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Summer Activities Part 2: Alta Lake in Whistler & Nairn Falls Hike in Pemberton

Jul 23, 2017 · Leave a Comment

This is Part 2 of summer activities in and around Vancouver that I shared with Deborah Moore this morning on AM1470.

Continuing on with Part 1 of summer activities in Vancouver where I talked about the different places to stand up paddle board in and around Vancouver, the last one on the list was Alta Lake. It's 1.5 hours away from downtown Vancouver and 12 min. away from Whistler Village.

It's coincidentally the first place where we had our first SUP experience a few years ago. We rented the boards from Backroads Whistler and quickly fell in love with the sport to where we eventually bought our own boards that season. Although we've returned to Whistler many times after that, we never had an opportunity to bring our boards with us until two weeks ago. We had originally planned to take our first camping (tbh, "vanping") trip together. We really wanted to take advantage of the wonderful summer weather and be in nature but due to the forest fires in the interior, the only road to the campsite where we booked was blocked. We quickly re-routed our trip to Whistler because of the allure of using our boards on Alta Lake. It's a relatively calm body of water for SUP and the water on the beach edge is shallow for wading and swimming.

On another day, hubby "surprised" me with a hike in Nairn Falls. Okay, so it's not like he had champagne and roses prepared for me there, nothing of that sort (but it would be nice right? ...hubby, if you're reading this lol). On a whim, we decided to go on a hike instead of heading out on the water again so I suggested we do a hike at Brandy Wine - a beautiful trail with a nice view of a waterfall that we've done before. Hubby started looking up places to hike around Whistler and he told me to get into the car and he'd surprise me with the location. Fine with me, I like surprises 🙂

We drove about half and hour to arrive at a park called Nairn Falls Park. As soon as I arrived at the entrance , I started to take photos. It was truly beautiful. We were up high looking down at the most beautiful seafoam green water that was gushing down the river. I took some time to capture this perfect scene - vibrant green water, snow capped mountain and evergreen trees. What more could you ask for? Really! While I was greedily snapping away, hubby said, '"C'mon, keep moving. I promise you. It gets better." It does? Really? He must know something I don't.

We kept walking along the trail which is compact earth and rocks. It's not too hard or steep. I even saw young children walk by themselves while holding onto the hands of even younger siblings, and more impressively, a mother with a baby on her back. You'll still need the proper footwear though. We only had on running shoes and could navigate the trail with no problems. It was only when we veered off the main trail and tried to climb down the sides of the mountain in the makeshift paths down towards the water's edge did we encounter some slippery situations, literally. Well worth it though, here is the view once you get down.

We sat on the rocks cooling off with the mist from the gushing waters that was so clear and so green. What a dream it was! It was very spa-like, except it was real and we got to experience it for free. It really reminded me to be cognizant in my daily life to preserve the limited natural resources we have on this planet. After a brief rest and a fast and furious photo shoot, we headed back on the trail. I had no idea what I was walking towards. Was there supposed to be more on this trail?

We kept walking along the trail and after a total of about 40 minutes (approx. 1.5 hours round trip), we reached a viewing platform where we could view the most beautiful waterfall. What sets this waterfall apart is how it has created a perfect puzzle-like appearance in the big rocks in it's path. Just so spectacular! I was in awe. No wonder why hubby said he chose this hike for me. He said he knew I would want to take pictures for my blog and that I did. I hope you enjoyed them and if you get a chance next time you're in the Whistler area, make a visit!

And if you don't have a chance to head up to Whistler, here is the last summer activity that you can do on a rainy day in Vancouver. Read Part 3 of my talk with Deborah Moore here.

