Lovely Macaron & Cake Stand

So the question is making the macaron really difficult ? The answer is no, if you know the simple science behind making this intimidating 'lovely sweet'.

When I tried making the macarons for the first time; I was so frustrated and dissappointed and told to myself; "I will never be able to make this macaron!"

Not until I found this website www.giverslog.comhttp://www.giverslog.com/?p=1089, it was downed on me the secret of making a successful macaron. so I tried and to my disbelieve, I did it. I was very excited that I made macaron 3 days in a row.

My recipee

Basic ingredients for macaron shells

1 cup convectioners' sugar

3/4 cup almond flour, mine is from nuts.com

2 large egg whites, room temperature over night

Pinch of cream tartar

1/4 cup powdered sugar

Method; 1. Pulse confectioners' sugar and almond flour in a food processor until combined. Sift mixture 2 times. 2. Whisk white eggs with a mixer on medium speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar, and whisk until soft peaks form. Reduce speed to low, then add powdered sugar. Increase speed to high, and whisk until stiff peaks form (about 4 to 5 minutes)If you are going to add color, I added food coloring towards the end of whipping my whites. I used water color based food coloring. 3. Pour sifted flour mixture over whites all at once, and fold until mixture is smooth and shiny. I found the amount of folding to be crucial. (Please read my trouble shooting no. 2 FOLDING THE BATTER) 3. Transfer batter to a pastry bag fitted with a no. 10 plain round tip. 4. Pipe 1-1/4 round on top parchment paper. (Please read trouble shooting no. 3 PIPING and no. 4 AFTER PIPING) 5. Turn on the oven to 350 deg. and lower it to 285 deg. (Please read trouble shooting no. 5 BAKING. 6. Let macarons cool (please read trouble shooting no. 6 AFTER BAKING.

Note:if you want to make ROSE flavor macarons, on method no. 2 after egg whites became stiff peak form add 2 tbsp. rose water available at grocery store or online store Kalustyans and add 1 teaspoon red water base food coloring.

If you want to make CHOCOLATE flavor macarons, on method no. 1, substitute 3 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder for 1/4 almond flour. Pulse and sift all together.

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 Recipe for Filling

Rose Filling

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup sifted confectioners' sugar

2 teaspoon rose water.

Method: In a bowl beat cream cheese and sugar with a electric m ixer until smooth and add 2 teaspoon rose water and beat again until smooth and spreadable.

Chocolate Filling/Ganache

4 oz. bittersweet chocolate morsels

1/4 cup heavy cream

Method: Place chocolate in a small heatproof bowl. Bring cream to a boil in small sauce pan, and pour over chocolate. Let stand 5 minutes whisk until smooth. Let cool, stirring occasionally until thick enough to spread about 30 minutes.

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Read the trouble shooting below before making macarons

I categorized my story of making macarons like below;

1. PREPARATION

You must have all the baking tools and ingredients within reach before hand. 2 egg whites per batch making about 40 to 45 shells macarons that is makes about 22 mocarons with filling must be left on the countertop kitchen covered with plastic wrap and touched the egg for at least a night. I cracked them when I make dinner about 7 pm then I will make the macarons around 11 am the next day. If you are beginners try to make one batch first. Or cracked 4 egg if you are ambitious enough and in case you are unsuccessful for the first try.

I baked the macarons on  tray pan with parchment paper on top (you will need 2 tray pans) per batch. I drew a perfect circle (1-1/4" tracing from an art bottle cap). Then flip the parchment paper then I would pipe the batter on top the circle.

