Macarons: Attempt #1

These things are tricky! I even got a fancy how-to book, which seems pretty great, but I definitely need practice. I suppose not getting them right the first time gives me something to work on (and an excuse to make macarons every weekend?).

I tried out good old vanilla bean. I'll experiment more once I get this right.

Bad lighting. This is the first batch. A bit large and flat, and speckly due to the almond meal, but at least they have 'pieds' (feet in french, the little ruffle along the bottom).

The last of the (overly runny) batter. I dyed it blue, because who wants a neutral-colored macaron?

I am a pro in the kitchen (ha) and managed to spill a very large amount of batter onto the counter. Naturally I ate it rather than baking it, because I am a ridiculous person.

Some were a bit cracked, and the bottoms stuck to the sheet on others, but overall, I have a good starting batch. And they were still delicious. Mmmm.

Brownies, sans mix

I decided to try my hand at from-scratch brownies several weeks ago, because I've never done that (I grew up on cake and brownies from mixes). They could use a little work, but overall, I'd call them a near-success.

I threw in some raspberry jam to make them extra tasty.

Ready to bake.

Done! I was pretty pleased :)

Optimism

Things that I don't entirely hate about summer:

• I am going to clean off my porch and get a hammock and hang a hummingbird feeder and have a lovely, cozy place to hang out.
• I live in California near the freaking BEACH and need to start going all the time now that it is warm. Bonfire party perhaps?!
• FOOD: blueberries, heirloom tomatoes, fresh herbs... yummmmm. Resolution: Start going to the farmer's market asap.
• I do love seeing the turtles that live in my koi pond.
• I can spend weekends laying out by the pool, reading and listening to music, getting sun and swimming when it gets too warm.
• I can finally get some use out of my zoo pass, as long as it's not too hot out (and it never is in San Francisco... right?)
• Sun dresses, tank tops, and maybe even shorts. Although I do like winter clothes, too.

My "Things I hate about summer" list is way longer, but for the sake of optimism, I'll skip that one for now.