“@vindee yes! Deeba those are definitely feet. Twittdome so hear that?
It’s the patter of Deeba’s Mac Feet!”
Meeta @ WFLH via twitter
I’d written this virtual post in my mind over and over again. The search for elusive ‘FEET’ is where I almost met my Waterloo in baking. These elegant French cookies, the ultimate beauties, have eluded me too long. I have gazed endlessly at the most gorgeous macarons at Helen and Aran’s blogs. Seven attempts down & yet here I was, back again. Each time a mixed bag of emotions. Will there be ‘feet’ this time? 
We got together a challenge for ourselves on twitter, the group of wannabe mac bakers, yet a terrified bunch. Began with Aparna calling out to me, and me in turn daring my lovely friend, and over the top, talented Jamie. By the end of the first 2 days, we set twitter on fire. Our days were gone tweeting hysterically about macs, doing the headless chicken dance. Jamie, took the dare head-on, and produced macs upon macs with great aplomb, and was declared our gangs’ own Mac Queen. With her firmly in the drivers seat, there was no looking back. She’s still driving the express & there’s no way of getting off!! I went through dizzy spells, with the rest of the gang getting ‘feet’ one by one. (Just in case you are still wondering, FEET are the little ruffles the macaron develops at the base when it rises.)
One more imaginary scowl from Monsieur Lebovitz later, quick discussions with Hilda, Aparna, & Meeta, I experimented for the 6th time that particular day. Two trays, 140C, a bowl at the bottom to absorb extra heat, resting time of an hour... and the Mr Lebovitz’s Chocolate Macaron recipe finally found me my ‘feet’!
.
Pamela @ Cooking Ninja gave me my victory call in her tweets, constantly making me feel like I would get there, …
vindee U’ll get your feets dearie. Can see you jumping up & down in yr kitchen shouting ‘I got feets! I got feets!’ like u won lotto. 😉
Pamela @ Cooking Ninja gave me my victory call in her tweets, constantly making me feel like I would get there, …
vindee U’ll get your feets dearie. Can see you jumping up & down in yr kitchen shouting ‘I got feets! I got feets!’ like u won lotto. 😉
Chocolate Macarons with Pistachio Buttercream
as adapted from David Lebovitz’s recipe
( I made half this recipe )
Macaron Batter
1 cup (100 gr) powdered sugar
½ cup powdered almonds
Macaron Batter
1 cup (100 gr) powdered sugar
½ cup powdered almonds
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 large egg whites, at room temperature
5 tablespoons granulated sugar
Method:
Preheat oven to 140 degrees C.
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and have a pastry bag with a plain tip (about 1/2-inch, 2 cm) ready.
Grind together the powdered sugar with the almond powder and cocoa so there are no lumps; use a blender or food processor since almond meal that you buy isn’t quite fine enough.
In the bowl of a standing electric mixer, beat the egg whites until they begin to rise and hold their shape. While whipping, beat in the granulated sugar until very stiff and firm, about 2 minutes.
Carefully fold the dry ingredients, in two batches, into the beaten egg whites with a flexible rubber spatula. When the mixture is just smooth and there are no streaks of egg white, stop folding and scrape the batter into the pastry bag (standing the bag in a tall glass helps if you’re alone).
Pipe the batter on the parchment-lined baking sheets in 1-inch (3 cm) circles (about 1 tablespoon each of batter), evenly spaced one-inch (3 cm) apart.
Rap the baking sheet a few times firmly on the counter top to flatten the macarons, then bake them for 15-18 minutes. ( I rested them for over an hour because it was humid).
2 large egg whites, at room temperature
5 tablespoons granulated sugar
Method:
Preheat oven to 140 degrees C.
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and have a pastry bag with a plain tip (about 1/2-inch, 2 cm) ready.
Grind together the powdered sugar with the almond powder and cocoa so there are no lumps; use a blender or food processor since almond meal that you buy isn’t quite fine enough.
In the bowl of a standing electric mixer, beat the egg whites until they begin to rise and hold their shape. While whipping, beat in the granulated sugar until very stiff and firm, about 2 minutes.
Carefully fold the dry ingredients, in two batches, into the beaten egg whites with a flexible rubber spatula. When the mixture is just smooth and there are no streaks of egg white, stop folding and scrape the batter into the pastry bag (standing the bag in a tall glass helps if you’re alone).
