Similar colors.
Macarons go for about $2.50 apiece at the French bakery. Martha Stewart said you could bake them at home for about 18 cents apiece. My friend V did some quick calculations in my kitchen and seems it’s more like 50 cents each
I’ve watched a video several times, purchased the best ingredients, and splurged for a baking mat with perfect circles embossed in the material. (Not factoring the equipment into the cost.)
Here’s the result. Some of the macarons seemed a bit chewy. Did I underbake them? Was the humidity a factor? Did I whip the egg whites correctly? Did I fold the dry ingredients sufficiently? I let them sit before I put them into the oven. Perhaps I used too much batter on each circle as the seemed to puff up like white mushrooms. I will watch another video I found The Science of Macarons. If you have made them before please share any tips.
I got the ganache right. Had to put it over hot water after awhile as it firmed up, though.
I found another recipe to try next batch.
Saturday July 19, 2014
The whole day was filled with love, love, love. There was mist, then drizzle, but no downpour. A little thunder and at the end of the evening we heard the Pittsburgh Pirates fireworks, boom boom boom.
Jessica and Matthew worked hard on every detail but the weather was out of their control.
Everyone was a good sport and carried umbrellas, one maid of honor wore her boots! I covered the camera with plastic grocery bags. And then it stopped.
It was long awaited for and very happy day.
You can see the mutual admiration, love and affection for one another in these photographs. The wedding and reception were held at The National Aviary on the North Side of Pittsburgh
Congratulations and all the best to Jessica and Matthew. It was a lovely wedding to capture.
Enjoy your European honeymoon adventure.
Jessica gets out of the car. She and used to teach at the same school. She is an Art Teacher in the city.
Everyone was at the Inn at the Mexican War Streets on the North Side.
In front of the mantle in the Music Room
Matthew the Groom in the Music Room
Here comes the bride with her father.
First Kiss
Just Married!
With Disco Pete the Penguin after the ceremony
Wedding Party on the bridge in the park on the North Side
Coaxing the flower girl to join the women for a photograph
Matthew holds Jessica’s dress
A kiss under the veil
A little rain doesn’t matter
James Bond and his Bride
First Dance
First Dance
The Sweetheart Table
The sisters’ toast
Oakmont Bakery made the cake and cupcakes
A sweet kiss after the cake cutting with a taste of frosting!
Throwing the bouquet
The garter toss
The back detail of her gorgeous wedding gown
YMCA
(and the embroidery hoop filled with lace, dangling from the ceiling of the tent- remember the bride is an art teacher)
Macaron Favors by Jean-Marc Chatellier French Bakery in Millvale
and the Best Man Ty and His wife Jean, parents of darling flower girl, too (hope it is spelled correctly) help out at the end of the night
They tasted good, even though they had a rough trip. My sister shared these with me. The colorful macarons photo is from a while back but I found it tonight.
The cookies were very fancy. I’m not sure what they did to them on their journey.
Almost everyone’s crazy for Macarons these days. What’s all the fuss about?
Macaron stores popping up in NYC every few blocks. And in Pittsburgh!
They’re everywhere. “meringue- like almond cookies” says Jean- Marc Chatellier’s website
And they’re gluten-free.
Have you made them yourself yet? Most people don’t, but buy them at the bakery.
Preferably an excellent French bakery. In France.
I’ll skip the peanut butter and jelly flavor, though.
I was knitting at a friend’s for tea and she had a lovely sleeve of multi- flavors and colors including a lavender, a lemon and a salty caramel. (See the red box!)
My favorites are still Jean-Marc Chatellier in Millvale, PA, across the Allegheny River.
I read David Lebovitz- Living the Sweet Life in Paris blog I Love Macarons with terrific photographs and a multitude of links for more info on macarons you ever thought possible….and if you want to try making his French Chocolat Macarons click here for directions and recipe
New York City display
From Squirrel Hill French Bakery
West Village, New York City
Jean -Marc Chatellier Bakery Millvale PA
Independence Day Macarons in July
But I really grew up in New Jersey. New York always sounded better to me and I have held onto that fact all these years. Joisey, the Garden State, just didn’t seem as cool.
Yes, it is my sixtieth birthday today. YIKES! We were supposed to drive to Roanoke VA but power outages from the bad storm last Friday knocked that plan out! You’ve seen a lot of my life these past three years on the blog. The art room adventures, some knitting, my pleasure in the eating and making of food, my family, the city, my travels, and as Arlene says, the ordinary- making it interesting!
I have been talking about turning sixty since I turned fifty-nine last year. Go figure.
My friend Mary Ann told me someone asked her if she was afraid to turn sixty and she told me her response was, “I’m afraid to NOT turn sixty” Many are denied the chance.
If you are born on the Fourth of July you receive a lot of red, white and blue presents. One has to post a little red white and blue on the Fourth of July so here are the two free marzipan macarons you receive when you buy the dozen at Jean-Marc in Millvale*
And here is my mom holding me. My cousin Paul sent me this photo last year at Christmas and it is the only baby photo I really have of myself. Looks like I was bottle fed. How about that wallpaper?
And then there is this prize winner of my wonderful haircut and chubby cheeks, I think I was three, This picture is stuck in one of those “magnetic” photo albums- meaning nasty glue that ruins your photo and you can’t remove it- EVER.
And here is what I looked like last week in the heat at the Pirates Game in Pittsburgh with my three year old granddaughter Maura. A nice woman filling the ketchup dispenser came over and asked it I wanted her to take it of us. She enjoyed seeing Maura enjoy her cone and I had photographed her eating it (of course). I don’t get in many photos which is just as well at this point. But when I think about what makes me happy in my life, my family is at the top of the list. I am fortunate indeed.
Here is a picture a first grader drew of me last year which I photographed on my phone. I am so glad I documented this artwork cause on the rough days and the long days of teaching art in the city, I can read her inscription at the bottom.
Ms. Hendricks is my hero.
It doesn’t get any better than that!
And I found this next photo in New York City when I visited my sister a couple months ago. Once I was visiting a family friend, Naomi, in a home and she said told me how she would think of all she was grateful for in her life and when she focused on a theme of gratitude she just couldn’t feel bad about anything. I remember her words and she died shortly after the visit. It is easy to forget to be grateful. Once I read about thinking three things you are grateful for each day, right before you go to sleep and I try to remember.
I am grateful to my family, friends, fellow bloggers and followers and wonderful commenters who have encouraged me in my photography, blogging and writing.
Today is a very happy birthday! I am surrounded by my family who love me.
Thanks everyone. (And Happy Birthday Suzanne who shares the date!)
*Here is a shot of Millvale,PA taken the day I bought the macarons!
Not just motorcycles in Millvale. Took these assorted macarons to the graduation party as a hostess gift.
They’re so colorful. And they melt in your mouth delicious.
Jean-Marc was featured on the blog before. We are so fortunate to have a true French bakery right in Millvale.
Here ‘s what Jean-Marc says about the macarons on his website
“Macarons, or French Macaroons, are GLUTEN FREE meringue-like almond cookies
filled with a buttercream or white chocolate ganache that is infused with natural flavors.
Extremely popular in Paris, Macarons are now available for Pittsburghers who long to
revisit their memories of travel abroad, or for those who want to try them for the first time.”