XOXO,

Mimi

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Summer Activities in Vancouver Part 1: Stand Up Paddle Boarding

Jul 21, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Here's a little more info on the summer activities I shared with Deborah Moore this morning on AM1470

It's the Season to be on the Water

Near the end of each spring, we eagerly follow the weather forecast to see when it would be sunny and warm enough for us to bring our beloved paddle boards out onto the water. That day for us came in mid-May this year with temperatures in the mid 20s (C). And it kept climbing throughout the rest of the season resulting in an early June heatwave with temperatures reaching 30C. Okay, so you may probably chuckle at these numbers if you're from a hot climate but these are definitely the numbers that make all of us Vancouverites rejoicing the start of our comparatively short summer season. It rains here almost 7-8 months of the year and even in the summer there are sporadic stretches of rain here and there too. So you can imagine my excitement to dust off our paddleboards - unused since last summer - for the summer season ahead.

What is Stand Up Paddle Boarding (aka SUP)?

If you've been near waterways where people do water sports in the last few years, I'm sure you've most likely seen people paddleboarding. You'll see people standing upright on what resembles a surfboard navigated by the movements of just one paddle. It's kind of like a cross between surfing and canoeing while standing upright.

It's so much fun to be out of the water enjoying the view while doing something physical but without having to get your hair wet 🙂 Unlike a canoe or kayak, you have the flexibility to stand up, sit down or even lay down on your board to suntan. And should you fall off, it's relatively easy to climb back onto your board as opposed to recovering a capsized kayak alone.

What to Bring for Paddleboarding?

If you're renting your boards (I'll tell you where you can do so below), it will usually come with a SUP, a paddle, a life jacket and a leash for connecting you to your board so it won't drift away in case you fall off. Here are a few things you can bring along with you to make your time more enjoyable:

sunglasses
sunscreen
swimsuit - You can wear it underneath a T-shirt and shorts if desired. Your bottom will get a bit wet if you decide to sit on the board and from launching the board on the shore.
water shoes or flipflops
frozen Gatorade or Water - it gets hot on the water since there is little shade, you'll need it to cool down
granola bar if you get hungry
a water-resistant bag which you can wear on your back or secure it onto the board.
towel
change of clothes if needed
Aquapac - It's a waterproof case to hold your phone so you can take awesome pics of yourself on the water.

Where Can I Paddle?

Deep Cove in North Vancouver

In Vancouver, we like to bring our boards to our favorite spot which is Deep Cove in North Vancouver. The waters at the cove are generally calm during times when there aren't a lot of speedboats on the water as well so it makes for an amazing experience as you trek along the coastline of the cove giving you a nice view of the beautiful waterfront homes on the shore and eventually reaching small islands like Grey Rocks.

Because of it's natural beauty and ideal water conditions, Deep Cove is one of the busiest places to rent kayaks, surf skis and paddleboards (or SUPs) so you must do it early. In the summer season, there is no such thing as walk-in rentals. The best time to book would be at least 1 or 2 days in advance, especially if you want to be out there on the weekends. Here is the Deep Cove Kayak website link.

Reaching the beautiful Grey Rocks Island with our paddleboards.

Beautiful little enclave on your approach to Grey Rocks Island and the view of waterfront homes while paddleboarding at Deep Cove.

Cate's Park in North Vancouver

If you do show up at Deep Cove and find that all the boards have been rented already, you can make a 5-minute drive to Cate's Park where they'll usually have more boards available. The area is not as pretty as Deep Cove and the beach where you launch is a bit rocky but worth the trip if you're in the area and have your heart set on doing some stand up paddleboarding. If you paddle long enough (one hour), you can even make your way to Deep Cove on your board but don't forget you have to paddle back 🙂

Rocky Point in Port Moody

For those in the Tri-cities area, Rocky Point in Mundy Park is another great place where you can rent. The view isn't as nice as the one you get at Deep Cove since the shorelines are lined with industrial plants but the wonderful thing that sets this place apart is the opportunity to see sea lions, lots of them, resting on the floating log piles. It's a wonderful sight.

Jericho Beach in the West End

Jericho Beach is known as a great launching area for surfers so you guessed it - the water will be choppy! Unlike the relatively calmer warmers of Deep Cove, expect to ride a few waves when you're out there. Here's the link to the Windsure where you can rent SUPs, skimboards or windsurfing boards.

