Monday, December 26, 2011

Round Up| MAC ATTACK #25 THE LAST OF THE YEAR: SEASONS & HOL.


The sights, the sounds, the scents, the flavors of the season...

The holidays have come and gone and the excitement that a change of season inspires has slowly faded. But throughout the month of December, we baked and cooked in a frenzy, exhilarated by the abundant harvest of fruits and vegetables as they appeared on the market, excited by the celebrations and festivities of the end of the year. Savory and sweet, spicy, boozy, fruity, citrussy and exotic, the flavors of this time of the year wended their way into our kitchens, out onto our tables, our holiday baking a tale of the homey and traditional or the contemporary and creative.

Our Mac Attack challenge was a simple one of homebaked goodness. All we asked is that you be inspired by the season, your creativity influenced by the colors and aromas, your imagination energized by the holidays. And bake. Macarons.

So as we clean up the last of the party, toss out the last bits of wrapping paper and ribbon and put the party hats back in the cupboard until next year, as we settle into the long hard slog through the rest of the winter (or summer!), let us be warmed by the memories and the beauty that each of us bring to our kitchens, the love we offer to our families, the pleasure we give to friends with a plateful of hand-crafted macarons.
 
   
 Michèle @ Mini Cuisine with Macarons à la noix de coco {White coconut macarons}
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Kim @ Macaron Fetish with Christmas Snowman Macarons {Cinnamon Anise Chocolate & Wine Jelly Macarons}

Lora @ Diary of a Mad Hausfrau with Orange Macarons with Aperol Buttercream
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 Galanga Macarons with Crunchy Speculoos
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 Vanilla Spearmint Macarons

Laura @ Craftstorming with Halloween  Macarons
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Gingerbread Macarons
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Christmas Pudding Macarons

 Mardi @ Eat Live Travel Write with Pumpkin Pie Macarons
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 Merry Macarons
 
 KG @ The Kitchen Guardian with Macadamia Nut Brittle Macarons with Caramel Buttercream
 

 MieL @ Face Your Batter with Cinnamon Apple, Peppermint Chocolate, Strawberry'n Cream Macarons 
 
 
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Donna Hay Macarons {Pink Raspberry & Rose Macarons}
& 
 
 
  
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 Choco Cran Macarons
    
  

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Friday, November 18, 2011

MAC ATTACK #25 THE LAST OF THE YEAR: SEASONS & HOLIDAYS

THE END OF THE YEAR: SEASONS & HOLIDAYS


‘Tis the season to be jolly….. In fact, ‘Tis the season to be busy! Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas with New Year’s Eve dashing in before the door of 2011 shuts closed with a bang, we are up to our ears in baking, cooking, visiting, shopping, making list upon list of guests, gifts and recipes. The season turns chilly, summer has already faded into a gorgeous gold and red autumn and soon winter will blast in, bursting open the door on gale winds or fluttering in on the first gentle snow. And as the holiday spirit takes over, as our visits to our local markets leave us wide eyed in wonder at the spectacular cornucopia of fruits and vegetables in shades of burnt orange, golden yellow, musty creams and chocolaty browns, jade and garnet, as the aroma of cinnamon and caramel float through the air, our thoughts turn to macarons.

Late as usual, Deeba and Jamie have decided to turn it around and make our lateness our holiday gift to you! Instead of the usual 3 weeks to make your fabulous, stunning Macarons, you have 6 weeks to come up with as many as you please! But what, you wonder, scratching your head, no doubt leaving traces of flour in your hair from all the holiday baking, what is the theme? Well, let the seasons and her holidays inspire you… and make as many as you please!

Think COLOR: from the golds, oranges, yellows, reds and all the gorgeous shades of violet of Autumn to stunning Winter White. From the colors of a Thanksgiving Table to Hanukkah blue & white to Christmas’ cheery red and green.

Think FLAVOR: Pumpkin, citrus (yes, as summery cool as lemon and orange are, citrus is winter fruit!), pomegranate, fig, chestnut, apple or pear or any other fruit or vegetable star of the Autumn or Winter season! Be creative! Make it delicious! Or go celebratory with a kiss of cognac, a splash of Champagne, the sweetness of candy canes, the surprise of foie gras!

Think HOLIDAY! Need I spell it out for you? Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day! Any I am forgetting? Theme it, baby, make it work! Surprise us! Holiday nibblies, fun snack for the kids while baking Christmas cookies, elegant hors d’oeuvres while sipping Champagne, and gifts galore!


This is the season of office parties, school parties, parties at home and cozy family gatherings around a roaring blaze. Large, rambunctious, festive meals with family or sophisticated soirées with friends. Platter of cookies and milk morph into platters of macarons and milk placed out for Santa or a special snack filled with jam to be shared with those you love in the glow of the Hanukkah candles. Put on a party hat and wait for the fireworks while enjoying a multi-colored platter of macarons! Or bake away the same old same old Thanksgiving pies and turn those flavors into light, delicate, ethereal French macs!

So, dress in your seasonal colors, put on your holiday hats and let the festivities begin! Your Mac Attack challenge lets you use your creativity and imagination, slip into the season and get in the holiday spirit and MacBake!


You know the rules…they never change!

1. When you post 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. Please make sure that your Mac Attack #25 Seasons & Holidays Macarons are inspired by the theme!

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 Seasonal or Holiday Macarons posted on your own blog by January 1, 2012. And being just a little bit late never hurt anybody...

5. Once your post is up, simply leave the link to the post as a comment to this Mac Attack Challenge post!

The round up will be posted on or about January 5, 2012!

And have a very sweet holiday season!


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