kitchen until doubled in volume, about 2 hours.  (I placed them in the oven uncover with a large bowl of hot water on the side)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. When the dough has doubled in volume, brush the top with the egg wash and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the brioches from the tins and cool on wiring rack.



This recipe is shared with:

Mingle Monday
Makin You Crave Monday
Melt in Your Mouth Monday
On The Menu Monday
Savory Sunday
Tuesday Talent Show
Tasty Tuesday
These Chicks Cooked
Full Plate Thursday
Foodie Friday
Friday Potluck

Profiteroles with Strawberry Ice Cream

I can’t believe summer is coming to an end (or already ended) when the temperature still hits triple digits in my corner of the town.  As much as I love autumn/fall, I’m hanging on to the very last bit of the summer and enjoying different kinds of frozen treats.  Ice cream certainly is on the top of my list, and these little profiteroles (cream puffs) are the perfect vessels! 
 

These profiteroles are airy, light and fluffy.  After they are baked, they puffed up quite a bit and created a nice cavity in the middle for your fillings.  These are versatile as you can fill them with any flavor of ice cream, pastry cream, or fresh cream with fruit.  Dust with powdered sugar, cocoa powder or drizzle with chocolate sauce, your imagination is the limit.



I especially love these for its versatility because the choice of the favorite ice cream flavor never settled to just one or two in my household.  With the option to fill these puffs with whatever you fancy for, it’s definitely making desserts more fun.



As always, the best part after a photo shoot… is the taste test, or, I call it quality control.  A pillow-y puff with refreshing ice cream just made a hot afternoon more pleasant.  Thank you for stopping by and I wish you a wonderful day.




Profiteroles:                 Print This Recipe
Makes 20 Puffs


1 cup milk
4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 tablespoon of sugar
A pinch of kosher salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 large eggs, room temperature
a dash of vanilla extract
Strawberry ice cream (or any other flavor you like)
powdered sugar for dusting

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

In a pot over medium heat, add the milk, butter, sugar and salt; heat until simmer.  Adjust the heat to low on the stove.  When all the butter is melted, add the flour all at once.  Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon until it forms a dough.  Stirring constantly and cook the dough for 2 minutes.

Remove from heat and whisk in the eggs, one at a time.  Make sure each egg is incorporated into the dough before adding the next one. Once all the eggs are in, whisk in the vanilla extract.

Transfer the batter into a pastry bag fitted with a large plain round tip. Pipe the dough in 1 1/2-inches wide and 1-inch high onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.  Be sure to pipe each one at least 2-inches apart because they will puff up during baking.  If you don’t have a pastry bag, you can use a small ice cream scoop or 2 spoons to scoop the batter.  Shape the puffs with damp fingers if needed.
Wet your finger and lightly press down the tip of the batter on top of each puff.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until lightly browned.  Turn off the oven and let the baked puffs sit in the oven for another 10 minutes.  Remove from oven and cut a small slit in the side of each puff so the steam can escape. Cool on a wiring rack.

Cut each profiterole in half crosswise, fill with a small scoop of ice cream, replace the top, and dust with powdered sugar.

This recipe is shared with:

Full Plate Thursday
Friday Potluck
I'm Lovin' It
Foodie Friday
Pink Saturday
Fat Camp Friday
Sweets for Saturday

uTry.it Turns One! More Macarons…Oh yeah…and a Giveaway

uTry.it turns one today!  Woohoo!  It’s amazing looking back to the past 365 days.  365 days of happy memories because of you, every single one of you, my dear readers and food blog friends. 


When I wrote my very first blog post a year ago, I’ve never expected I would gain so much from writing a food blog (besides gaining the weights from testing out recipes, hahaha…). I’ve made so many news friends and fellow bloggers. I truly cherish all of your friendship, comments, supports, feedbacks and kindness. It’s overwhelming, but in a very positive way.





Did you know, the post that received the most comments and feedbacks in the past year was The Culinary Smackdown Battle-Cookies.  It was such a fun event/contest.  I really love to see all those scrumptious cookie recipes that you shared on my blog.  Maybe I’ll host another similar event again in the near future.  What do you think?