2. FOLDING THE BATTER

After you beat the egg whites and powdered sugar until a stiff peak form (about 4 to 5 minutes) then fold in the entire dry ingredients. This is the important part of making these macarons; some recipe said you can not fold more than 50 folds. As for me, I did not count the number of the folds but I fold it carefully and gently until the batter is well mixed and reached the right consistency. Now the question is; how do you know if the batter has the right consistency. When you fold the egg to much, the batter became very thin because the egg whites will loose the air and it will collapse and became watery. You do not want this to happen because you can not fix it. It will be wasted. It is better to have less fold at first. But you do not want the batter to have less folds either because then it is too thick. When it is too thick, when piping and after baking you will not have a nice smooth surface of macarons, it will have a rough top texture which we do not want. So DO A TEST FIRST !. Take a dollop and pipe one round perfect macaron on the prepared parchment paper. And wait for about 1 or 2 minutes. The perfect macarons and after piping, the pointy tail from lifting the piping will collapse and create a smooth and shiny top of macarons. This is the correct batter macarons. If after piping leaves a sharp pointy tail and won't collapse, you need to fold the batter about 5 to 10 folds or more to make the batter slight thinner. Then do a test again. You will get the hang of it and you will know it after a few practices.

3. PIPING

Do not pipe a swirl piping (like a snail) but pipe at one point in the center then squeeze until it all filled the circle drawing. Sweeping the tip of the piping it helps smooth out the surface of macarons.

4. AFTER PIPING

Leave the finished macarons tray in a room temperature for about 40 minutes - 1 hour. By now the top of macarons will form a leathery skin. You can gently touch and it won't stick to your finger. Then it is ready to bake.

5. BAKING

While waiting for the macarons for 40 minutes you can turn on the oven to a 350 deg. F. When the tray is ready to go in, turn the oven to a 285 deg. F. Bake for about 4 to 5 minutes. If this is your first time making the macarons you must stay in front of the oven door to watch it. The truth is there is no same oven temperature; they are all different. My 285 deg oven is not the same as yours. So your best bet is turn on the oven light and watch it for the first 4 minutes. You do not want them to became brown color and start to burn. After about 3 minutes they will start to form a "feet". This is because the air inside the macaron is being  trapped on top and escaped in the bottom that create a rough texture bottom part of macarons which they call "foot" or "feet" If you see this is happening then you are successful in making the macarons. If one or two of the macarons became cracked (like mine does) lower the temperature to 260 deg. or open the oven door slightly ajar. Then rotate the tray; by now your oven is 260 deg. then you will bake for more time instead of 4 to 5 minutes, make it for 6 - 7 minutes.

