Macaroons! YUM YUM!

I love coconut.
So I made coconut macaroons today.  The ones I made are inspired by
http://joyofbaking.com/CoconutMacaroons.html
But with my own twist, and I think it's a twist for the better.   It's kind of an easter-ish dessert for some reason, but honestly I've been looking for an excuse for weeks to make these.  They're super easy too.  Hope you enjoy!

COCONUT MACAROONS!

INGREDIENTS:

baked!  check out the nice golden colour

2 egg whites (about 60g, if you have pasteurized ones in a container, those are good)
Scant 1/2 cup of white sugar (about 90g)
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cup on unsweetened shredded or flaked coconut1 cup of sweetened shredded or flaked coconut
1/4 cup (approx 1 oz) of almond meal
1/4 tsp of almond extract
1/4 tsp of vanilla extract

Beef and Sweet Potato Stew - Moroccan style!

This is an old post, and I don't have photos, but it was delicious so I'm sharing!

I've made a very similar recipe for chicken, which you can see here but I like this one better!   Not so many photos because we've all seen crock pots before (that, and I forgot to take some)

Serves 6 (quite heartily!)

Recipe inspired by and adapted from:
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/slow-cooker-colombian-beef-and-sweet-potato-stew/
http://www.bhg.com/recipe/soups/beef-and-sweet-potato-stew/

INGREDIENTS
1 KG of stew beef (cut off visible flat globs)
2 tbsp of cornstarch = 1 tbsp of potato flour (alternately, use 1/4 c all purpose)
salt and pepper (about 1/2 tsp each)
4 C of sweet potatoes peeled with large dice (about 2 large, or 3 medium)
1 small onion chopped
4 cloves of garlic minced
2 stalks of celery sliced
2 medium carrots sliced
4 whole cloves
1 large cinnamon stick (or 2 small ones, alternately, use 1 tsp of grated cinnamon)
2 bay leaves
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp of cumin
1 cup of beef broth
1 28 oz of diced tomatoes in juice
Fresh parsley for garnish
2/3 c of sliced dried apricots and/or prunes

Chocolate Almond (Insert Dessert Name Here)

So I haven't been blogging lately. I've been cooking and baking up a storm, seriously.  I've done some great stuff in my kitchen.

The finished product! jiggly on top

One thing I've figured out is that I'm definitely lactose intolerant, so no milk in great quantity (or a bunch of lactaid pills, but the first option works the best!!!) and I'm not necessarily gluten intolerant, but I feel and it works better for me if I don't go crazy on gluten based foods (not to say I don't enjoy them at times!!)

I'm coming back in here with DECADENCE.  You will find recipes for two of the most delicious things I've baked in a looooooong time!!!

CHOCOLATE ALMOND (LAVA CAKES)
This recipe below is very similar to the Peanut butter chocolate cakes I've made before, except this time with almond butter.  Oh, and no flour either!  These were OUTSTANDING.  I talked about them for days after I made them, and honestly, I still think about them.  The appeal besides the flourless aspect is the honey used as sweetener! Brilliant!!  (I made half of this recipe)

cocoa'd ramekins

TOOLS:
4 6-8 oz ramekin dishes
2 tbsp cocoa powder
Butter for greasing

Ingredients:
6 TBSP unsalted butter
3 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
2 TBSP almond meal
1/3 C liquid honey
2 eggs
1/4 tsp almond extract
2 TBSP natural almond butter mixed with 1 TBSP icing sugar and a bit of water (to help it combine)