Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Lemon Drop Macarons...gone terribly wrong


Our Mactweet challenge this month is to create a macaron that reflects a favorite song. I ran through the obvious list but nothing struck my fancy until I remembered the lemon drop reference in "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz.  I love that movie although it scared the daylights out of me the first time I saw it
 (flying monkeys...no, no, no),
 but I've watched it many times since I was 5 years old and its become one of my all time favorites.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?



I've made macarons quite a few times in the past several months and was feeling more confident in my ability to get the many elements of that elusive dessert just right.  I know how touchy they can be and it just didn't occur to me that adding a tiny bit of a new ingredient could have such disastrous results.  I crushed lemon drop hard candy to fine pieces and sprinkled them on the just piped meringues.  They dried perfectly and they looked exactly right when I stuck the baking sheet into the oven.  Even at the half way point they were perfect.  Then something went terribly wrong in the last few minutes and the shells imploded, most of the feet spread and the candy bits turned to liquid and made my precious macarons looks like they had the pox.


I managed to salvage enough for this post and we consumed the rest
 in the privacy of our own home.
 Even the disasters were delicious when I filled them with the luscious lemon curd
 that I discovered at A Feast for the Eyes. 
 Debby posted a recipe for Lemon Curd Ice Cream and her recipe is so quick and easy to make and is the perfect filling for my not quite perfect macarons. This amazing ice cream is on my menu this weekend.  I can't wait for that one.


You can find my step by step recipe and instructions for making macarons here
For a previous Mactweet event I made peanut butter and jelly macarons that were so good, and they actually turned out the way they were supposed to. If you haven't made macarons before, now is the time to do it!  It may take a try or two but the results are  worth it, and you will be oh, so proud of yourself when they turn out right.


I'm joining the group this week for Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum.
 You're invited to join me and all the other participants in this always wonderful event.
Hope to see you there.

50 comments:

  1. I think these still look beautiful. I love your reference to the Wizard of Oz. I also love that movie. I bet these taste wonderful with all that lemon flavor going on:) I keep saying I am going to try to make macarons. Thanks for the link to the instructions. I have to get my courage up and go for it. Thanks!

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  2. They still look scrumptious, Cathy! I've never made macaroons before ... on my list of new things to try. I've been eying Debby's lemon curd ice cream as well. oh yum!

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  3. I'm sure your pox-ridden macarons still tasted wonderful! Wizard of Oz was just on television this past week - I love that song.

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  4. I suspect you are being hard on yourself. The treats you have in your photos look wonderful. I think you did a great job with the challenge. Have a good evening. Blessings...Mary

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  5. They look yummy anyway. Love hearing what you did; so I can learn from your mistake.

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  6. Such a fun idea. I love the first two pictures. Sounds like a yummy flavor. I'm a little nervous now because I'm making macs tomorrow and I just ground sour apple candies to add to them.

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  7. For something going wrong they still look heavenly and bet they tasted the same! They sound awesome - can just imagine the lemon flavor. You've given me the incentive to at least try making them, now to find the time!!

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  8. Ooooh, that lemon curd ice cream is going to be made at my house too!. I think the idea was fab and I'll bet they were delicious anyway!
    xoxo Pattie

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  9. That's a very beautiful photo of your macarons Cathy...love the bright summery look it gives. I am sure they still taste very delicious.

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  10. The first time I had macarons was from this amazing little family pastry shop in Paris...and this was only since last September. As much as I've been seeing them around the Foodie baking adventurers...I have not once felt I should dive in yet.
    The fact that you did and also managed to make them look that great...my chef's hat off to you!
    I'm sure they taste wonderful. Cathy...if you're still having a difficult time accepting them...close your eyes and let your palate make the decisions ;o)
    I love the photo presentations very much.

    Have a great evening and flavourful wishes,
    Claudia

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  11. Your photos are terrific! You are being hard on yourself...you have a bit of that perfectionist in you...it's a German thing. :)I am sure they tasted wonderful!!

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  12. Gorgeous macarons in the most gorgeous bright yellow.

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  13. Well, they look wonderful to me! And I love anything lemon!!!

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  14. "were troubles melt like lemon drops" - how could you not love a macaron based that alone? great job!

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  15. If it's lemon, it will be a favorite in this house and no one would utter a complaint about the look - just raves about the taste!

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  16. I adore lemon desserts, and these look so good. Lemon curd? Oh, YUM! :-)

    XO,

    Sheila... who was terrified of the flying monkeys, too!

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  17. I am always thrilled when you join us for Mactweets. As for these fabulous macs, when I saw the first pictures of PERFECT macs I wondered what you meant by "gone terribly wrong"! They are stunning! Now, I have had macs self-destroy in the oven before but when they have I have never been able to salvage any for pictures so I thought you must've made two batches! Poor fallen macs. At least ugly macs are usually delicious. Anyway, the lemon drop macs are beautiful!

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  18. I'm thinking it's time to turn off the oven and turn on the ice cream maker this week.

    I have a little something for you over on my blog...
    http://portlandpeeps.blogspot.com/

    Those macarons look perfectly imperfect to me.

