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Sunday, September 19, 2010

Luck



This morning I met the luckiest person in Bangkok. As usual, my morning ritual includes taking a taxi to office, and as I was sitting in the cab, I couldn’t help but notice that the vehicle is truly brand new with that very particular out-of-car-assembly smell. So with my curiosity in tact, I started a conversation with the driver - a guy in his thirties, crew-cut, masculine with a fierce look that would normally stop other passengers to kick start a conversation. But I was just in my talkative mood, and that didn’t hold me back.



Basically I was asking him when he got this seemingly new cab. He answered with almost no-expression kind of face. “Just about two weeks ago, a first prize from a beer lucky draw!”. And from there he elaborated. Apparently one of the well-known Thai beer conducted an annual lucky draw and the first prize was a car. And this guy struck it out of his unforeseen luck.



I asked further how he felt upon the announcement. He said he was totally stunned and didn’t manage to compose correct sentences in that particular moment. Like there was a sudden mental jam. An overwhelming joy. An appreciation of goodness life has brought for him. An ecstacy!



That just reminded me of a special baking moment I encountered. The lucky moment applied to me and most probably many other food bloggers - yes that includes you there! It is that particular “There are feet! There are feet! My macaron is perfect!” moment. I experienced such a high level of joy whilst my first ever macaron baking came out with perfect feet or skirts. Although I didn’t have anyone around to share that particular moment, I was feeling extremely overwhelmed. I was a lucky man for once!



So when next time I am sad or down, this guy or my macaron baking episode will remind me that this moment will pass, better things are on their way.
For some of you who have been experiencing misfortune or feeling down for a while now, this taxi driver is the proof that life could not be bad all the time. In fact there are always ups and downs. And if you are currently in the lowest point in that life circle, that means things will quickly turn for the best in the future, soon or later.



PINK CARNATION MACARON
Makes 10 macarons



1. Pink Macarons
Prepare: 1 big baking tray lined with a Silpat or parchment paper

Ingredients :
- Egg white > 70 grams
- Sugar > 50 grams
- Icing sugar > 90 grams
- Ground almond > 45 grams
- Carnation essence > 1/2 teaspoon
- Pink coloring > 2 drops



Method :
- Combine icing sugar and ground almond. Sieve.
- Whip egg white until frothy. Add sugar and continue whipping until stiff peaks form.
- Fold almond and icing mixture gradually into the egg white in 2 additions. In between the additions fold in carnation essence and pink coloring. Mix carefully with a spatula until batter is shiny and flowy like magma.
- Fill batter into piping bag tipped with a plain circular nozzle and pipe into a circle with a diameter of 3 cm. Piping makes 20 pieces.



- Leave to rest until surface of these pipings are flat and dry or when touched, it doesn't stick to our finger.
- Preheat oven at 150°C.
- Bake at 150°C for 8-10 minutes. Reduce temperature to 125°C, turn tray 180 degrees and continue baking for 8-10 minutes.
- Cool on the rack and detach from Silpat or parchment paper.

2. Orange Ganache



Ingredients :
- White chocolate > 90 grams
- Whipping cream > 40 grams
- Orange concentrate > 1 teaspoon
- Orange coloring > 1 drop
- Butter > 16 grams

Method :
- Place white chocolate in a bowl.
- Heat whipping cream until boiled. Pour into white chocolate. Leave for a while until white chocolate melts. Stir thoroughly.
- Add butter, orange concentrate, and orange coloring. Mix well.
- Leave to cool and thicken.

3. Assembly



- Fill orange ganache into piping bag and pipe on the macaron. Top with the other macaron to form like a sandwich.

32 comments:

  1. A beautiful post! It is always very satisfying to succeed in something.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  2. I'm sure it wasn't just luck, since I know you're a very skilled baker and not surprised at all that your first macs would have gorgeous feet. But I can definitely relate to that feeling of having feet for the first time. Gorgeous photos as usual!

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  3. Des photos magnifiques et des macarons très réussis. BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Bon dimanche et à bientôt.
    See soon.

