Friday, January 9, 2009

I am still here

Sorry for another long absence, this will get better before long, I promise. We are trying to finish up building another bedroom downstairs and I have all the normal housework and laundry to keep up with, as well as working out of the house. I should be coming home in a couple of weeks, so things will be better then.

I will try to get some pictures up here of our progress on the room.

I have been reading all of my regular blogs, so I have not forgotten anyone.

I do, however, want to share my recipe for coconut macaroons. These are not just an average, everyday cookie. They go really well on a holiday tray, though and they are great for a tea party.




Triple Coconut Macaroons
Makes approximatley 4 dozen 1-inch cookies

1 cup cream of coconut (coco lopez or the like) NOT COCONUT MILK - use the stuff that you would use to make a pina colada
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
4 large egg whites
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt

Whisk the above ingredients together in a small bowl.

In a large bowl mix:
3 cups unsweetened, shredded, desiccated (dried) coconut (I buy this at a Mennonite store, it is the little tiny flakes)
3 cups sweetened flaked or shredded coconut

Mix together with fingers. Pour ingredients of small bowl over and mix well with a rubber spatula. Pop in the fridge for 15 minutes.

Prepare 2 baking pans by lining with parchment and then spraying parchment with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Drop heaping tablespoons on to prepared sheets. Form them into loose haystacks with fingertips. (apparently this is the traditional shape for macaroons)



Bake for approximately 15 minutes, rotating pan front to back halfway through cooking time. Cool on sheets until set, approximately 2 minutes, Remove to wire rack with wide metal spatula and cool.

Can dip bottoms in chocolate - oh yeah baby!


I have some more recipes just waiting for you . . . . cranberry pork roast, spicy crackers, pork schnitzel, stollen bites . . . . so don't give up on me, I will rev it up once I get working from home!

Much love to you all!

12 comments:

Linda - Behind My Red Door said...

i love COCONUT but those look dangerous. I could eat most of them in one day....!!

Jennifer said...

I love coconut and macaroons but I cant eat them :(

The Blonde Duck said...

Those sound great! I hope your house works out for you!

Marie Rayner said...

Yummo Raquel! I love macaroons! Can't wait til you start working from home so that you can post more often!

Angie said...

One of the first things we made in grammar school cooking class was coconut pyramids which we were supposed to shape in an egg-cup. I could never get mine to plop out neatly onto the baking sheet! I like your recipe better thou but I don't know what I could use instead of light corn syrup which, as far as I know, we can't get in England.

Simply Heart And Home said...

Raquel,

Those cookies look so delicious! Oh if only the internet had a smell and taste widget! :)

Have you read any good books lately? I've been rereading Little Women. It is one of my favorite books (Have you read it?) and I wrote of it today. Which of the dear March girls are you most like?

And for a bit of news, I am hoping to have a giveaway every month. Tomorrow I will post the particulars for January and I hope you will join us for the fun.

Blessings

Jan said...

Welcome back, Raquel, we've missed you. I hope all goes well with your remodelling. Your macaroons look scrummy.

Angie should use Tate & Lyle's golden syrup instead of corn syrup.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I LOVE macaroons! I've got to try these!

Anonymous said...

These look so good! Thank you for the wonderful card. I've missed seeing you post and missed posting myself for that matter. Happy New Year!

Simply Heart And Home said...

Raquel,

I would love to have you write something for the newspaper! Whatever you would like to write would be great. The first edition will hit the presses tomorrow and another one on Thursday. No rush if you are busy. :)

Have a lovely evening.

Gina

The Blonde Duck said...

Have you ever read Elizabeth Peter's other mysteries besides Amelia, like Jacqueline Kirby? I LOVE them! Jaqueline Kirby and the one with the author named Margaret are hilarious!

Simply Heart And Home said...

Raquel,

I hope all is well in your little corner of the world. :)

and

You are cordially invited to participate in the February Country Giveaway and Kitchen Magnet Friendship Exchange.

Blessings,

Gina