Speaking of cookies, the French Macaron was the type of cookie that got the most recipe posts in the past year from the cookie category.  Probably because it’s a plain canvas that I can create so many different flavor combinations in these little cuties.  What can I say, they are absolutely addictive.  If you haven’t make these cuties before, here’s the post for some basic Macaron making tips. 




To extend my appreciation for your supports of my blog, I’m hosting a Giveaway on uTry.it’s Birthday.  The prizes from the giveaway will help you to a step closer to making these Macarons as well.  That is, if you haven’t make them before. 


This Giveaway is now Closed. Thank you for everyone who participated.


Prize #1: Silpat Non-Stick Silicone Mat 11 1/2-by-16 1/2-inch.  It fits perfectly on my 12 by 17-inch baking sheets.  A must have for Macaron making. Of course, you can use the Silpat when you make any other cookies, breads, meringues, etc.

Product image from Amazon

Prize #2: Bourbon Vanilla Powder 2.5 oz. by Nielsen-Massey Vanillas. A key ingredient for Macaron making.  Adding lots of flavor but not moisture, which is essential for successful Macaron making. 

Product image from Amazon

Rules for the Giveaway:

This giveaway is open to anyone, anywhere in the world.  1 winner will be selected using Random.org and the winner will get both prizes. Must be a uTry.it public follower/member through Google Friends Connect to participate.  (See the right hand side bar under “Follower” with the button “Join this site”).  You have until Wednesday, August 31st, 12 midnight PST to enter this giveaway.  Winner will be contact via email shortly after the giveaway is closed.

Mandatory Entry: 

Leave a comment and tell me what kind/type of recipes you would like to see more on my blog.  Is it desserts,entrée, or entertaining appetizers? Do you like Chinese, Asian, French, Italian or whatever you can think of?

Additional Entries: (you can do any or all of the following, just leave a separate comments for each)

1) “Like” uTry.it’s Facebook page.  Here’s the link. 

2) Share this giveaway with your friends on Facebook.  Please include the link to this post when you share.

3) Follow uTry.it on Twitter.  Here’s the link.

4) Tweet about this giveaway.  Please include my Twitter handle @utry_it and the link to this post in your tweet.

5) Subscribe to my blog via email.  You’ll receive an email to verify the subscription.  

6) Subscribe via RSS feed.

Meyer Lemon Macarons with Blueberry Buttercream and Meyer Lemon Curd:
Printable Recipe

Makes about 30-35 filled macarons

For the shells:
110 gram egg white (3 large eggs), age the egg whites in the fridge for 2-3 day
30 gram granulated sugar
185 gram powdered sugar
110 gram almonds
1 teaspoon vanilla powder
1 tablespoon of finely grated Meyer Lemon Zest

In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the egg whites to a foam, gradually add the sugar until you obtain a glossy meringue. Then, add the lemon zest and vanilla powder until well combined.
In a food processor, process the almonds and powdered sugar until the almonds are fine.  Pour into a large mixing bowl and whisk to break any lumps. 

Add the meringue into the almond mixture and fold carefully until you obtain a batter that flows like magma or a thick ribbon. The whole folding process should be around 40 to 50 strokes.

Test a small amount on a plate. If the tops flattens on its own after 10 seconds, you are good to go. If there is a small beak, give the batter a couple more turns. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip with the batter and pipe small round (about 1.5 inches) onto baking sheets lined with a Silpat.

Let the macarons sit out for an hour to harden their shells a bit. Preheat the oven to 280F and bake for 15-20 minutes, depending on their size. Let cool completely.

For the Blueberry Buttercream:

1/2 cup sugar
2 large egg whites
1 1/2 sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Zest of 1/2 a Meyer Lemon
2 tablespoons of Meyer lemon juice
1/4 cup blueberry preserves

In a large heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, whisk the sugar and egg whites constantly until it feels hot to the touch, about 3 minutes. The sugar should be dissolved, and the mixture will look like marshmallow cream.