6. AFTER BAKING

Now they are perfectly cooked. Leave them for about 20 to 30 minutes. Gently pick peel one macarons from the side. They should easily come off. If not leave it for more time. Maybe the center is still wet. Wait for until it is dry. If until later is still wet, you can dab water with a finger on the back of the macarons on the parchment paper and gently peel off the macarons. Believe me; they aren't all perfect. But most of them are ! You will be a master after several practices.

~~~ THAT IS ALL THERE IS TO IT! YOU ARE NOW CAN MAKE A PERFECT MACARON. IT IS THAT EASY !

NOTE: I found reading what people has commented on a macaron blog topic is very helpful. So my suggestion is do the reading before you make them. Then you will have a better understanding about making macarons. Making macarons is not like making your grandma's chocolate chip cookies. Anybody can follow the recipe and be very good at it instantly! Well, not with this cookie! But once you understand and yes after several failures, you can make the most beautiful and perfect macarons. So don't be afraid of failure because I failed about 6 times before I successfully made this 'oh so cute little macaron'.

Here are some pictures from my own experiences in making the macarons.

Tea stand/cake stand available at Ellya's Etsy store; click below,

Vintage Scroll Dresden Flowers Motifs Tea Stand by Ellya, Vintage Limoges Tea Stand by Ellya, Vintage Rose Pattern Tea Stand by Ellya, Tea stand and cup 'Rose pattern' by Ellya

Have Fun Everyone...!!

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Panzanella Bread Salad & Tomota Apple Soup

I have been craving for a delicious Tomato Soup lately. I love this recipe because it has a kick to it; a hint of sambal spice in it!. It is pairing with Panzanella Bread Salad and is definitely light, healthy winter meal.

RECIPEES

Tomato & Apple Soup

Serves 6 - 8

2 tbsp butter

1 large yellow onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, sliced

3 Honey Crisp (of Fuji) apples, peeled, cored and sliced

1/2 cup tomato paste

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

1 tbsp sambal (Huy Fong sambal oelek chille paste $4/8 oz.

at amazon.com or local Asian market)

1/2 dry white wine

2 16 oz. cans whole peeled tomatoes (and juice)

4 cups apple cider

3/4 cup heavy cream, divided in half

Salt and pepper to taste.

1. In a large soup pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add onions, garlic, and a

pinch of salt. Saute for 10 minutes until pale and tender. 2. Add apples, tomato paste, mustard, sambal, and white wine. Let wine reduce by half (5 - 7 minutes). 3. Add tomatoes and cider; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for an hour. 4. Pour half of the soup in a blender. Puree with one part of the cream until smooth. Repeat with the second batch and combine it all together. Season to taste with salt and pepper. 

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Panzanella Bread Salad

Serves 4 - 6

4 slices of day-old sourdough bread, cubed

1/2 cup/125 ml of olive oil

Handful of dandelions (arugula)

Handful of fresh basil

12 cherry tomatoes, halved

1 red bell pepper,  charred , peeled and diced

1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

8 capers berries

1 clove garlic, smashed

3 or 4 tomatoes, halved

1/2 pound/225 g of asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 tbsp/15ml butter

15 medium size shrimp, deveined but tails intact

Salt and freshly ground pepper

1 burrata cheese, mozzarella di buffalo or feta cheese

Preheat oven at 350 deg F/200 deg. C

1. Place the sourdough bread on a parchment paper line baking tray. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until the bread is golden brown.

2. Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix together the dandelions/arugula, fresh basil, cherry tomatoes, roasted pepper, red onion and caper berries. Keep aside in the refrigerator.

3. Chop a garlic clove in half, and rub it on the bottom and sides of a large bowl. While the croutons are still hot, add them into the bowl to infuse the garlic flavor. Squeeze the tomato halves over the croutons to allow their juices to mix in. Once the tomatoes have been juiced, cut up the remainder of the tomatoes and toss in with the crouton mixture. Drizzle with olive oil and let it rest at room temperature for 2 hours fo the bread to soak all the juices from the tomatoes and olive oi.

4. In a pan on medium-high heat, sautee the aspargarus in butter for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pper. Remove from the pan and toss it with the croutons. Add the shrimp to the same pan and sautee in olive oil for 1 minute, on each side. Add the garlic. Season with salt and pepper. 5. Combine the croutons and asparagus with the dandelion/arugula salad.

6. For serving; cut the burrate cheese on the serving plate, season with salt and pepper. Pile the panzanella salad and the garlic shrimp on top.

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Good Luck Every One...

Indonesia & Puerto Rico Vacation

Jakarta, Medan & Bali - Indonesia