Granville Island

Paddleboarding around Granville Island offers you a magnificent view of Vancouver's urban glass jungle and one of Vancouver's nost iconic landmarks - Science World, which was originally built for Expo 86. You'll face a lot of competition for the narrow waterways from the other kayaks, boats and yachts in this area so keep that in mind. The water quality there is also known to be less than desirable. Here are two places where you can rent from: Ecomarine & Vancouver Water Adventures

Alta Lake in Whistler

Alta Lake in Whistler is another favorite of ours. It's a 5 minute drive from Whistler Village so it makes a perfect daytime activity while you're up there in the summer season. There is a convenient dock for you to launch your board and the water by the beach is shallow and calm for swimming. Rentals can be made here.

I hope you get a chance to try out paddle boarding this summer. One of my girlfriends always noted her desire to go out on the water with me one day. We finally made it happen this year and she's been hooked ever since. I think she's well on her way to getting her own board soon because she has quickly fallen in love with it, and I think you will too!

Click here to read the PART 2 of the summer activities I shared with Deborah Moore this morning.

XOXO,

Mimi

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Losing my "Dessert Weight"

Jul 3, 2017 · 2 Comments

My "Dessert Weight"

It's July 3rd today and I want to share a little bit of my one-month weight loss journey that I started in the beginning of June. I tried to lose my "dessert weight" - basically the weight I think I've gained from eating desserts, and the weight from overeating stemming from the fear of being hungry later. It's extra weight that comes from unhealthy lifestyle habits so I was simply trying to lose those extra few pounds and nothing more since maintaining a healthy weight for my height and being satisfied at meal time is very important to me.

My Goal

My weight loss goal was to lose one pound per week at a total of seven pounds. It's nothing dramatic but I chose this goal because I wanted to lose it gradually and not have the process become so painful that it would make me fall off the wagon. I knew that developing sustainable lifestyle habits would help me more than reaching a weight loss goal only to gain it back afterwards when the actions taken to get there can't be repeated on an ongoing basis.

So far, it's been four weeks and I've lost five pounds. Here's what I did to lose my little "dessert weight".(Please note, I'm not a dietitian or trainer. These tips happened to be effective for me and my body type.)

1. Cutting Desserts

GASP! Oh I know.... how could I do that? That just goes against everything my blog and I stand for 🙂 Well, I'm not saying that I cut out all of it! I just happened to eat it at least 3 to 4 times a week. It was so easy since I'd buy a cake here and there plus there were days when I "had" to taste test my own desserts for the blog. See what I do for you all? Lol. I cut down my dessert intake down to 1 to 2 times a week. Sometimes I'd share it or if it was ice cream at home, I'd only take a few teaspoons full and stop. I was still able to find it satisfying since I was able to have a taste of it. In the past I was just mindlessly eating more than I needed just to "finish it".

2. Cutting Carbs

Instead of eating rice and noodles. During meal times at home, we'd pair a protein with quinoa or a salad. For salad dressing, I would use a tablespoon of peanut butter. I would also add some of the foods I liked to make it more enticing - strawberries, mandarins, dried cranberries to name just a few. I also cut down on eating out unless it was something I really wanted to splurge on - calories-wise. Of course, if I was eating with others, I would always partake in the food fun. If my dining companions wanted to eat something sinfully delicious, I would not kill the mood by saying no. For me, eating out with others should a fun and engaging activity where we can share a similar experience together. A splurge here and there is totally okay! Like this one I enjoyed with @maggiemei & @cici.w:

Mont Blanc Boxed Toast at Dazzling Cafe in Richmond. There are four more blocks of toasts inside!

3. Increase the Exercise

I regularly exercised 1 to 2 times a week but obviously it wasn't offsetting enough of the calories I ate each day. So i increased it to every other day. Most of it consisted of thirty minutes on a stationary bike at home in front of the TV. Although, logistically, it was the easiest way to fit in physical activity, I actually preferred one to two hour walks in the city and paddle boarding, both of which I did once a week. "Fun" exercise is the best. It feels like I'm not exercising at all.