Pour the mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat the meringue on medium speed until it cools and forms a thick shiny meringue, about 5 minutes.


Switch to the paddle attachment and add the butter, one tablespoon at a time, beating until smooth. Once all the butter is in, add the vanilla extract, lemon zest, lemon juice, and blueberry jam, beat the buttercream on medium-high speed until it is thick and very smooth, about 6-10 minutes.  Transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a medium plain tip. 


For the Meyer Lemon Curd, please see recipe here.


To Assemble:
Spoon a dollop of Meyer lemon curd in the middle of a Macaron shell, pipe blueberry buttercream around the lemon curd and top with another Macaron shell.  Enjoy.


This recipe is shared with:

Sweets for Saturday
Foodie Friday
Fresh Food Friday
Friday Favorite
Fat Camp Friday
On The Menu Monday
Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Full Plate Thursday
These Chicks Cooked
Friday Favorites
I'm Lovin It
Friday Potluck
Sweet Tooth Friday

Brown Wheat Bread - Cheesecake Factory Style using TangZhong Method (湯種法)

If you’ve been to Cheesecake Factory, you probably know about the Brown Wheat Bread that they serve before your order arrives.  They are addictive!  There were times I ate so much of this bread that I couldn’t even finish 1/3 of my entrée.  I’ve been searching high and low over the internet for the recipe, but with no luck.  As you know, I love baking bread at home especially with the TangZhang method (湯種法).  If you’re not familiar with the TangZhong method, please refer to my posts here, here and here. You’ll see why I love this method so much.  Lately, I’ve been experimenting this recipe to incorporate the TangZhang method for this brown wheat bread.  The result was Ah—mazing!

Product Picture from Amazon

I used this baking pan as shown from the picture above to make these baguettes.  They are perfect for this recipe.  The perforated pan keeps the bread baking evenly and the unique shape helps the loaves stay in their round shape.  For more details about this pan, please to go the “Equipment” tab above this post or simply click here.



Just like how they'd serve it in Cheesecake Factory, a small tab of butter or margarine is all you need for this amazing brown wheat bread.  Its flavor is rich and complex.  You’ll taste a hint of molasses and rye in the background along with the cocoa.  The texture is smooth and soft (thanks to the TangZhong method, the bread stays soft and tender for a few days) with a bit of crunch from the oaks on top.  Hm…now, I can enjoy this wonderful bread anytime at home without the wait and the noise from Cheesecake Factory! 









Brown Wheat Bread - Cheesecake Factory Style using TangZhong Method (湯種法):
Printable Recipe
Makes 3 (16 inch) loaves

Ingredients for TangZhong湯種:
3/4 cup boiling water
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons bread flour

Ingredients for Brown Wheat Bread:
1 cup warm milk
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 tablespoons molasses
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup bread flour
1 cup rye flour
1 tablespoon active dry yeast

Ingredients for the top:
1 Egg
1/4 cup old fashion oaks

To Prepare the TangZhong湯種:
Place bread flour in a small bowl, pour boiling water over the bread flour and stir quickly with a fork to combine until no lumps.

When it’s slight cooled, wrap the mixture (it'll be a very wet dough) with plastic wrap, form dough in ball/round shape and leave in a bowl in the refrigerator overnight.


To Make The Bread:
1. Take out the TangZhong 湯種 from the fridge at least an hour before use (I usually leave it on countertop until it's room temperature).

2. In a bread machine, pour in ingredient in this order, warm milk, TangZhong 湯種, salt, sugar, cocoa powder, vegetable oil, molasses, whole wheat flour, bread flour, rye flour, and yeast. Set bread machine to dough setting according to its user menu.

3. When dough is ready, spray baking pan and your hands with a little cooking spray.  Take dough out from bread machine and punch it a few times to deflate it. Divide dough into 3 equal portions and shape them into balls. Leave them in a warm place to rest for 15-20 minutes.

4. Knead each dough ball a few times and roll each into a 16 inch long log. Place them onto the 17x9x-inch baguette loaf pan. Let dough proof the 2nd round for 45 minutes to an hour in a warm and moist place.