Pipe the batter on the parchment-lined baking sheets in 1-inch (3 cm) circles (about 1 tablespoon each of batter), evenly spaced one-inch (3 cm) apart.
Rap the baking sheet a few times firmly on the counter top to flatten the macarons, then bake them for 15-18 minutes. ( I rested them for over an hour because it was humid).
Let cool completely then remove from baking sheet.
Double the ingrdients if you are making the whole recipe above.
Ingredients:
3 tbsps butter, soft
1/4 cup pistachio nuts
1/8 cup granulated sugar
Few drops green food colour
Method:
Run the pistachio, sugar and colour in a nut/coffee grinder till well ground.
Whisk the butter till smooth for a minute, add the nut mix & blend.
Pipe onto cookies & sandwich. Store in refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Could write a thesis. Read up Helen’s Macaron 101 and her online tutorial at Desserts Magazine, David Lebovitzs macaron instructions, Lemonpi’s macaron posts, Mercotte’s beautiful pages of Desperately Seeking Macarons, Veronica of Kitchen Musings Macaron Chronicles from back to front & all around … unbelievable!
The original Mac Queen, Helen of Tartlette still rules our twitterverse, supremely, & we could never had gotten anywhere without her! Thank you!! 
As time is going by, we’ve had more & more folk join our twitter gang. Rachel, Shelley, Deb, Pamela, Erin, Ilva, Ria, Barbara, Megan, Paula, Reene, Finla … and a few more as we get closer to the 15th of September, ’09. That’s the date for the round-up at Jamie’s blog @ Lifes A Feast …
So if you still want to join, do drop us a tweet (or comment/mail). We’ll be happy to have you on board!
Lovely post! Dropping by…
p/s: We would like to invite all of you to join our blogging community which helps you to get more visitors to your blogs. It's totally free and you get the chance to meet other celebrity bloggers. Visit us at IMCurtain
Dearie, u got the most gorgeous FEETS on earth. 🙂 Those macs are smacking good. I could literally lick them off my screen.
Gorgeous Deeba! I knew you could do it and your photos look wonderful! Bet they taste great too!
Yeay for feet! So glad to be able to help. And now you know it was your oven you can make some more and eventually supplant the Mac Queen herself! our adorable Jamie. xo.
Congratulations! They're beauties! I hope to find some feet of my own some one of these days.
I love the way you described the lessons in Lebovit's class that really made my imagination in a classroom.
I can understand the disapointment when it fails, i went with them myself.
Still we had lots of fun didn't we.
Love that there is only 3 tbsp of butter in your filling.
Looks beautiful and yumm.
And you indeed have FEET…..
Now tonight you can sleep without dreaming aobut Mac.
pistachio buttercream? can I lick that bowl?
I've had so much fun with this mac adventure! Thanks for including me! Once again your post is spectacular!
…and you have gorgeous feet too Deeba:D
wow really nice macarons. I ve tried making these 2 times and failed miserably. I ll try again though. you gave me courage 🙂
Yaayyy for Deeba's macarons with FEETS! They're so cute. Nice and shiny and frilly and I bet they taste exquisite too!
I LOVE THIS POST! You are an inspiration! I'm so glad that I joined the mac train! Now if I can actually reach my "destination" I'll be even happier! I wouldn't want to shame The Mac Sisterhood with no feet Chez Fuji!
They are beautiful, those little feeted bastards! I'm LOL with your post – after following all your mac quest, it's good to know it had a happy ending! Almost a soap opera. Better: a MAC-OPERA!
These look fantastic Deeba, absolutely fantastic and the pictures awesome!! xoxoxo gloria
Wow, they are so pretty! I love the flavors you chose and that beautiful color contrast!
Cheers,
Rosa
What an unusual color for the filling. Very enticing.
They look so lovely and pistachio buttercream.. oh my.
Stunning Deeba! A pure twitter sweetness 🙂 with wonderful contrast of colors!!
Cheers!
Gera
See, like we all predicted you got those darned "feets"! Of course, hats off to your persistence. It's fun re-living the challenge through your post!
They look beautiful, Deeba. Unusual colour combo of chocolate and green.
