On the Citrus Train...Grapefruit Macarons

Sticking with the citrus theme, I decided to make some Macarons.
I bought both Texas Ruby Red Grapefruits and Florida Red Grapefruits to enjoy this week but decided to turn them into something even more delectable then they are naturally.

Citrus is FAR underused in desserts in my humble opinion... I mean I can't think of anything more delicious than a citrus dessert! I lends itself perfectly. The tartness allows the dessert to not be over sweet and helps to develops deeper flavor profiles.

I turned these lovely grapefruits into:


Grapefruit Macarons filled with Bittersweet Chocolate-grapefruit Ganache and a GRAPEFRUIT CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM.


I got the idea for a Grapefruit Caramel from a blog that did a blood orange caramel. Recipe was from the sweets GENIUS David Lebovitz. He did a cooking class at my VERY OWN CENTRAL MARKET and I MISSED IT.

I cried.

Then made this caramel in his honor.

And ate it by the spoonful.

Kill me now.


Anyways, The macarons taste like heaven. The perfect balance of tart, bitter and sweet.

High five.



The blood-orange caramel recipe is here!
You will die. AMAZING.


For the Macarons:

Followed the "I LOVE MACARONS" recipe with Grapefruit Zest added halfway through your "macaronage"

Then for the Bittersweet Chocolate Grapefruit Ganache (GOD THAT'S A MOUTHFUL!):
1 cup 70% Cocoa
about 1/4 cup milk
grapefruit zest
tablespoon grapefruit juice

Melt Chocolate in double boiler. Add milk and stir to the desired consistency. Stir in remaining ingredients.

For the Grapefruit Caramel Buttercream:

Make the Grapefruit Caramel from the recipe above and set aside to cool.

1 1/2 sticks butter (softened)
about a cup of Powdered Sugar (or to taste)
grapefruit zest
a little less than half of the cooled grapefruit caramel

Beat butter in electric mixer until light. Add zest and slowly drizzle in caramel. Add sugar until it is desired sweetness.

Enjoy :)

Blood Orange Bars

I love citrus.
I love Oranges.
I love lemon bars.
But do you know what I love the most?!

BLOOD ORANGE BARS

Why you ask?!
Because they are the bomb dot com.
I mean, I just can't believe something so beautiful can come from the earth.
And I am really glad they (who every they is...) named it something so gruesome.
Blood Orange.
Just picture it, a man walks into the kitchen and finds his wife with what appears to be blood all over her hands and a large butcher knife... "OH MY GOD! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" he exclaims.
"I'VE KILLED AN ORANGE!!!!"


.....

Blood Orange Bars:

Crust
3/4 cups unsalted butter
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
pinch of salt

Cream butter and sugar, then slowly add flour and salt until combined. Pour mixture into a small pan. Press down with your fingers to flatten into an even layer. Bake at 350F for 25 minutes or until lightly golden. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

Filling
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2/3 cup juice 2 small blood oranges, and a large lime
2 Tablespoons zest, half blood orange half lime
2/3 cup flour

Whisk the sugar and eggs until blended, then add juice, zest, and flour. Stir until thoroughly mixed. Pour filling over the cooled crust. Return to the oven and bake 30-35 minutes, until set. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Sprinkle with 1-2 tablespoons powdered sugar. Cut into squares and enjoy!

I have myself in stiches...

This one time I decided to make clothes.
This one time was last Sunday.
I made a dress.
It came out like this...


And now I am hooked.

I owe it all to my friend Ali.
She inspired me because she made ridiculously cute things that were perfect in every way.
I was certain I was going to fail.
"ARE YOU JOKING? I CAN'T FOLLOW A PATTERN!"
I should actually be very mad at her because she is going to make me bankrupt but I can't be mad.. who can be mad when they are making CLOTHESSSSSSSSS.
Not I, GUY!

Anywho, it's been a week and a day since the newest hobby began and here are some of my other creations....

Plaid Puffy Sleeve Shirt.
OBSESSION. WITH. PUFFY. SLEEVES.
Pretty much drafted my own pattern on this baby.





little green linen.
i heart you.

Silk Crepe and Lace Blousey Poo

Back of 1st dress.

The many faces of nutcracker...

Oh hey there!

I survived Nutcracker.
It actually wasn't as strenuous as prior years for me. It was quite enjoyable to tell you the truth! Not only did I get to do a role I always have wanted to perform, I got to rehearse with the original muse of the role, Barbara Bears.

It was my favorite day ever.

I'm just sayin'.

Through the wild journey of "The Nutcracker" we get to perform many different roles. In the party scene alone I perform 5 different parts... Lead Mom, Mom #4, Doll, Auntie, and Fat Mom. Then quick change into a snowflake (depending on the show) then off I go to the land of sweets with one of the following: Spanish, Arabian, Mirlitons, or Flowers. Mix and repeat for 34 shows.

Oh Hey. Here are some of their faces.
(Try not to scream when you look at the first.)


Auntie

Fat Mom

Columbine Doll

Lead Mom

Spanish (and the infamous spit curl)

Arabian

Anywho, the run is over and now I am loungin' in Hawaii with my Grandparents. Definitely one of my favorite vacations of the year. It was almost exactly a year ago that I started this blog in this lovely city. I find myself going on the same morning coffee run, and walking the same routes around the city but something that will never be the same are the sunrises and sunsets. I have always been a freak for anything that has to do with "cloud play". I live for it. Give me clouds, and a sun and throw in the movement of the sun coming up or going down and I am entertained and happy for at least 30 mins. And that's a big deal because don't have a very large attention span. Sometimes I find myself doing 12 things at once and I think its a way of keeping all parts of my brain entertained at once... hmmmmm TANGENT.

Here's a winner.