Going back to my country 'Indonesia' to visit my family and son is getting more harder mainly because of the long journey on board the airplane. But I did it.

First stop was Jakarta visiting my parents, brother, sister and my son. It was a wonderful 3 weeks just spending time with family and a view of an old friends.

Then I went to North Sumatra in Medan visiting my grandmother, an aunt that I have not seen  a while. Medan is definitely very unique and special because of it's culinary. And I did indulge some of my childhood delights while there. 

Then my son joined me in Bali 'The Island of God'. This part was the highlight of the trip because it was just the two of us in Bali for 3 nights 4 days. It was definitely a lovely bonding time for  'a mother and a son.'

Although the fact it was raining everyday and plus it was happened to be the biggest Hindu 3 days holiday for Hari Raya Galungan & Kuningan for the Balinese; but for the most part we did what we wanted to do. My son was a little disappointed because one or two of his favorite restaurants were closed. But we managed indulging a Balinese Nasi Campur at Warung Made just before leaving for the airport back to New York and to Jakarta my son went.

Below are the beautiful offerings that the Balinese scattered in front of their home, shops or restaurants. The colorful offerings made of varieties of colorful flowers and were placed inside a coconut leaves. Then an incense were placed on top while they prayed. This ritual takes place every day and you can see it every where on the street, in front of each stores and homes.  Where-ever you go.

I asked my son to stop the rental car as we were driving in Ubud to take pictures of these young men sitting around enjoying their time together during this Hari Raya Galungan. They were wearing white sarong with with white shirt and white cloth on their head. They were smiling and laughing in front of the camera as I took a view shots. What a nice young fellas those Balinese boys are...!!!

I really wanted to take a ride to the country side in hoping to take some pictures of the beautiful landscape of Bali but really we did not have much time plus my son was not so keen on going to the country side. This lovely landscape picture of Bali is the courtesy of Mr. Gusmang Oka Maruya. Thank you Mr. Oka Maruya !!

My son is 26 years old so I truly understand when he took me to this lounge called KuDeTa over looking the ocean. This is the ultra lounge where the young crowd like to hang out.  We wanted to have drinks while watching the sunset, but it did not happen because the weather at the time was a bit of rain and a bit cloudy. But we had a view rounds and took some of these pictures.

A corner at KuDeTa

We really love this restaurant called "Sardine." My son has been there before. I know he wanted me to see the nicest restaurant Bali could offer since when he was in New York we; my husband Steven and I took him to a nice restaurant all the time. So I found this restaurant to be very charming and romantic. The openness of the restaurant is blending with Balinese nature. The dining area is facing a huge Balinese pond with a walk path in the middle that leads to a small 'balai bengong' or 'a place to day dreaming'. I was told during a nice day, they serve dinner over there. But that evening we could not go there because the walk path was wet and muddy since it was raining all day.

Mother and son at Sardine.

This was what in front of us while dining at Sardine.

It was definitely a memorable trip. I can not thank my husband 'Steven' enough who gave me this entire trip and arranged the trip for me. My only hope that one day in the future we could do this same journey together. In the bottom of my heart 'Steven, thank you so much for giving me this journey!"

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Puerto Rico

After arriving 4 days in New York, I was leaving for Puerto Rico. This time Steven is coming and we were going to spend some time with his parents.

I always love Puerto Rico. The beaches are so beautiful with the bluest ocean. My favorite place is Gran Melia Golf and Spa Resort. This is the second time we were in Gran Melia Coco Beach Resort. I love the resort because it is a peaceful place with the most beautiful beach and ocean. It has a spacious clean room with a spacious bathroom. It has a gym, a spa, and situated in a secluded area. The beach was quite unusual because just before the white sandy beach there is the wide open green grass field where guests of the hotel would sit around and sun bathing. Then there are row of huge rocks that placed on the edge of the open green grass field. A set of a wooden step placed in the middle where guests could go down just a view steps down to the white sandy beach. So I think it is a beautiful beach setting; green grass, row of big rock bed, white sandy beach, crystal clear water and the bluest ocean as far as eyes could see.

