Thursday, December 02, 2010

Mac Attack #14... Savory Sweet for the Holidays

SUGAR AND SPICE AND EVERYTHING NICE
THAT'S WHAT THE HOLIDAYS ARE MADE OF


The holidays are fast approaching and whether we celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, New Year’s or a mixture of any or all, we are fast being taken over by the holiday spirit. Gift ideas and decorating schemes, guest lists and invitations swirl through our head every waking moment from now until the end of the month. And food. Lots of food. An abundance of food. But shall we go the traditional route, pulling out grandma’s recipe for this or a favorite aunt’s recipe for that or an old childhood favorite? Or do we slip on our thinking cap and dare to go all new and avant-garde? Do we shop at the farmer’s market and buy local and seasonal or do we go for broke and buy only the most exotic and unusual in order to surprise and delight our friends and family?

But there is one thing for sure: whether the old or the new, the tried and true or the wild and never tasted, there are so many great recipes for the holidays that blend the savory and the sweet, so many fruits and vegetables and spices and seasonings that can cross from one to the other and back again. Apples? Pie or crisps or as a sauce for latkes or veal chops. Pumpkin? Ravioli and gnocchi or more pies? Cinnamon? Yes, cookies and puddings or tagine and couscous! Cherries are as perfect with duck as with chocolate! And the list goes on and on.


So for this month’s Mac Attack Challenge, we are going Savory Sweet! Create a macaron that blends the savory and the sweet, the perfect balance. Invent a macaron to be served on a silver tray as an apĂ©ratif or hors d’oeuvres with a glass of champagne, as a special snack or part of a festive buffet. This is the season to experiment, to savor, to enjoy and this month you will!

Join us this month in our special festive Mactweets virtual kitchen one and all and we will be waiting to see how your imaginations fly! Let’s get in the holiday spirit together and pop some corks!

‘Tis the Season to be Merry!

Here are the rules of the game:

1. Once you have posted your Mac Attack macarons on your blog, make sure that you mention the Mactweets Mac Attack challenge in your post and link back to the Mactweets blog.
2. Please link back to this challenge on your post.
3. Feel free to promote the Mactweets blog by proudly displaying the Mactweets badge in your Mac Attack post as well as in your sidebar! It isn't mandatory but is a nice way to get the word out!
4. Have your Savory Sweet Holiday Macs posted on your own blog by December 25, 2010.
5. Once your post is up, simply leave the link to the post as a comment to this Mac Attack Challenge post!

Round up will be on December 30th, 2010.


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32 comments:

  1. My hubby will be overjoyed if i do a savoury one, will try to join in this month if i can.

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  2. Well I don't know about making a savoury macaron because I already have an AWESOME idea that is not necessarily savoury. However, if you want something that will go with champagne, I have just the thing!

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  3. ooh this one will be a real challenge for me. love it!

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  4. That makes a girl think! I'm so glad I joined LAST month, because this would have been a difficult challenge to start with. But I have some ideas :) I was planning to make a batch today anyway...

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  5. What a fantastic challenge! I only hope I can deliver something that looks worthy of being presented to people on a tray!

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  6. Oooh tricy, tricky. But fun! Jamming thinking cap on now...

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  7. I cannot wait to read about all the creations everyone will come up with!
    :)
    Valerie

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  8. How much fun, I can't wait to see what everyone creates!

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  9. http://www.thesweetart.com/2010/12/chocolate-bacon-macarons.html

    I made peppered bacon chocolate macarons!

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  10. Fantastic challenge, I'll try to join in this month if I can.
    khadija

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  11. Festive Macs are up :0) http://macaron-fetish.blogspot.com/2010/12/festive-choco-spiced-macaron-to.html

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  12. Mine is up! Well the first of two as the more interesting macs did not work at all though the flavor was amazing!

    http://lifesafeast.blogspot.com/2010/12/beetroot-macarons-both-savory-sweet.html

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  13. Mine are up too..
    What an amazing challenge...loved it

    http://debugcooking.blogspot.com/2010/12/mac-attack-14-savory-sweet-white.html

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  14. Mine are up!!!

    http://www.eatlivetravelwrite.com/2010/12/mactweets-go-to-an-international-holiday-party/

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  15. Got feet again...couldnt help but share it here..
    http://tinyurl.com/2dgh689

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  16. Mine are up. Honey Mustard macarons. http://tinyurl.com/39cyqso

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  17. Hi everyone, mine is up: http://testwithskewer.blogspot.com/2010/12/making-merry-with-macarons-mactweet-14.html. I made oat and parmesan macarons filled with brie and caramelised pear. Have a great Christmas and holiday season.

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  18. Here are mine, its my first time! http://thebentobakery.blogspot.com/2010/12/vanilla-olive-oil-balsamic-caramel.html Vanilla/olive oil ganache w/ balsamic caramel!

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  19. Here is my savory macarons - http://www.chezus.com/dessert/spicy-hot-chocolate-macarons/

    It is savory as in Bittersweet Chocolate w/chipotle chili and sweet because of the vanilla bean homemade marshmallow fluff and candy cane powder!

    Happy Holidays!

    xx oo

    Denise

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  20. Made it just in time!!

    http://myinnerdomesticbliss.blogspot.com/2010/12/mac-attack-14-ginger-coffee-macs-with.html

    Happy Holidays everyone!!

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  21. I'm a newbie too! What fun!
    Here's my post for Curry Chicken macarons.

    http://ascrumptiouslife.com/2010/12/24/mactweets-dece…avory-macarons/

    Looking forward to seeing what everyone else came up with.
    Happy Holidays to all.

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  22. Merry Christmas to all! Anyone care for a champagne macaron with caviar and cream cheese filling? See our strange sweet and savory flavor combo on our MacAttack page:

    http://hicookery.wordpress.com/macattack/

    Taste-test verdict, story and photo tutorials coming on New Year's Eve:

    http://hicookery.wordpress.com/2010/12/31/champagne-macarons/

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  23. How about a Parmesan Pancetta Rosemary Macaron? Here you go!

    http://leave-room-for-dessert.blogspot.com/2010/12/merry-macarons-to-you.html

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  24. I'm up! Sorry it is late; I thought the deadline was new year's eve! http://scrumptioussally.blogspot.com/2010/12/orange-fennel-storecupboard-macarons.html

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  25. Here's mine - a little late commenting/linking up - GOAT CHEESE!!! http://districtchocoholic.blogspot.com/2010/12/trans-atlantic-visit-macarons-with.html

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  26. Here is mine,vanilla macaron with fromage blanc and salmon roe..yum yum yum.
    http://seattlepastrygirl.blogspot.com/2010/12/vanilla-macaron-with-fromage-blanc.html

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  27. Here is my first entry in mactweets
    Cumin macarons

    http://carrotsandcherries.blogspot.com/2010/12/cumin-macarons-raspberry-rosewater.html

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  28. What a great idea doing savory-sweet macs. I've been MIA for several months on Mac Tweets but looking forward to participating regularly in the New Year.

    So many lovely ideas and beautiful Macs. Happy Holidays all and looking fwd to working on my Macs again next year!

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  29. Sorry I'm ever so late... http://www.passionateaboutbaking.com/2010/12/baking-savoury-macarons-mactweets-%e2%80%a6-and-reflections-on-2010.html
    ...and so is the round up. Will be out soon!!

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  30. Sorry I couldn't participate this month but looking forward to checking out all the creations.

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  31. That's a great challenge. This is going to be fun. Exciting.

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