Btw. I actually hate exercising. I'm not one of those people who get a "high" after exercising. Those people are crazy 🙂 Which leads to my next point: I realized that exercise can only burn off so many calories, which is not a lot. Since my usual exercises were not high impact or for a long period of time, I wasn't burning a whole ton, maybe just about 150 to 200 calories each session, therefore, some restraint was needed to not snack out of boredom. I loved chocolates and when I read on the packaging that one piece was 80 calories, it was enough for me to put it down. It was easier for me not to eat it than it was for me to work it off.

4. Eating a smaller breakfast.

This is a shocker. My whole life I've been told to eat a big breakfast which was what I did until I started calorie counting (with My Fitness Pal) and realized I added 3-400 calories to my diet each day during a time when I wasn't even hungry. I seriously struggled to finish my breakfast most mornings. It usually consisted of a piece of fruit, half an avocado and a handful of nuts or an egg. For a drink, I would drink lemon water with grated ginger. After reading some more articles that supported eating a smaller breakfast, I decided to give it a try. Breakfast time became less of a chore and I literally felt the same as if I had eaten a bigger one. Some days I'd swap the lemon for honey or add an extra egg to my meal, providing more satiety if I was required to have a later lunch.

5. Conscious Eating

Paying attention to what I ate as described above and how much of it was a huge mind set shift. I used to overeat out of fear that I'd be hungry later so over time it was hard to gauge when I was actually full. I had to train myself to recognize when I've had enough food. The first few days of my diet, I did deliberately lower my portions to cut the calories and yes, it was hard! I did feel hungry afterwards but after about 3 days, my body seemed to adjust to the new smaller portions and I was able to get by with less to feel full. I now try to consciously eat slower so I can have time to develop that "full" feeling. I also eat till I'm just full, not stuffed. And to alleviate the fear of being hungry, I tell myself that I can always eat a snack later. Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don't. And if I do, its usually a glass of milk (UHT which I absolutely love) or a large piece of fruit that I actually enjoy so it becomes a "treat"- usually fruits like Dragon Fruit or watermelon.

And there you have it. I'm still about two pounds away from my goal and I noticed that losing weight is not linear for me. The first week, I quickly lost three pounds and my weight was stagnant for two weeks until last week when I lost another two. I'm happy I developed some new habits that I can use each and every day without feeling unnecessarily restricted. I'll make sure to keep you posted and please let me know if you have any tips or suggestions.

Now let's just enjoy our desserts 🙂

XOXO,

Mimi

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If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Macarons & My Canada 150 Story

Jul 1, 2017 · 4 Comments

Mouse macarons on a counter with lavender, lemons and other ingredients.

Canada 150

On Canada's 150th birthday today, I'd like to pay a little tribute to this country which I'm lucky to call my home. (Read about my Canada150 Afternoon Tea experience here.) I know you're probably thinking why I didn't post an accompanying photo of a maple leaf or other well-known images symbolic to the country. I'm sure for many of my Canadian-born friends and even my own husband, being Canadian is a part of them that is as natural as life itself. For me, when I look back on my life, there was a time when I wasn't a Canadian. Looking back on the beginning of my life here in Canada, I somehow remember this little mouse. I'll tell you why.

Are We in Canada Yet?

My family and I immigrated from Hong Kong after I finished kindergarten. I didn't know how to read or write much in Chinese and probably only knew a few words in English. I remember when we passed through customs, we had these immigration forms that we had to fill out and sign our names on. I asked Dad, how should I sign it? In English? (I was yet to have an English name.) Dad told me, "Oh, it's just a formality, you can sign it whichever way you like. In fact, you can even put a turtle on it if you want." And that's what I did. I drew a turtle on the signature line like any other a 6 year old would do. Dad laughed and I was none the wiser. In retrospect, that was probably an extra blank form Dad gave me to occupy my time since I was probably one annoying child to ride on the plane with. I remember asking him incessantly when we would finally be in Canada like children often do on long car or plane rides. And sometimes I'd overhear my family saying that we were going to Vancouver. I would protest and say, "but, I thought we were going to Canada!?" I don't know how many times Dad had to remind me that Vancouver is a city in Canada. I must not have understood the concept between cities and countries then. Okay, I was definitely not the brightest little one lol.