Not only the beautiful beach that I fell in love with but I also love it because the beach has lots of corals and dead shells that I could collect. My husband probably think it is strange that I love shells very much but I think it has something to do with my child hood. Being raised in a remote area of North Sumatra, Indonesia, we, when I was growing up as a little girl did not get to go to an exotic vacation very often. But my parents with his friends used to rent a fishing boat from a small fishing village near our home to go to this remote island of off Malacca Straight called "Pulau Pandan" means "Pandan Island" for a weekend get away. My father and his entourage and helpers would build a huge tent for us to sleep and cooked for about 3 families. On this island I found so many beautiful different kind of  shells with  shapes and colors. It was the most beautiful memories of my childhood. So since nowadays not many beaches has dead shells; I found Coco beach at Gran Melia Resort Puerto Rico brings back my happy child hood memories a live. I felt like being in Pulau Pandan once more time. Those shells are now in a beautiful glass jar in our home in Delray, Florida.

Once again "Thank you Steven for taking me to the most beautiful spot in the world!"

Thank you for reading !!

XOXO,

Ellya

LV Bow Shoes DIY

I fell in love the first time saw this shoes last spring 2011 in a fashion magazine.

I have been keeping and tucked away in a closet this pair of Prada pumps for a long time. When fall season came the last time I had them out and the thought of making a bow {just like the LV pumps}  seems perfect for this Prada pumps.

Source; www.collectionfashions.com

The LV Bow Pumps

My DIY version

The step by step.

Exlude the glue gun; it is not working !

 For the bow.

Cut the leather trimming with scissor and {availabe at M&J Trimming} to the size of bow to fit the shoes as you like them to be. Using the fabric glue; glue them together.

Shoe clips from Etsy. Glues are from craft stores.

 Then using the super glue; glue the shoe clips on the back of the 2 bows.

I am curious on how they will look with the right outfit and make up because I really like the look of the shoes with the DIY bows. 

Next time I am ready to take some pictures of myself wearing them.

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Have a nice day !

A few hours in Manhattan with Ellya

It was a beautiful sunny day in the middle of the month of December. I have been wanting to go to a vintage clothing show in Chelsea Market. I know it will end soon so here I go off to "the city that never sleep" alone. And plus I want to get a few things while I am there. 

First stop; Chelsea Market !

I love this store with it's diversity of what's available in the store. From organic market to small sandwich restaurant, ice cream parlor, pretty cup cakes store, and I saw a sample sale for Prive selling beautiful coats parka, dresses, blouses, bags, etc. But the vintage clothing show already over. I was a bit disappointed but thought to myself; hey.....I can go to other exciting places and I am in a good mood plus it's a beautiful day. So I walked out the store and realized that my stomach telling me to stop by at this small quaint French bistro just across the street.

 I peeked through the glass window and said to myself; that's what I want, Baked Goat Cheese & Oranic Spinach Salad!

I ordered and paid, wouww...it's so pricey. It cost USD 17.00 with a small bottle of Pellegrino. But, can't argue because it was a gorgeous day. So I sat outside and enjoyed the scenery watching stylish people of lower Manhattan passing by. Took a few pictures then I walked over to the nearest train station 7th avenue line going uptown to Annex Flea Market at 24th between 6th and 7th avenue.

I have been coming here since I just arrived in NYC in 1997. I was a student back then and this flea market is near the school. I love all the stuff they have here. As an art and design student; this is where you want to go. Because this is the place where Manhattan artist and creative designers go either to find unusual item for their personal use or to create something artistically. It won't be a surprise you will see a famous person of New York here. 

I have been wanting to own a Burberry raincoat for a long time. When I saw this, I thought this is what I want. After tried it on in the back behind clothing racks with a small mirror I decided that this is not what I want. It does not come with a belt and it does not have that "flap" in the back. It is just straight plain Burberry coat. It fits me very well. And it is a not bad price for an original Burberry coat for USD 75.00. If it was the one; I would have taken it in a flash ! But I bought a rhinestone bracelet and a crystal broken necklace {I only want the beads for this broken necklace} for USD 10.00 each. Then I went to the next stop; M & J Trimming store at:{ I think 6 Avenue and 36th street.} I walked from the annex flea market and it was about 10 blocks uptown. When I got there my feet were about to kill me. But I was in so much joy because this is another store where the most creative designers go to get an embellishment either for fashion design, bag design, jewelery design and millinery design and shoe design. What a fun store this is ! And oh so pretty and oh beautiful the things on display! Beads, ribbon, feathers, bridal stuff, cristals, anything you need for your design embellishment. The trimming is absolutely beautiful. And that is what I was there for !

