In a Nutshell:

Macarons

Here’s my easy-breezy recipe for macarons. So simple! Sift almond flour and confectioners’ sugar, put it in the food processor, and sift again, then whip egg whites with sugar, cream of tartar, vanilla, and salt until stiff peaks form; gently fold in the dry ingredients until you get a ribbon-like consistency, then transfer to a piping bag and pipe into equal-sized circles on a parchment-lined baking sheet; you can draw them first with a stencil or even better, a protractor; then allow to sit for 1 hour to form a skin and bake at 300°F (150°C) for 15 minutes; then decide your filling flavor profiles, make an outer cream filling and pipe it in a ring onto one macaron and make an inner fruit filling and pipe it into the middle of the cream ring, then add another macaron half on top. Done!

Just Sayin’

I love a well-done steak. How do you make one?

We like to work with super high-quality beef, like a surprise steak or a very well-marbled rib steak. We’re not saying Wagyu is a must, but we’re not NOT saying it. Then we’d sprinkle it with salt and pepper, allow it to sit at room temperature for 1 hour, pat it dry, and set it aside for people who actually enjoy steak. You, however, can use whatever steak you’d like and cook it for 20 minutes per side over medium-high heat. Serve with barbecue sauce.

FT, help me!!

I love Testing 1,2,3! It’s my favorite column, and these days, I never buy kitchen items without consulting it. But why stop at knives and can openers? I need everything tested! Can you do minivans next? Maybe kids’ shoes? Cheder options in Lakewood?

Ok, Quick:

What’s the volumetric difference between a scoop and a heaping scoop?

A heaping scoop is the amount of coffee you measure when you have five kids under five. Are they all grown up? That’s a scoop.

Restaurant Rave

I recently ate a great meal that I can’t forget. I mean, the service wasn’t amazing (no waiters), and the ambiance was predictable (my mother-in-law’s house), but I didn’t cook, and I didn’t clean! Five stars, would repeat.

(Originally featured in Family Table, Issue 886)