She Persisted...Relax, We're Talking Macarons!

JENN McKINLAY: Bonjour! Recently, I went to Paris to research my upcoming stand alone novel PARIS IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA. 

Here's the cover - yes, I'm thrilled! And you can pre-order from Barnes and Noble at 23% off - just sayin'! Click: HERE

Now while in Paris -- yes, yes, I know it sounds fabulous but let me reality check you, I brought the Hooligans with me, who are teenagers. Teenagers in Paris! I'm only surprised we weren't deported. Enough said? 

Okay, then. While there, I ate my body weight in pastry, as you do, and even managed to stop in the famous Laduree on the Champs-Élysées to salivate all over their bakery case. 

Needless to say I bought a box of the famous macarons (research!) and they were so good! A crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside cookie with a not too sweet filling. Mon Dieu! Love at first bite.

Once at home, I longed for the sweet air of Paris, the c'est la vie attitude, and the view of the Eiffel Tower from my hotel room. Sigh.

Naturally, baking therapy was in order, so I decided to attempt the macaron! Yes, you can say it. Heck, I'll say it myself. What was I thinking???

This is the sort of baking Paul Hollywood throws at the poor tent dwellers on the Great British Baking Show during the technical challenge! I mean I can make a mean snickerdoodle, but come on, this was all new levels as my first attempts show.

                          My first attempt: NOT GOOD.

What went wrong? They cracked. They didn't acquire feet. Yes, feet. I know, kind of weird, but I'll explain in attempt number two. And they were a bit overcooked. Wah!

Now, a normal person would re-evaluate their skill set, realize they're in over their head, admit defeat, and gain their Sunday back. But not me. This was like a worm in my head. I must master the macaron. My personal baking honor depended upon it!

This time I tried a recipe recommended by one of my FB followers (Hi, Margie!) who read up on my epic fail. This time, I blended the batter until it fell in ribbons off of the spoon. I do believe this was my biggest mistake in trial one. I didn't incorporate the meringue into the dry ingredients enough.

My second attempt: Nailed it!

See those ridges along the bottom of the cookie? Those are the "feet". Still weird. But the key to the macaron is that it has to air dry before baking, allowing a skin to form over the top so that when it bakes it's forced to rise, thus making the macaron feet. Skin and feet, yuuuuum!

So, what is the whole point of this post? Well, to share the recipe that worked: https://entertainingwithbeth.com/foolproof-french-macaron-recipe/

And to remind us all, that if we can think it, we can do it. We just may have to suffer a fail or two along the way.

So, Reds and Readers, what's something you failed at but kept going until you found success?