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  4. What a touching story, Kris!
    I felt the same with my first macaron experience, jumping around and pointing to the oven door whenever someone walked by! Do you think I could find carnation essence in France? I've never had it--how would you define the taste? If the flavor combination is as nice as the colors, I'm in...!

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  5. I cannot believe how perfect your macarons are Kris! Beautiful little feet-monsters.. :)
    That taxi driver was sure lucky! You hear stories about people winning things like that but I've never actually met one in person..

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  6. OMG!! are they gorgeous or what!! Stunning and perfect!! I love the white 2-tier tray.. lovely

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  7. Wow, this pink carnation macarons look so pretty!

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  8. Wow I can imagine how lucky and ecstatic that guy must've felt. I've yet to attempt macarons or experience the elation of seeing feet on them, but for now I'm happy just to drool over your gorgeous ones :).

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  9. Such a great post Kris! Just looking at your perfectly beautiful PINK macarons is enough to make me happy! Simply gorgeous and uplifting:)

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  10. They look so beautiful and perfectly baked!! Love the soft color, I have never found any food colouring other than red yellow and blue, the basics.

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  11. Your macarons always looks fabulous.. great job last month I tried two times but failed :( I am happy for you.

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  12. There are no words, except...breathtaking

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  13. A beautiful post. Since I'm at the lowest point in my life, it kinda helped! Congrats on the amazing macs~

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  14. omg!! I love all the photos in this post!! Kris, you are an artist!

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  15. Would you believe I STILL haven't made macarons? No courage. :(
    Yours are absolutely lovely and the color is so charming and girly. Love your various presentations!

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  16. Everything so beautiful, so perfect!
    congratulations!

    Yesterday I tried to do my second time macarons!
    Chocolate macarons.
    And I have to say that it wasn't so well.
    The dome has cracked, and the foot didn't cook.
    I really wanted to cry at that time! But it's all right, it can happens with anyone! Actually it awlays happens with a lot of people!
    hahahah!

    congratulations again :)
    Kisses, jean.

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  17. สวยงาม หวานมากเลยคะ

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  18. All of us have bad luck and good luck, watch out when you're getting all you want. That what my husband always tell me, so with that you will always remember people left behind and feel blessing for everything you have.

    Anyway, this is not february yet, but i feel valentine's on the air on that picture.. they are so pretty. The color of macaron so perfect! I love it.

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  19. je suis une grande fan de tes merveilleuses recettes et photos
    tu as l'âme d'une artiste, j'adore
    bonne soirée

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  20. I haven't encountered a more perfect looking macaron!! Each and every one of them look like magic. Love that beautiful tray.

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  21. Wow those look beautiful! I love the color, it looks so pretty.

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  22. You have wowed me with your macarons! What a fabulous outcome considering this was your first attempt at these not easy to make confections. The post was very beautiful. Quite pretty in pink :-) I hope you have a spendid day. Blessings...Mary

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  23. Thanks Kris. I needed that uplifting post. I had a bad day yesterday with someone's comments on my blog. A good day is on it's way. Love your macarons BTW. perfect!

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  24. Such a fun story, coupled with gorgeous macarons, make a fantastic post.
    Mimi

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  25. These are completely beautiful! I love your photos.

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  26. Je suis vraiment contente que j'ai trouvé ton blog. Les recettes sont délicieux et les images sont magnifique! J'adore le couleur de rose pour cette recette. Aussi, je pense que c'est incroyable que tu es un homme. Normalement c'est les femmes qui deviennent déesses domestiques, mais tu es évidemment un dieu dans la cuisine chez toi!

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  27. YAY! Congrats on the beautiful macs!

    I need to keep practicing my macaron baking endeavours and hopefully I'll be able to get perfect macs one after another.

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  28. What a truly lovely post!
    That would put anyone in a good mood. Keep it up :)

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  29. Hi Kris,

    thanks for commenting in my blog. These little pinkies are just adorable. How've you been? you know, your blog is a big inspiration for me to try baking. Normally I kind of shy away from it.

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