Tuesday, April 20, 2010

and then the rains came....

We had some pretty heavy rains during the last part of last week and into the weekend. Things weren't completely dry but I resumed digging today. I have made it to the gate and my pile of rocks has grown considerably. I'll do some smoothing and grading and prepping for the pavers. Phase 2 will be from the gate to the patio in the backyard. I may need some more pavers.

On the baking front, I've been experimenting with various recipes in an attempt to make the perfect macaron. This bakery in Columbus Ohio has a nice selection. They look simple but they are very difficult to make. It's a rough experiment because almond flour is expensive and each batch consumes about a dozen egg whites. There are two possible methods - one with French meringue and one with Italian meringue. Both are difficult in small batches. What I wouldn't give for an industrial oven in my kitchen!