Hello Kitty Macarons - Run #21

I was 16 when I first met my Manang Yolly and Manong Jeff. They were a young married couple from Maui who rented the extra room in our home. They worked at the RC with mom, so she knew they were good people.

I count Manang Yolly and Manong Jeff as a couple whom Keat and I look up to. They met as teenagers and are now a blissfully wedded couple with two smart and beautiful children - one of whom I am godmother to.  They are both so down to earth, kind, generous, loving, and most of all extraordinarily wonderful parents to their kids.  Bonus:  Manong Jeff likes guns.  Keat likes guns.  Get the picture?  If there is ever a zombie apocalypse, I know where I'll run to.  

But I digress...

Fast forward about 12 years and they are about to celebrate their youngest's 5th birthday. Chloe is the epitome of a girly girl. Pink, check. Hello Kitty, check. Crown, check. Manang Yolly throws the greatest shindigs for her kids, and I knew I was going to make macs for the party whether she asked me to or not! It would be an honor and a pleasure...

I made plain shells but colored one batch pink. I used edible inked markers to individually draw Hello Kitty's face on the white ones. I then made a fresh strawberry buttercream and voila!

Hello Kitty macarons!

But today, they were Chloe Kitty macarons.

Happy 5th birthday, Chloe!

11/1/12 - "Chloe Kitty Macarons" - Hello Kitty Shells with Fresh Strawberry Buttercream

Stuffed French Toast and Bacon Macarons - Run #6

Bacon.

Chic? Ou passe?

Bacon is just one of those things where it can be good with everything, but I understand when people say that putting it in everything needs to stop...especially when it is stuck in a dessert.  Well, this is probably going to be the last time I will ever put bacon in a dessert...or will it?

Sometimes savory and sweet are meant to be together!
Behold!  All the flavors of brunch in one little macaron:

9/19/12 - "Stuffed French Toast and Bacon" Macarons
Cinnamon shells with Canadian maple-cream cheese buttercream
and studded with Maple Niman Ranch Bacon



Linkin Park Inspired Macarons - Run #4

On Friday, September 7, my friends and I went to the Civic Tour at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Moutain View, California.  My most favorite band in the world (they are the only artist on my iPhone) would be playing a set of my most favorite songs ever.  Still smitten from the most awesome concert ever, I made these lovelies:

9/13/12 - "LP Fanatic" - vanilla shells topped with chocolate LP logo
and filled with Nutella buttercream

  This was my 3rd time seeing them in concert.  I don't think I can ever get sick of seeing them live.  Such a great show.  I love you, Mike!

San Francisco 49er Inspired Macarons - Run #3

The City of San Francisco lights up especially when football season and baseball post-season arrives.  We are definitely one of the best places to be a sports fan.  I have been a 49er fan as long as I can remember, so my friend Jnet and I met one night and made these babies:


9/11/12 - "Niner Nation" - Red and Gold shells filled
with white chocolate cream cheese buttercream

  PS: Who else remembers those old school Starter jackets?

Welcome to My New Blog!

Hi everyone!

It's Joanne!  You're probably scratching your head and asking "another blog?"...yes, I decided to start a new one dedicated just for the macarons I have been making.  For my travel/event/restaurant recaps, you can still catch them (if I ever post these days) on my first blog Jo Boston is a Foodie.

Since my cousin Roxanne and I started back in August, I've been completely obsessed with making them and brainstorming new flavor and color combinations.

By no means am I a "macaron expert."  I JUST started, so I still have so much to learn!  Trust me, I still have my bad days.  I do want to say thank you to all my friends who have been sending me their love and kind words over the last few weeks!  You totally make this a worthwhile experience.

With that said, here are two of my favorite macaron creations made for my San Francisco sports fans!

Go Giants!  Go Niners!

So why the name "Mahal to the Macs?"

First of all "mahal" in the Pilipino language means "love."  The title can be translated in various ways.  "Love to the Macarons" or "Love to the Max."  The world definitely needs more macarons and love.  I definitely love making macarons.  As temperamental as they are, the challenge gives me a thrill and the process is quite therapeutic, believe it or not.

My soul thrives when given a creative task to accomplish.  

I really don't know where exactly this will take me.  Will I ever be a professional macaron baker?  Who knows.  At this point, I'm not really seriously thinking about it.  I'm just having fun with it.  I'm also not taking orders because I'm creating them for my own pleasure.  Being "hired" scares me!  But like I said, who knows!

Never say never!

xoxo,
Jo