Learning English

When we started school, I didn't know much in English so I often had no idea what my teachers and classmates were talking about. I spent a lot of time watching and observing what everyone else did, that was the only way for me to make some sense of the world around me. We lived in a remote region of the province so there were no dedicated group classes for ESL students. Instead, my sister and I were often pulled out of our regular classes and taught English by a specially appointed teacher in the school library. We would learn English by reading children's books and one of them that I will always remember is, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie." It's about the adventures of one child who tries to give a mouse a cookie only to find that he could not be satisfied until a series of other requests were met. I really loved reading that book with my teacher. She was a wonderful patient woman along with all our other teachers and the principal.

Even with all the support and special attention, I was still unable to keep up with my classmates so after grade 2, my teachers told my parents that it would be best to keep me behind to repeat the grade. I don't remember much else from that time except that I loved books and I would read a lot on my own time. I took out a lot of books from the library and read all the English words in them, often times not understanding what I was reading. They were just words that I didn't know but gradually, with the help of structured lessons, playing with my Canadian friends and just constant reading, they did start to make sense. At the end of grade 2, my teachers gave me a test to see if I could go back into the actual grade I should be in the next year had I not failed, which was grade 4. I actually ended up with a Grade 5 competency level and was allowed to skip two grades.

Looking back, I really appreciated the special attention we received at school since we were able to learn English that much faster. It was also a blessing to be surrounded by so many kind Canadian friends who only spoke English. That also contributed to how quickly we were able to learn and assimilate into Canadian life. I am so grateful for all the wonderful and welcoming Canadian people who were a part of our lives in our formative years in Canada. After university, I decided to stay and work in Canada even though many of my friends were moving back to Asia to pursue their careers. I knew I really loved Canada and wanted to stay and build a life here. It's a real privilege to live in a country where we have the right to vote, speak freely and have the confidence to pursue our wildest dreams. I don't take that for granted.

Canadian Life

To all my fellow Canadian friends, if you ever find yourself becoming impatient with someone who doesn't speak English, I hope you'll be reminded that just because someone doesn't speak English today, that doesn't necessarily mean they won't tomorrow. They may be trying their hardest and every time they encounter someone who converses patiently and kindly with them, their confidence will grow, along with their love for their newly adopted country. And for all my fellow immigrant friends, I commend you for taking a big leap of faith for leaving behind everything you know to start a new life in a new country, one that is presumably offering you a better life than the one you left behind, so it's important to put your best foot forward and embrace your newly adopted country and it's culture. Canadian society is one of the most multi-cultural and tolerant in the world but it's a two-way street. Along with contributing our own special ethnic diversity into the mix, we also have to learn (and use) one of the two official languages (English and French) and to respect local customs. In doing so, you'll open up doors to a new life with many great Canadians who are waiting to make a new friend just like you. So don't give up, keep learning and keep reading. In my case, I learnt that if you give a mouse a cookie... you take one step closer towards becoming a Canadian.

Happy Canada Day!

XOXO,

Mimi

Recipe

Macaron Recipe for Mimi's "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" Template

Ingredients

Supplies

Kitchenaid stand mixer or handheld mixer and mixing bowl
food processor (if making own almond flour)
spatula
heavy duty baking pan
silicone SILPAT mat or parchment paper
gel food colours in brown, pink & blue
fine piping tip (ex. Wilton 4)
medium piping tip (ex. Wilton 10)
piping bag
white confetti sprinkles
black sprinkles
edible pen
tweezers

Brown Macaron Batter

85 grams almond flour
85 grams icing sugar/confectioner's sugar
65 grams egg whites
58 grams granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
1 drop brown gel color (Warm Brown by Americolor)

Pink Macaron Batter

65 grams almond flour
65 grams icing sugar/confectioner's sugar
50 grams egg whites
45 grams granulated sugar
⅛ teaspoon cream of tartar
½ drop pink gel color (Deep Pink by Americolor)