5. Preheat oven 425°F. Brush egg wash on top, sprinkle oaks on top and bake for 20-22 minutes

Tips: When proofing the dough, make sure it's in a warm place and covered with a towel or plastic wrap so it won't dry out. I usually place it in the oven (uncover and off the heat) with a bowl of hot water.

Note: The dough setting on my bread machine kneads the dough for 27 minutes and keeps the dough warm to proof for 1 hour.  If you don’t have a bread machine and knead your dough by hand, make sure you knead the dough for 15 to 20 minutes (depends on your strength and speed) and proof it for a hour until the dough double in size before you move on to step 3 from above.)

This recipe is shared with:

Foodie Friday
Melt in Your Mouth Monday
On The Menu Monday

Blackberry Macaron with Meyer Lemon Buttercream

Yeah, I’m on Macaron “madness” lately, LOL.  Seems like a lot of the sweet recipes that I posted lately involved Macarons.  What can I say, these Blackberry Macaron with Meyer Lemon Buttercream are my latest creation and they got me my very first “paid” Macarons order after a “taste test”. 



No doubt that I’m happy to receive my very first Macaron order (without any advertising or marketing efforts); I’m actually more thrilled that someone appreciate and loves my creations.  It really makes me happy if my products can put a smile on someone's face. 



Ha…I guess it’s about time to promote and advertise my products here then!    It really made me want to start a little home bakery and share all kinds of baked goods with more people out there.  Shall I?  Will you purchase from me if you live in my area?  What should I include in my bakery?  Leave me a comment and let me know, would you?  I really want to get your feedback before I get my feet too wet!  LOL.  Thank you and I truly appreciate your supports!









Blackberry Macaron with Meyer Lemon Buttercream: Printable Recipe
Makes: 30 to 35 filled macarons



For the macaron shells:
90 grams egg whites (about 3) preferably aged 3-5 days in the fridge
pinch of kosher salt
30 grams granulated sugar
185 grams powdered sugar
110 grams almonds
8 grams Thrive freeze dried blackberries
A pinch of powdered purple food coloring (optional)



To Prepare the macarons:
In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the egg whites and salt on high, gradually add the sugar until stiff peak forms.

Place the almonds, powdered sugar, blackberries and food coloring (if using) in a food processor and pulse until the nuts are finely ground.  Add them to the meringue. Fold the mixtures carefully until you obtain a batter that falls back on itself after counting to 10. The whole process should not take more than 50 strokes. Test a small amount on a plate; if the tops flatten on its own, the batter is ready. If there is a small beak, give the batter a couple more turns.

Fill a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip with the batter and pipe small rounds (1 inch to 1.5 inches in diameter) onto parchment paper or silicone mats lined baking sheets. Preheat the oven to 280F. Let the macarons sit out at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour to harden their shells a bit and bake for 20 to 22 minutes, depending on their size. Rotate baking pans once half way through baking.


Meyer Lemon Buttercream:
1/2 cup sugar
2 large egg whites
1 1/2 sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Zest of 1 Meyer Lemon
Juice of 1/2 a Meyer Lemon

In the bowl of a stand mixer or a heat proof bowl, add the sugar and egg whites together. Whisk constantly over a saucepan of simmering water. Keep whisking the mixture over the heat, until it feels hot to the touch, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and place the bowl back to the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat the meringue on medium high until it cools. Switch to the paddle attachment and add the butter, one tablespoon at a time, beating until smooth. Once all the butter is in, beat the buttercream until thick and very smooth, about 6-10 minutes. Add lemon zest and lemon juice and beat until well incorporated.  


To assemble:
Pipe or spoon about 1 tablespoon of butterceam in the center of one shell and top with another one.  Repeat until all shells are filled.

Note:  For more details and tips on making Macarons, please refer to this post here.


This recipe is shared with:

Sweets for Saturday
Everyday Sister Sharing Sunday
Melt in Your Mouth Mondays
On the Menu Monday