Easter Eve

My Eggshell collection, perfect decorations for Easter. Top bowl: Turkey and Goose, Bottom: Quail and Button Quail

A busy spring this week, Earth Day celebrations and Easter on the same weekend! My goal for Easter Eve: Bake desserts and set the table ahead of time so Easter Sunday will be a breeze.
First on the list, deluxe raspberry macarons.

Pink!

 

 

Made larger ones in anticipation of Raspberries

 

Hisako Ogita Macaron recipe, perfect every time!

Shells done, they get filled tomorrow!

Next up, Black Forest cake!. I have been "saving" a couple of Jar's of Trader Joes Morello cherries. I figured it was time for them to be savored. Black forest cake is simple but so complex tasting when it is all done.

Cake layers are made of cocoa, eggs, sugar and a pinch of salt.

 

9 eggs are separated, yolks are beaten with 1 cup of sugar and a pinch of salt

Yolks are ready when they become thick and pale

Sift in cocoa...

...then fold and fold

egg whites are beaten to a stiff meringue, then fold and fold again with the yolk mixture

25 mins in the oven , a perfect flourless chocolate sponge cake

The cakes need to cool properly before proceeding, let's head out to the garden to see what's new...

First few waterlilies of this year

 

Climbing hydrangea, a good year for it

Single layer petaled Peonies

English Dogwood

Front porch tub, plants are growing nicely

Socrates loves the fresh air

When the cakes cool completely, they are ready to frost with freshly whipped and lightly sweetened heavy cream and filled with Dark Morello Cherries.

My technique for avoiding being sprayed with heavy cream

 

each layer is drizzled with cherry syrup and frosted with the cream

melt some dark chocolate

chocolate grass for Easter

  

I collected some lichens and linens, got inspired to combine it with eggshells I've been saving after breakfasts to make a wreath for the front door.

 

 

 

I was totally exhausted after making the wreath. Setting the table would have to wait till tomorrow.

Macarons for Earth Day

Every year, I look forward to attending the Earth day celebration held at the Tallapoosa Center for the Inner Arts. As usual, I will be accompanying the beautiful voices of the Clear Rivers Chorus. This year 's program will be extra special since one of the pieces being sung includes music composed by yours truly. Another highlight of the celebration will be what I've dubbed the "mile long" pot luck table. My contribution to the potluck this year will be none other than.. drumroll.... macarons!

My inspiration for the color selection came from the lovely front cover of a Garnet Hill catalog.

And for the flavors, I went with my favorites: Green Tea, Pandan and Nutella. In the last 2 weeks I have been experimenting with some new macaron recipes and I am sad to report that none of them work as well for me as the original recipe. So for the time being, I am sticking with Hisako Ogita's recipe.

I am enjoying my new kitchen scale! Macaron shells are simple, made of almond meal, egg whites, sugar and a little food coloring

 

 

 

I add "matcha" or green tea powder to make green tea flavored shells

Most important step in making macaron shells is drying the batter

Batter is ready to bake when it forms a firm & dry skin

   

 

 

 

 

 

My favorite part(other than eating them) is filling the shells. It is so much fun, I made a video of it:

 

 

 

 

I am hoping these get devoured at Earth day, if not, I will certainly enjoy the leftovers.