Game for the next one? 😉
Congrats, Deeba! They're just lovely! I'm SO a wannabe mac baker — been reading about them for months but haven't gotten up the nerve to try yet!!
Ur pics r wonderful.I like it.
Work From Home
That is some guts to try after the many failed attempts..Good job Deeba!
"You got feet"..YAY..I am so happy for you Deeba.I was surprised that master bakers like you,Aparna and Meeta were so getting tensed about making Macs:).Even if it was the easiest recipe on earth,if that made you tensed,I wouldn't attempt that..EVER.No way we lesser mortals could get it right;).
Love love your feet:)
Mmm, pistachio buttercream.
I know you had a rough time with these, but oh my GAH! They look incredible. Chocolate and pistachio buttercream…I love them!!
I'm doing the Happy Mac Feet Dance for you, my love. Just a little patience is all it took (okay, so you lost your patience at about the fifth round, but who's looking?) and a lot of perseverance and you finally did it! This Mac Queen happily and proudly taps you on the shoulder once, twice, three times with her cooking whisk and dubs you Deeba, Knight of the Round and Ruffled Mac Table. And I couldn't have – or wouldn't have – done this without you. Next on my list? Chocolate Macs and Pistachio Buttercream. Dear Deeba, you have Twitter all-atwitter: your macs are beautiful!
oh wauw and what a loverly looking things you have made this time, dont know if i can get al the ingredients down here, but i will try to make them as well!!
My compliments for your beatifull creations!!!
greetings syllie
YAY YAY you finally have feet! 😀 I'm so happy you were so persistent! The macs look so good!
Your macaroons and your pictures are wanderful. You're a great baker!
A kiss from Spain.
"Hooray, let's hear it for feet!" – I'm sure that's a song from somewhere, and if I ever meet you face to face Deeba, I'll sing it to you :). Well done and I'm impressed by your tenacity.
oh yay you made it! Nice colour too! I should really try to make macarons again.
CONTRATULATIONS!!! Deeba, what perfect little macarons you have. Well done!! I have seen a few posts now from your Twitter chats and adventures. I would have loved to see all the back and forth – and participate myself. Fun! I am so obsessed with the macaron, too. That first successful batch is one of the best feelings in the world, isn't it?
Glad you found the feet! They are perfect!
I was always jealous of Helen's macarons but now I'm jealous at yours also. They are BEAUTIFUL. I'm doing the happy dance for you. I've never attempted to make them. Never crossed my mind. Congratulations I'm so happy for you 🙂
Congratulations Deeba! Love the way you have written this post..so inspirational! Macarons have come out beautiful, lovely combination of colors and flavors there..love them!!
I so would love to join your group..may i?
Oh, Macarons how much I love you dear Macarons! I love making Macarons. Maybe I should bake some and put a post up on my blog….
Chocolate and Pistachio are my fav. combos. So I will have to try this recipe out.
Beautiful photos, Deeba! This one was a challenge, eh? They turned out beautifully though–thanks for including me (I'm writing up my post now).
I am loving this fantastic pittar patter of the Macarons around the blog!! Thanks for bringing this over, for us to feast our eyes.
your look so cute, love the pistachios..Deeba even your failed ones could have been my success.. but i am not even there yet:-).. only if i got a bite of one of these wonders.
can't believe i am late here! sorry! but yahhh! this post is going down in our mac history for sure. glad we all were able to help you on this. they look amazing!
Congratulations!!! It's the sweet smell of macaron success! What an accomplishment, I'm sure it's made even better since you've failed beforehand. And how! Those macarons look absolutely scrumptious! Looks like you've been making them for years 🙂
Yay for tootsies, especially chocolate ones!
Gorgeous feet! I went exactly through the same problems….:where the feet is?!! Now I am just addicted to this elegant biscuit! Nice work
Perfect feet!!! congratulations, macarons are so… Difficult is not enough. Magic? Well, I don't know, but they are not easy, that's true.
Cheers from Spain.
tried to make these yday ..failed miserably…how did u make the almond meal..we dont get any here…should i blanch the almonds first before i powder them?PLEASE HELP!!
Currently it looks like WordPress is the preferred blogging platform out there right now.
(from what I’ve read) Is that what you are using on your blog?
it looks like very delicious
i will tried this,
i will comment your blog letter to tell u the result