Crunchy Macaroons Food

FRENCH MACARONS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F using the convection setting. Line 3 baking sheets with silicone mats. Measure the confectioners' sugar and almond flour by spooning them into measuring cups and leveling with a knife. Transfer to a bowl; whisk to combine.
• Sift the sugar-almond flour mixture, a little at a time, through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl, pressing with a rubber spatula to pass through as much as possible. It will take a while, and up to 2 tablespoons of coarse almond flour may be left; just toss it.
• Beat the egg whites, cream of tartar and salt with a mixer on medium speed until frothy. Increase the speed to medium high; gradually add the superfine sugar and beat until stiff and shiny, about 5 more minutes.
• Transfer the beaten egg whites to the bowl with the almond flour mixture. Draw a rubber spatula halfway through the mixture and fold until incorporated, giving the bowl a quarter turn with each fold.
• Add the food coloring and extract (see below). Continue folding and turning, scraping down the bowl, until the batter is smooth and falls off the spatula in a thin flat ribbon, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Transfer the batter to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch round tip. Holding the bag vertically and close to the baking sheet, pipe 1 1/4-inch circles (24 per sheet). Firmly tap the baking sheets twice against the counter to release any air bubbles.
• Let the cookies sit at room temperature until the tops are no longer sticky to the touch, 15 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the humidity. Slip another baking sheet under the first batch (a double baking sheet protects the cookies from the heat).
• Bake the first batch until the cookies are shiny and rise 1/8 inch to form a "foot," about 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely. Repeat, using a double sheet for each batch. Peel the cookies off the mats and sandwich with a thin layer of filling (see below).
• Almond-Raspberry:
• Tint the batter with 2 drops neon pink gel food coloring; flavor with almond extract. Fill with seedless raspberry jam (you'll need about 3/4 cup).
• Mint-White Chocolate:
• Tint the batter with 2 drops mint green gel food coloring; flavor with mint extract. For the filling, microwave 3 ounces chopped white chocolate, 2 tablespoons heavy cream and 1 tablespoon butter in 30-second intervals, stirring, until smooth. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon mint extract and 1 drop mint green gel food coloring.
• Blueberry Cheesecake:
• Tint the batter with 3 drops royal blue gel food coloring; flavor with vanilla extract. For the filling, mix 4 ounces softened cream cheese and 3 tablespoons blueberry jam.
• Lavender-Honey:
• Tint the batter with 2 drops violet gel food coloring; flavor with almond or vanilla extract. For the filling, mix 3/4 cup mascarpone cheese, 2 tablespoons honey and 1 teaspoon ground dried lavender.
• Pineapple:
• Tint the batter with 2 drops lemon yellow gel food coloring; flavor with vanilla extract. For the filling, press 3/4 cup pineapple jam through a sieve, discarding any large pieces.

CRUNCHY MACAROONS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients.
• With damp fingers, shape into 1 1/2 inch mounds on parchment paper-lined baking sheets.
• Bake at 300 F for 20-25 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.
• Remove from the pans to wire racks to cool.

MOCHA CRUNCH ICE CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• For sauce: Cook water, sugar and espresso in heavy medium saucepan over low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add chocolate and butter. Stir until chocolate and butter are melted and sauce is smooth. Cool completely. (Sauce can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring sauce to room temperature before using.)
• For crust: Oil 9-inch springform pan. Mix 2 cups crumbs and butter in medium bowl. Press firmly into bottom of prepared pan. Freeze until firm.
• For filling: Soften chocolate ice cream in refrigerator until spreadable but not melted. Spread in pan and smooth top. Freeze until firm.
• Spoon 1/2 cup sauce over ice cream and sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cookie crumbs. Freeze until firm.
• Soften coffee ice cream in refrigerator until spreadable but not melted. Spread in pan. Smooth surface and freeze until firm. Spread 1/2 cup sauce over coffee ice cream. Sprinkle with Almond Roca and freeze until firm. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover tightly.)
• Soften cake slightly in refrigerator if necessary. Rewarm remaining sauce over low heat until lukewarm, stirring frequently. Remove pan sides. Cut cake into wedges. Serve, passing warm mocha sauce separately.

COCONUT CHEWY MACAROONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• combine and heat evaporated milk, sugar, and butter in microwave until butter is completely melted.
• stir in vanilla and almond extracts.
• In a separate bowl, combine coconut and flour.
• Fold wet mixture into dry until combined.
• Drop by spoonfuls on a greased cookie sheet.
• Bake 10-13 minutes, until tops are golden brown.
• Cool on wire rack.
• melt chocolate chips and use to dip the bottoms of the cookies.
• Enjoy!

BEST EVER MACARONI CHEESE WITH CRUNCH CRUMB

Steps:

• Put the bay leaves, leek and milk in a pan, and gently heat until steaming but just below boiling point. Take off the heat and set aside to infuse for 1 hr.
• Drain the milk and discard the leek and bay. Wipe out the pan, then add the butter, flour and mustard powder. Heat, stirring, until the butter has melted, then cook to a paste for 1 min. Splash in some milk gradually and stir until smooth and completely incorporated. Add the rest of the milk, a little at a time at first, then gradually add more as the mixture gets saucy. (If you get any lumps, give it a vigorous whisk to remove them.) Heat, stirring all the time and scraping the bottom of the pan so it doesn't catch, until the sauce is bubbling and nicely thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in 200g of the cheddar and 25g of the parmesan. Season really well - keep tasting, as it will need a generous amount of salt.
• Cook the macaroni following pack instructions, until it is almost tender but still has a bit of chew to it. Drain well, then stir into the cheese sauce with three-quarters of the spring onions. Scrape into a large ovenproof dish or several individual ones.
• Scatter the remaining cheddar over the macaroni, then alternate between draping over pancetta slices (bunching them up a bit) and scattering with the bread cubes and remaining spring onions. (If you keep swapping between ingredients you'll get a nice mix of everything on the top.) Sprinkle with the remaining parmesan and add a very little drizzle of oil - holding your thumb over the bottle so just a trickle comes out. Can now be cooled, covered and chilled for up to 1 day, or frozen for up to 1 month.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Bake for 40 mins until bubbling, and crunchy and golden on top (if using individual dishes, check after 30 mins).

MOUNDS RICH, MOIST AND CHEWY MACAROON COOKIES

Steps:

• In large bowl, cream butter, cream cheese and sugar til well blended.
• Add egg yolk, o.j., and almond extract.
• In small bowl, whisk/mix flour, baking powder and salt.
• Gradually add to butter mixture, mixing well after each addition.
• Stir in well, 3 cups coconut.
• Cover and chill 1 hour or til firm enough to handle and roll into balls.
• Heat oven to 350.
• Shape dough into 1 inch balls, roll into last cup of coconut. You can lightly press it on a little.
• Place onto ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake 12-15 minutes (MINE TOOK 15! *the original recipe said 10-12 and that wasn't EVEN long enough, they sank after I took them out and had to re-bake them!)or until lightly browned. I suggest at LEAST 13 minutes, but again, mine took 15.
• Leave them on the cookie sheet 1 minute, then carefully and gently remove to wire racks to cool.
• *You can gently press a maraschino cherry half in the center of each cookie on top, if desired, before baking.
• Makes 3-3 1/2 dozen.