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  19. Your pictures are wonderful!Love that lemon taste.
    Rita

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  20. Hi Cathy! If the end result is still edible, it HASN'T gone wrong!! AND ... what distinguishes good chefs from great ones is the ability to creatively salvage disasters - so that the salvage is remembered more than the original!! Have a great day, Marion

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  21. Maybe it doesn't turned out as what you're expecting but I bet they tasted as scrumptious though. No worries! You can keep those for me. hehehe..... Hope you're enjoying your day!
    Cheers, Kristy

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  22. Cathy,
    These macarons look perfect! Even the ones that didn't work out the way you wanted still look yummy!
    I would love to try my hand at these little beauties!
    And your images of these sweets are so beautiful! You paired them wonderfully with the lavender.
    Yvonne

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  23. I luv the color and as long as they tasted good, that is all that matters.

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  24. Ah, me thinks I've met another perfectionist. :)
    I really need to try my first macarons. Lemon, being my chocolate, would be a great way to start.
    So glad you salvaged enough for the shot.
    Thanks for the shout!

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  25. Oh dear, mac bakers tend to get a little obsessive about the finer points of their macarons. They are things of great beauty when they turn out just right. They flop often enough to make them very challenging. Kind of like golf.

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  26. I considered the same song, but I've already done lemon so that I must try something else. I bet your macs tasted wonderful. They fun arent' they?

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  27. Well, they still LOOK good Cathy and I bet tasted delish.
    I still haven't attempted these. Why is it one time they turn out perfectly and the next time they don't? Practice does not seem to make perfect either. Sort of like a tennis serve. (I don't play golf.)

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  28. Cathy they still look fabulous, bumps and all...
    I can just taste one in my mind!

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  29. Sorry your recipe did not work out. Glad you were able to salvage a few. Probably too much liquid when the candy melted. Oh well you will just have to make another batch and then sit down and eat them all:-) When ever I have company it seems one of my recipes either new or tried or true goes wacky. It's like someone put a curse on my oven:-)

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  30. They look fantastic, Mom! Even the flopped ones look delicious!

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  31. now I have never made Macaroons but these look absolutely delicious....lemon is such a wonderful flavor, and you really kicked these up with extra flavor!
    I may have to try and make these!

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  32. They look wonderful to me too but I totally sympathise with the spreading feet an failure syndrome. The heat and humidity played havoc with mine this month and out of five batches there were probably only FOUR that worked out properly. As in four macarons. uh huh. Love yours and terrific flavour!

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  33. These still look good to me even if they are less than perfect. I've never tried to make macaroons so I am impressed by the ones you've made Cathy. I bet they taste delicious!
    I love the Wizard of Oz, and have sang that song to my children and now to my granddaughter.It's a great classic.

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  34. I've experimented with my recipes many times and found myself shaking my head and crying, "Why, oh, why can't I?" I think your gone wrongs, pox and all are very pretty and look delicious! Thanks for sharing your not so perfect experience.

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  35. They still look amazing to me. I would be happy eating anything with lemon curd!

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  36. Maybe they went wrong, but they look so yummy!!!
    Love,
    Lia.

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  37. Wow, I was going to say they look fabulous and beautiful!

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  38. There's no way you could have made something that didn't turn out perfect....they look good to me....sort of....you were so brave to post the bad picture...but your first picture looks very nice...I am not a good enough baker to even consider trying these.....the lemon curd maybe...

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  39. They look absolutely gorgeous to me. I bet they were just wonderful. Debby has a wonderful blog, doesn't she?

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  40. Sorry to hear about that...they still look good to me!

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  41. Gosh, your flubs look fantastic :-) Bet they taste awesome too. I wonder if the candy changed the chemistry somehow.

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  42. I have never made macarons but they are on my list of things to make as soon as the weather cools a bit. We have all had disasters in the kitchen but yours was just a wee one. Thanks for sharing it took the fear out of making them for me knowing that if I goofed. . .tomorrow is just another day. . .and another movie!
    ~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

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  43. Macarons can be horribly delicate creations, aren't they? This post is a reminder of how much work it takes to create these cookies. They may have been scarred with pox, but I am certain they were delicious!

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  44. I think they look perfectly delicious! I would love to taste one!

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  45. That first picture knocked me right off my perch Cathy, and made me wonder if I had read your post title wrong. The few you salvaged are STUNNING. Love the choice of flavour, the wonderful song, and the lemon curd filling. Citrus is right up my street...and I'm loving your 'feet'! Thanks for joining us at MacTweets.

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  46. Join the club. We've all had the same disasters you've just shared. I have a picture up on my blog that looks much worse that yours. And . . . your opening photo is complelely BEAUTIFUL! I love your honesty. In this blog world you never know what really goes on in the kitchen unless it's writen down . . . can't wait to see what you do next month :)

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  47. Beautiful and sunshiny. Perfect even if some imploded :) We recently bought the remastered Wizard of OZ DVD, and our 7 year old loved it but the 3 year old was freaked out by the flying monkeys! oops.

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  48. I used crushed candy too, as well as Barbara however Barbara's did the same thing as yours... I think maybe the difference is that I crushed my candy over 6 months ago creating a flavored powdered sugar and it has been drying out ever since. Just a thought - they look and sound delicious!

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  49. I did my first MacTweets challenge this month without much success, but I will prevail:) Your lemon drop macs look so bright and cheery! Your photos are beautiful! Sorry about the mishap with the candy:(

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Thanks so much for visiting. I hope you enjoyed my blog and will leave a comment or two. And come back again of course ~ Cathy