Days THIRTY SIX AND THIRTY SEVEN. Macaroons. Study.

Days THIRTY SIX AND THIRTY SEVEN. Macaroons. Study. Friday I had no idea that everyone would be so excited to make Macaroons. They have never been on the top of my must have dessert list, as the cookie seemed too light and airy, leaving only a filling to be enjoyed in a couple of bites. I didnt see all the fuss for the macaroon. I think I needed to appreciate the work behind the macaroon for me to truly enjoy it. I had always heard befroe that it is too hard to make macaroons, but it was much easier than I imagined. First we had the demonstration class, where the chef showed us how to make them. He used to have a bakery called "Macaroon" so he would be the expert on them. Random bits of knowledge for you: The cookie part itself has no flavor....it is only food coloring that gives it color, the filling itself gives it the flavor. In order to enjoy a macaroon at its fullest potential, one must wait at least 24 hours before consuming to allow the filling to infuse the cookie, thus giving it flavor. We made two kinds, pistachio buttercream filled & chocolate ganache filled. The chocolate ones do have some cocoa powder in the cookie shell, the chef said that they should never be flavored with anything else more than cocoa for them to be proper macaroons. I thought that the ones I made turned out pretty good for a first timer. I had a few last night because I have little will power when it comes to chocolate, but amazinglly enough, we each made a couple dozen and more....there was alot of extra batter so people were making more than one pan, but I was good with the copious amount I already had. I am patiently waiting the 24 hours to give another one a try. We made them in the night class, so it was 1030 when I got home, tried to study, but was so tired I went to bed. Saturday....tried to study. I got up, looked at my notes, couldnt concentrate, took a jog, made breakfast for lunch, studied some more, memorized the ingredients for the exam dishes, took a study break to a farmers market that lines New Market Rd that Malta had told me about (I got 6 bell peppers, 5 vine tomatoes, 12 large carrots, 3 zucchini, 6 heads of garlic all for five pounds! best deal yet!), went to other grocery stores looking for shaving cream to practice my piping, got a falafel, unloaded groceries, ate, tried to study, fell asleep at 7, woke up at 730pm, talked to my bro, and am now writing this. Pretty typical day of the life of a student. Now I must study. Learn. and Remember. Monday is the written exam (10% of my grade). Wednesday is the make the dish exam (45%). No pressure....off to review exotic fruits and so much more.....ttfn.