Kona Coffee Macarons - Run #23

I miss Hawaii.

Before heading home to SF in October, Keat and I stopped by Ala Moana Center to do a little shopping.  I spotted the Honolulu Cookie Co. kiosk in the food court and I made a b-line straight for it.  My favorite out of all of the varieties is the Kona Coffee White Chocolate shortbread cookie.  If you've never had one before, you should really check into it.  Their signature shape is a pineapple - though there is no pineapple in the cookie.  The "leaf" part is left bare, while the "fruit" part is dipped in white chocolate.

They are amazing.

So here is another attempt of creating a Hawaiian-inspired macaron.  I've already made a cute speckled yellow mac with Dole Passionfruit jelly, tried recreating Liliha's Chantilly frosting (and failed), filled my Pink October macs with Honolulu Coffee Co. strawberry guava jam, and made an ultra blue Mauna Loa Chocolate Kiss Mac.  2 for 4 - wah!  Don't get me wrong, the Liliha failure, turned out to be a ftw in the end!  

Honestly, I was not overly happy with these.  I think I should have ground the coffee finer because there were chunks of coffee bean in the mac shell that kind of ruined the experience.  Or next time, I'll brew the Kona coffee in cream and use that to make white chocolate ganache.  The ganache in this one was too runny.  I think I rushed this one...so it's all my fault.

Yes, this is truly a learning experience, isn't it?

3 for 5.

Any suggestions for the next Hawaiian-inspired mac?

11/13/2012 - Kona Coffee Macarons with White Chocolate Ganache

Macadamia Kiss Macarons - Run #14

Yes, I still was high off of our Hawaii vacation. I brought home pasalubong (souvenirs) for my family, but I ended up eating whatever I brought back myself...including the bags of Mauna Loa macadamia nut chocolate Kisses we got from ABC Store.

Because they are only available in Hawaii, they are not cheap. Whenever I go to Hawaiian festivals here on the mainland, I see them go for $7-$8 a bag! Crazy! That still didn't stop me from making a delicious macaron with melted Kisses for the filling.

They were great and I have never seen Jayla eat so many macs before!

10/11/12 - Macadamia Kiss Macarons - Mauna Loa Blue Shells Filled withMelted Macadamia Nut Kisses

Passionfruit Jelly Macarons - Run #13

Hawaii.

Oh, Hawaii.

I have a love/hate with Hawaii. It's like the Philippines, but on American soil. The food is awesome. The weather wasn't too bad. I'm still afraid of the ocean. I adore the culture, but I would freak out if I saw a line of fire torches coming down the mountain. The views are gorgeous; however, tropical islands come with tropical insects who like to eat me alive. After three days in paradise, I was stuck in bed with infected bites and Vicodin-sick-stomach. No bueno.  I did however get a taste of some macs on the island.  My friend Lara suggested we go to the Honolulu Coffee Co. at Ala Moana Shopping Center to try their Hawaiian lilikoi and haupia macs and they were delicious. 

I got really sad leaving Hawaii. It's that aloha spirit that makes me want to come back.

Seriously though, I felt like I was having macaron-making withdrawals by the time I got home.  I knew for sure that once I did get home, I would make Hawaiian-inspired macs.  We didn't make it out to the Dole Plantation, but good thing there was a Dole kiosk at the airport. I copped a jar of the Dole Plantation Passionfruit jelly! Perfect!  I also wanted to try something new as far as design.  I did a yellow shell with green speckling.  I think it looks really cute.  Don't you think?

10/10/12 - Yellow and Green-Speckled Shells filled with Passionfruit Jelly from Dole Plantation