Baking Essentials!

So as I found out, the mixer was only the first step and there are tons of other baking essentials! There isn't a one stop shop unfortunately. Homestore and Milly's were good for bakeware, while Sugarcraft and Cake Stuff online were good for decorating items. Had to get the Silpats from Amazon and they are still making their slow way over from the states. 

Online order has arrived!

Love the KitchenAid spatula (fits the shape of the bowl perfectly) & ice cream scoop (for cupcake batter)
2  ea of Chicago Metallic Commercial cooling grids, doz muffin pans, cookie sheets

Some other stuff - will get a digital scale when I find one I like

One of my favourite new toys - WMF Oven Thermometer

Some icing tools and various consumables

Still awaiting some decorating items from Cake Stuff, Silpats and eco-friendly kraft boxes from states. The one gripe I did have with Milly's online ordering was they sent me cheaper S/S measuring cups and spoons when I ordered Amco ones, without informing me, that was rather presumptuous - it's not always about function! Styling matters too! *mumbles*

Think I'll start slow and easy by attempting Magnolia Bakery Vanilla cupcakes with signature swirl this coming weekend if the white cupcake cases & icing spatula (again backordered at Milly's without informing me) arrive on time. Wish me luck!

Macaron class with Guillaume Nicoli!!!

Guillaume Nicoli most recently featured as guest judge on New Zealand's MasterChef 2011 macaron tower challenge in the finale. Guillaume has previously worked for French maestro Thierry Mulhaupt in Strasbourg and at Fauchon in Paris. He has also been a dessert chef at a number of Michelin star restaurants. This macaron master currently has his own brand Ma Cherie in Auckland.

Team JJ went along to class at  Farro Fresh on tuesday evening to be inspired...

Ma Cherie's piece montee

First we got to taste the vanilla macaron with a glass of champagne

Then Guillaume, whom by the way is very entertaining with his jokes and french accent, whipped the egg whites- aged one week in the fridge.

Whites are done when you can hold the bowl upside down

Unfortunately I'm not a note taker or dedicated photo taker so....I'll just show random photos I took on the iPhone :P

Obtaining macaronage while I eat my lemon macaron...opps forgot to take a pic...

Raspberry macaron with a lovely Semillon

Close up of raspberry macaron...look at the feet!!

Strawberry macaron...oh oh...i see some hollow on the left!

Tray of piped shells for everyone to touch

 Unfortunately time, humidity and temperature were not our side tonight, so it was decided we would put the not yet ready shells in the oven and make MACAWRONGS! or we wouldn't be done by 9pm!

Chocolate macarons - donated mine to my other half after one tiny taste bite

Macarons for sale

More Ma Cherie macarons for sale - currently 9 basic flavours with ganache centres in the range, soon to be expanded

Took a sneaky pic of the macawrongs! No feeties = almond biscuits, feeties = macarons!

Bought a bottle of Sauternes and some Fresh As powder for macaron flavoring

Little girl wanted to do some modeling ;) She is after all from the breeder of all the ragdolls you see on NZ tv ads!

And I think it's time for bed. If anyone wants Guillaume's macaron recipe, leave a message and I'll email it to you! 

The start of our sugary and more than likely buttery adventures...

The Candy Apple Red colour first drew my eyes to KitchenAid mixers in 2009... 

KitchenAid Candy Apple Red 90th Anniversary Edition

I started obsessing about cupcakes and macarons around 2008.. the staring at and eating of them, not neccessarily the baking in the kitchen part ;) 

The famed Sprinkles cupcakes

Dreamt about sinking my teeth into Laduree's macarons!

Started thinking about baking towards the end of 2010. My lovely friend C, kindly demonstrated on her baby pink KA a batch of Cookie Monster and Elmo cupcakes in her kitchen. I only got as far as obtaining a couple of icing tips & bags! Content with looking at cupcakes from my favourite sugar artists @ Delectable by Su (KL) and @ Bella Cupcakes (AKL), I didn't give more thought to the baking idea.

Delectable by Su cupcake

Last month, I did my KA mixer research and  realised that if I didn't buy a Candy Apple Red 90th Anniversary edition now, the window of opportunity was closing, understandably, with only 2 left in the country. Not being a true baker, the odd apple crumble here and there doesn't count, I couldn't really justify the purchase...but my darling J shoo-ed me out the door near closing time on Saturday and told me to go get it! Perhaps it was the catalogues on the kitchen bench and pictures left on the iPad 2 ;)

Say hi to my Candy Apple Red!

So now I'm off to purchase the baking essentials. I've really only got an unused rolling pin and two S/S mixing bowls! Dreaming of lots of lemony and raspberry flavours!


Ciao~