Apart from baking simple cakes and muffins from recipes in cookbooks, I’m accustomed to searching for recipes online. I first discovered the wonders of food blogs about 11/2 years back when I was looking for recipes. I remembered the first one that made me so impressed was Shiokalicious.com, a local food blogger. She even had some of her recipes, along with other countries’ foodies’ recipes published in a ebook. But sad to say, it’s no longer around. So along the way, I found more food blogs, and from each food blog, finding my way to even more blogs. And from all these blogs, I learnt new ingredients and how they can be paired up with other ingredients I would never thought possible.

When it comes to baking, I realized there is also a trend. Back then it were the cupcakes craze. Home bakers busy piping and decorating their cupcakes, and selling them too. Remember? A while ago, I joined in the trend to learn how to make cupcakes taught by Kuidaore.

Macarons. Yes! It’s the in thing now. And you start to see these colourful pastry popping up at the cafes. And home bakers too, are now busy learning how to make this oh-so-delicate cookie. Kuidaore is now teaching you how to make the perfect macarons at Shermay Cooking School. Smart move eh? They sure know what home bakers want to learn. And why the need to master this skill? Cos it’s so expensive to get the commercially made ones. I got mine at Bakerzin as I am curious how they taste like after I see Aunty Yochana happily making her own macarons too.

So would I even dare to think of mastering this skill? Well, for a start, maybe. But nah, I can’t even pipe properly. It’s like doing fine arts you know.

Macarons are not to be confused with coconut macaroons. They are 2 pieces of dome-shaped cookies sandwiched together with buttercream. Underneath the cookie, is a chewy, cake-like layer and there is this skirt called the feet. Obsessed you may think, but many home bakers struggle to achieve the perfect feet in their macarons. I was warned that it’s sweet. Ironically I could accept the sweetness maybe due to the really nice and light crisp cookie. And it makes me craving for more. I bought only 3 assorted flavors to try out. Bluberry, Lemon and Pistachio. And I think it’s the Pistachio craze now. Haha. You know just like a few years back, it was everything green tea, wasabe, then seaweed.

I know why they are expensive due to the difficulty in making them well. The best macarons are said to be from Pierre Hermé. If you know Pierre Hermé, you are probably familiar with their most known creation, Ispahan. Evan from Bossa Café recreated it. I think it really looks gorgeous. You can order some from Evan too.

Can I have a box of macarons for my birthday? Haha…