Breaking the Curfew

Okay, so technically, I'm supposed to be on hiatus.

But oh, what the hell! Here's the lowdown of what's been going on recently. My once not so amazing kitchen is now really really out of this world. Well, at least to me, it is.

We re-furbished the kitchen, got rid of everything that was malevolent, installed new built-in cabinets, another new oven, new hobs, a new sink, and practically new everything!

Finally, I have a constructive work triangle, which doesnt make me just want to scream in rage everytime I cook or bake something. As you guys know, I am supposed to be on hiatus, studying for my examinations and all that jazz. However, since the exams will be over by next week, I decided to test out my new oven! I could be compared to a child, yearning for a kaleidoscopic lolly, hung right in front of her face, but just far enough for her to not be able to grab it and lick away. My father told me last night, "Do NOT make anything till the exams are over!!".....But hey, he's at work, and he'd never know, right?

I just had to use my new oven. I just HAD to. I had to "consummate" it. Anyway, as evident in the photo above, you've probably realized that the macarons are a little flat, and have baby feet, as my friend Stefanie likes to consolably say. Was it the oven? Or was it just a case of an overmixed macaron batter? Rather puzzling. The bottoms of the macaron shells were also much softer, compared to the ones made in another oven. Perhaps they need a little extra time in this new oven?

The only time I actually ended up with baby feet and soft bottoms was when I accidentally overmixed a Lemon Macaron batter a couple of months ago. However, I'm pretty sure I achieved perfect macaronage today. So was it the fault of the oven? Perhaps I'll just have to try again. There's always an excuse to make more macarons, mind you.

Onto the flavor now...The macaron shells were flavored with just a tad of strawberry extract. As for the filling, it is a concoction of carefully proportioned ratios of buttercream and Strawberry Vodka Jam, which was a gift from Stefanie. She makes great jam! Still, the buttercream was lacking a booze factor. So I added a generous splash of Absolut Raspberri. Heavenly.

As for now, it's just a matter of me trying to perfect my macarons yet again, in this new oven. Wasn't perfecting them once in a different oven enough? I guess not. I'll probably have 2 methods of macaron making now...One for the ancient oven, and another for the brand spanking new one. My only worry now is that my father sees the macarons in the chiller. Oh well, what's done is done!