my more recent endevours

 

just a few of the things i have made or eaten since my last post...i delved into making macaroons FINALLY. i had been wanting to make these for a while now, but i suppose i didn't feel like i had the skill just yet. they have always seemed so difficult and trust me they are! all the little tricks you have to do to make sure the consistency is just right, the tops are smooth, and the edges are not all flattened out...like the below picture...

not one of my brighter moments into the world of baking.  but everything is a learning process and i am a firm believer that if you care enough to try something again, you will. and i did, three more times. ugh, i felt like such a little failure. but luckily i asked a friend of mine for some advice about making these sweet treats. he led me to this site tartelette blog. this woman, helene, is AMAZING. her entire blog is so informative and i absolutely adore her photographs! i took her advice about the macaroons and SUCCESS!! and yes, i did a little dance when they finally came out the right way! so many thanks go out to tim for sending me this link and to helene for the great tutorial!

on to the next stop...i recently went back home to hawaii to visit some family and spend some time with my friends. one of the first food places, because there are MANY,on my list was Kamehameha Bakery for their delicously amazing scrumdidelyumptious TARO BALL! can you tell i was excited?! well, you would be too if you had one of these things! first off, its purple (my personal fave), and the inside is all warm and chewy, a slight doughy texture but nothing like uncooked dough. the outside has a slight crispness and with the added glaze it all just melts in your mouth into perfect divinity.  if you haven't tried one i would suggest getting one...or a dozen^_^

i know this is a biased statement but, my grandpa makes THE BEST BEEF STEW. seriously. the carrots and potato are perfectly tender and the beef falls apart in your mouth with every bite. and thankfully my grandpa makes it for me every time i visit. he also likes to include his broccoli and crab salad. so yummy...drooooool.

shokudo honey toast. that's all you really need to say. the toasted japanese bread squares topped with huge scoops of vanilla ice cream and drizzles of honey. mouth wateringly AMAZING.

i just love japanese candy. these are my faves i have yet to find in portland...i had to take advantage while in hawaii...

chocolate peanut butter swirl brownies. i really doubt there is any better combo than peanut butter and chocolate...or i have yet to find one...

these babies were...hard. the puff pastry didn't want to come out puffy enough for me. and i was honestly getting pretty exasperated. but, after taking a breather and going back to it, changing up the recipe a bit, i was blessed with these. golden and puffy shells for my vanilla pastry cream and chocolate ganache as a topper...perfect^_^

finally, cake test #3 i believe. thanks again martha for the banana fosters style cake with mascarpone frosting. i loved eating it!

ok, everyone officially caught up?^_^