Today’s post is brought to you by the number 2 and the color green. And by this month’s Mac Attack, which challenged us to take a favorite tune and bake it into a mac. Now for some reason I drew a blank and could not think of a favorite song that inspired a mac flavor/color. The only color song that kept popping into my head was “It’s not Easy Being Green.”
It’s not that easy making green
Baking macs the color of the leaves
When I think it could be easier making white, or brown or tan
Or something much less colorful like that
It’s not easy making green
It seems you blend in coloring with all the other things
And you don’t add more color ’cause you’re
Not wanting to overbeat your egg whites
Or mess up your macs
But green’s the color of apples
And green can be light and happy-like
And green can be sweet like a grape,
or sour like a candy, or chewy like a mac
When green is what you want to bake
It could make you wonder why, but why wonder why
Wonder, my macs are green and they’ll do fine, they’re delicious
And I’m glad it’s what I tried to bake.
Of course, the first picture isn’t of my sour apple caramel macs. This is my sour apple caramel mac failures.
My husband had the idea (of course I’m blaming him) to powder up sour apple Jolly Ranchers candies and substitute it for some of the powdered sugar. Maybe half powdered candies and half powdered sugar wasn’t the best idea ever, but if you love sour apple Jolly Ranchers, you would have loved these mac failures. I know we all did.
But the best thing about baking these mac failures was that I had a guest in my kitchen (the number 2) who baked macs with me. Kitty from Fahrenheit 350º came over to my house and baked with me. It was my first time meeting her and she is so nice. We had so much in common and it was so fun baking with her. We’ll definitely have to do it again.
Hers are the perfect little pink bubble gum flavored ones. That she filled with Nutella.
I couldn’t stand having two failed batches two months in a row, so I decided to stop being so daring and the next day made regular (green) almond macarons with the adapted Ottolenghi recipe. (Note to self: don’t put sprinkles on the bottom shells.)
Look at those beautiful little feet. I filled them with Nutella and am taking them to a Blogher meet and greet today, along with some chocolate macarons filled with caramel that I still need to make. Wish me luck!
Update: Here’s a picture of the final macs for the meet and greet. Probably my best macs ever.
Cristie
Oh Barbara, those look really wonderful. I'm sure you had a blast making them with Kitty. And I so wanted to go to the meet and greet. Beautiful Mac's, and to think they were your very best and I could have sampled them!!
Leave-Room-for-Dessert
My mouth is watering at the sound of green apple and caramel macs! We've all had our share of less-than-picture-perfect-macs, but in my experience, they still taste delicious! Fantastic job, and love the muppets – classic!
faithy, the baker
gorgeous green macs! I love Kermit too!! He's my fave muppet..lol! Right before that swedish chef..lol!
Joy
They all look lovely. I finally figured out how to make them. but I need to practice a little more ;D.
Katrina
Wow, those all look fantastic. I've never made macarons but so want/need to! I've only tasted two in my life and they were SO good!
sweetlife
i love you macs, they are perfect, oh green apple and caramel, I liked the idea of jolly ranchers,..oh too cute
sweetlife
Cakelaw
I love your Kermit macarons! And green apple and caramel would have to be a stunning combination. Kitty's bubblegum ones are gorgeous too – the colours are to die for. Now why are mine never such a nice colour?
The Blonde Duck
I LOVE the pink ones! Of course.
Foodessa
Barbara…first I'm envious that you had the company of another passionate foodie…2nd…those macarons look incredibly amazing…and I can't touch them ;o(
Fantastic creations!!! The photos are so great too.
BTW…the next time you stop by my place…there is something for you to pick up on my APPRECIATION page.
Ciao for now,
Claudia
Sarah, Maison Cupcake
Ha ha, by coincidence Ted and I were watching The Muppet Movie on dvd this afternoon! They look wonderful and I'm glad you triumphed after the problems with humidity lately. I like those pink ones too, mine never look pink enough!
tspegar
barbara those are perfect! i love them and i am jealous of kitty… i know how fun baking macs with you can be!!!
Julie
Well I think they are all just precious looking, and I'm sure they're delicious 🙂
Sue Sparks
Barbara, these look FABULOUS! The chocolate ones remind me of mini burgers:) They're all beautiful!
Asha @ FSK
B, love the poem and your macs.. they are incredibly gorgeous and PERFECT!!! SIghh!! LOL.. love your hub's idea ;-))
Maria
I know these are good cause I tasted them:)
Cathy
Wonderful, Barbara. Your macs are picture perfect. I don't know what it is about the crushed candy, but I won't be trying that one again either. And not putting sprinkles on the bottom half…duh, why didn't I think of that. I couldn't get mine to sit straight. Oh well, it's live and learn, right? Wonderful post.
Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella
I admire your tenacity mum! They look fantastic and I would have tottally eaten all of them. Waste not after all! 😉 xxx
Faith
These are really beautiful, Barbara! I'm going to have to check out the recipe since I always have so much trouble with macs!
Barbara
Fabulous, Barbara! You did such a lovely job on these macarons. I STILL haven't tried to make them. 🙁
I like the sour apple idea and even if they weren't picture perfect, they still tasted good!
pigpigscorner
Well done! I've only successfully made macarons once =(