Happy New Year!

Hi everyone!

It's been about a month since I've posted on here...I'm sorry! Christmas and New Years and Keat's birthday totally kicked my boo-tay. I'm not certain if I've even fully recovered!

In the meanwhile, I have created a new Instagram and Twitter dedicated to my Mahal to the Macs posts.  I will no longer post macaron posts on my @joanneisafoodie handles.  So please feel free to follow me on these new ones!

Instagram: @mahaltothemacs

Facebook: Mahal to the Macs

Twitter: @mahaltothemacs

I will be completely honest with you...you are probably going to see more action on those platforms way before I post anything on this blog.  I've really become a micro-blogger...not really into writing long-winded posts.  More impromptu, en minute...ya feel?

Salted Caramel Macs for my cousin in Texas

Thank you to everyone who have left me comments and even inquired if I took orders.  I'm limiting myself to close friends and family for now.  If you're a stranger, get to know me, follow me, let's be friends.  I'd rather serve those who I know on a personal level because they are more forgiving.  Ha!

Seriously!  I'm still too scared to serve people I don't know yet. That's one hurdle I must leap over before I start up any new endeavor that concerns the public.

I'm working on it!

Matter of a fact, I'm having my first "workshop" in a couple of weeks.  It's my first one and I'm nervous as hell.  I'm only having 3 "students"...and those "students" are my friends.  I need to practice first before asking perfect strangers to join in.

I hope everyone's 2013 is great thus far!  If you have any questions, you may email me at mahaltothemacs (at) gmail (dot) com or even better, message me on Facebook.  Until next time, take care!

xoxo,
Jo

Hot Chocolate Macarons - Run #11

During the colder months of the year, nothing is better than a mug of warm creamy hot chocolate. A marshmallow or two...or three...and some whipped cream is perfection.

I took the sweet flavor of hot chocolate and literally put it in a macaron. Really. I took powdered hot chocolate mix and pulsed it in my food processor with my almond flour and confectioners sugar before proceeding with the macaronage. After whipping up a gooey masharmallow buttercream, I was in heaven.

Honestly, the cookies were great warm out of the oven. I ate four even before they got to cool thoroughly.  Chocolatey cookies tend to do that to me. 

9/30/12 -  Hot Chocolate-Flavored Macaron Shells
Filled With Marshmallow Fluff Buttercream

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