I got what I want. Paid. Oh...my husband called me and said "where are you!" I told him where I was and decided that he does not have to come and get me. The train station is around the corner. So I walked to Penn Station and took a few pictures a long the way.

This intersection is very famous. Macy's in one corner and across the square is the biggest Victoria's Secret store. And there are so many famous stores around it. This is the place for a serious shopping. During this time of the year;  many people gather around in front of Macy's window displays to see the pretty Christmas theme displays. Lot's of people bring their kids along. I walked so fast and eager to reach home and rest my feet.

After all I got what I want ! Oh no,  I forget something ! It looks like I might have to go back very soon !

HAPPY HOLIDAY Every One !!

Timeless Beauty of Vintage Sparkle.....

I have always been a huge fan of vintage jewelry. It is mainly because I loved wearing costume or fashion jewelries back in 1980s and 1990s and I still have quite varieties of them that I still keep and wear them now and then. I love them because there is something quite unique and elegant wearing vintage jewelries. Since those jewelries are quite large and chunky during 1990s I like to wear them with simple outfit with less pattern or solid color. They are lovely to wear during winter time with sweater or simple dress. This is true because back then goldtone material  used quite extensively and fashion jewelries were quite large.  And now gold is making a come back. In my humble opinion it is better to wear just necklace or just earrings or even a bangle or bracelet alone if they quite large in size.

I can never get enough of them. Although I am wearing less and less jewelry I still adore one nice huge vintage sparkle on me when go to a special occasion or to a Saturday evening dinner. So, what do you think! What type of jewelry do you like to wear; let's say when you want to jazz up your look to go out for a fun evening.

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These beauties looks so elegant wearing vintage jewelries. Does not matter ! We can still look as beautiful although it is not Harry Winston or Chopard and or Cartier vintage item. Let's just have fun because they are fun and quite elegance !! Please click here to see those beautiful vintage bling !

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I love what these elegance ladies are wearing. A simple pencil skirt paired with fitted sweater. A vintage statement bib necklace will complete this elegant look. It is age appropriate for anyone whom from the age of 20s to 60s.

Source 'Coco Kelly'

Bib Necklace Set from Ellya's Etsy store.

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Have a lovely Sunday !

Ellya

Soup That Warm Your Heart During Cold Night....

I never really like soup until winter time comes, and this is one of my favorite soup during fall/winter time. To me the taste like across of banana and sweet potato. And I like it ! It is rich, creamy and sweet but not overly sweet. Do you know that pumpkin is in the Squash family ? Please read this !

I have been wanting to make this soup since last week. So I finally made it for the first time tonight. It is delicious and very easy to make.

Recipee

For the soup :

- 3 to 4 pounds butternut squash, peeled

 and seeded

- 2 yellow onion

- 2 McIntosh apples, peeled and cored

- 3 tablespoons olive oil

- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

- 2 to 4 cups chicken stock, preferably

- homemade

- 1/2 teaspoon curry powder

Condiments :

- Scallions, white and green parts, trimmed and sliced diagonally

- Flaked sweetened coconut, lightly toasted

- Roasted salted cashews, toasted and chopped

- Diced banana

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 deg. F. Cut the butternut squash, onions and apples in 1 inch cubes. Place them on a sheet pan and toss with the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Divide the squash mixture between 2 sheet pans and spread it in a single layer. Roast for 35 to 45 minutes, until very tender.

Meanwhile, heat the chicken stock to a simmer. When the vegetables are done, put them through a food mill fitted with the medium blade. (Alternatively, you can place the roasted vegetables in batches in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add some of the chicken stock and coarsely puree.) When all the vegetables are processed, place them in a large pot and add enough chicken stock to make a thick soup. Add the curry powder, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Taste for seasonings to be sure there's enough salt and pepper to bring the curry flavor. Reheat and serve hot with condiments either on the side or on top of each serving.

Recipee from Ina Garten

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I did not have the soup with the condiments as per above recipee but I had it with crackers. And I added a swirl of heavy cream and garnished with basil leaves. The aroma of the basil leaves incorporated into the soup made the soup taste even better with a hint of basil.

Good night,

XOXO, 

Ellya