Pistachio Macarons

If you've looked at my blog posts for a while, you've likely seen a post here or there where I include French macarons. I love macarons! Carol at the "Paris Breakfasts" blog is always posting pictures of them. Her blog is a must for anyone who loves anything and everything French. (She recently moved from New York to Paris.)

My wife found a French woman living in Ann Arbor, Michigan who teaches how to make French pastries in her home. She has a full, professional kitchen since she sells the pastries in Ann Arbor's Farmers' Market. My wife and I signed up to take her macaron class. It turned out our youngest daughter Kaitlyn wanted to take the class, too, but she and her husband are more broke than my wife and I. I decided to let Kaitlyn take my place. I really wanted to take the class, but I knew Kaitlyn would be good at making them. She loves making and decorating cakes.

Kaitlyn and her husband Dan came over last night, and Kaitlyn made pistachio macarons. I can't tell you how good they tasted! I took a few pictures with my iPhone so you could see her in action.

After baking the almond flour and meringue cookie, she pipes the filling unto one cookie. She used fresh pistachio nuts that were ground into a butter. She mixed that into an icing concoction.

Dan and I were hovering around taking pictures. That was our excuse anyway. We were actually waiting for the finished product so we could indulge.

Once the filling is on one cookie, you place a second cookie on top. Don't these look delicious? Macarons are actually quite sweet, and it's difficult not to over indulge. I'm glad Kaitlyn doesn't come over and make them too often!