Lavender & Ginger Macarons

My apology if I, once more time post macarons today. A few days a go I baked these cookies 3 days in a row. All together I baked 6 batches of macarons. As mentioned before {here} I failed baking these macarons last winter so these time I really enjoyed making them as they came out looking pretty. And I want so badly to give some of these macarons to Dr. Chang (Artery Specialist) and his staff. So here they are.

My husband 'Steven' loves the chocolate and the coffee flavored macarons very much. He begged me to get rid off these macarons as fast because he can't help himself to have these macarons every night knowing that they there. So tomorrow I must bring them over to Dr. Chang's office, before they are gone. I hope they will like them. Also I know a lady who loves these macarons very much so I am going to drop by at her house to give some to her as well.

Do you see  the soft interior with chocolate ganache filling and the crunchy skin?   I admit although they are delicious it is one of those things that you can only eat 2 at a time {may be 3}and you will not want to eat it again for a few days. Good thing is that it is good to freeze in a freezer for up to about 2 weeks. It tastes better as you freeze them but before eating you must leave them out in a room temperature for about 10 to 15 minutes. Hhhmmm.....it tastes heavenly so good. 

Some people a little intimidated on making these macarons. The truth is they are very easy to make. I failed miserably 7 times before I got a perfect macaron first time I tried.

::Recipe::

Lavender Macarons

Recipe (here) except put 2 tsp crushed lavender flowers on the meringue and a drop or two of violet food coloring.

Ginger Macarons

Recipe (here) except put 1-1/4 tsp ginger powder on the meringue.

 

Chocolate Ganache filling.

 ~ 5 oz. bittersweet baking chocolate chips

~ 1/4 cup milk 

~ 1/4 tbsp. butter

 Steam all ingredients together in a heat proof dish  until chocolate melted. Cool slightly.

Sandwich cookies together.

~~~~oo00oo~~~~

Happy Sunday Everyone! 

Link to;
Savvy Southern Style

Fresh Healthy Soothing Ginger Tea

My father has been drinking this tea two cups a day for many years now. I noticed that my father gets lots of compliments of how young and healthy he looks. In the past I never interested in trying this tea. I do love ginger though ! My mother always jokes that whenever they go; for example when go to a family gathering for a few days she has to make this tea for my father. The joke was my mother said "I have been grated this ginger for your father wherever we go!" I do not mean that she has to do this when they are going overseas but she did bring the grater with her and fresh  ginger root when they go locally for a few days.

2 months a go they came to visit us here in New York for 3 weeks. I witnessed my mother grated the ginger every 4 days or so to make this delicious tea {later when they left I was curious to try it out} and I liked it !

Ginger is known for it's many properties to promote health  or to prevent illness in the far east especially China. More info here. Well, my parents got know this remedy from a youthful healthy 85 years old neighbor.

Here is the step by step.

Cut and peel ginger.

 Grated all the ginger pieces. I must admit it is a lot of work to grate the ginger. But if you take a good amount of fresh ginger and grate them all at once; it will last for 4 or 5 days.

 Put the grated ginger in a container so it can be used in the future.

 Take a good amount of water and boil it.  And take tea bag of your choice. I love black tea because it robusts and I just love the taste of it.

Take a cup put the tea bag, sugar {if you like} and spoonful of grated ginger and some boiling water in. Let it stay for a minute or two. 

When you get the strength of tea you like, take the tea bag out.You can put milk if you like.

Using a strainer, transfer the whole tea to another cup. When the strainer catches the ginger fiber use the back of spoon and press to  let the liquid drop in the tea.

This tea is so soothing and warm your throat. Sit back, relax and enjoy this ginger tea with biscuits. I am looking forward to have this tea during cold winter month. I will have this tea every day.

I would like to know if someone knows how to make this tea in an effective way; especially the grated part.

Thank you for reading !