Blue Macaron Batter

65 grams almond flour
65 grams icing sugar/confectioner's sugar
50 grams egg whites
45 grams granulated sugar
⅛ teaspoon cream of tartar
½ drop blue macaron batter ( Turquoise by Americolor)

Instructions

Basic Macaron Shell

Set aged egg whites out at room temperature.
Pulse almond flour and icing sugar together in a food processor to further break down any large pieces of almond flour.
Sift dry ingredients: almond flour, icing sugar. Discard big pieces of almond that can't be sifted.
If you are new to making macarons, please read the instructions to my BEST MACARON RECIPE before attempting to follow the rest of the instructions since it is condensed for the advanced macaron baker.
With the balloon whisk attached, whip the room temperature egg whites on low-medium speed.
Add cream of tartar when it becomes foamy.
Turn up the speed to medium.
Once the whisk starts to leave tracks in the egg whites, add sugar a little at a time.
Turn the speed up to medium-high and whip until firm peaks, stop mixer and add gel food color if desired. Continue whipping on medium-high until stiff peaks.
Fold the dry mix and meringue together until the batter becomes a "lava" or honey-like consistency.
Transfer batter into a piping bag fitted with a round piping tip.
On parchment paper or silicone mats, pipe out round shaped macarons.
Rap the tray hard on the counter to remove any excess air bubbles. Use a toothpick to pop any remaining bubbles.
Wait until the shells become completely dry before baking.
Bake at 325F for 12-14 minutes. Every oven is different, you may need to adjust your own temperature settings. Please read How to Use Your Home Oven Properly for Baking Macarons if you are unsure.
Macarons are done when the foot doesn't push back and the tops don't move when you wiggle it.
Once baked, let cool completely before removing from the baking mat/parchment paper.

Nutrition Information

Serving Size

1 grams
Amount Per Serving Unsaturated Fat 0g

Close up of the chocolate chip cookies made with black sprinkles.

Mouse & Milk Jug Macaron Template

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Rainbow Unicorn on Cupcake Macaron & How I Prepare Multiple Colored Batters (Template)

Jun 18, 2017 · 4 Comments

unicorn macarons on a plate with flowers.

Unicorn macarons are definitely good but unicorns with rainbow horns hanging onto a cupcake topped with cotton candy are GREAT! Ever since I created Tri-color Unicorn Macarons over the holidays, I've been thinking of new ways to incorporate this magical creature into my creations. Another project I did was the Double Unicorn Macarons which was a collaboration with Christina's Cupcakes |(see it here) . Today's project is unicorns hanging onto one of the most photogenic treats out there - sweet pink cupcakes! I think it has everything I ever wanted in Macaron Art.

How to Prepare Multiple Batter Colors

You'll need to prepare three sets of batters using my Best French Macaron Recipe. Pay attention to the ingredients for the pink batter, you'll need a little bit more of it. For macaron art, I like to prepare different sets of batter separately instead of dividing them up into small amounts and folding in the color. I think there is too much room for mistakes that way. Over folding is a big concern since you're adding colour to the finished meringue and not during the whipping process. I prefer to prepare different batters the longer and more reliable way. After all, it's macaron art. It requires patience to realize the vision. Plus, you will realize very quickly that there will be much more tears in the kitchen when you've spent lots of precious time piping your little works of art only to find that they don't bake properly.

I always have everything weighed out and ready to go. As soon as I have added the gel colour and finish whipping up a batch of meringue to stiff peaks, I will start folding it along with the almond flour. During this folding time, I already have another batch of meringue mixing in the Kitchenaid Mixer. It helps to work pretty quickly so the folded batter doesn't have to wait too long and dry out. To further prevent this, I transfer the batter into the piping bag. And of course, it helps to have a stand mixer and several Kitchenaid bowls at your disposal.

So that's how I do it and that's one of the ways I found to keep me sane while making macaron art 🙂

My Preferred Method

have everything weighed out and ready to be used.
Whip egg whites and add cream of tartar and sugar at the appropriate stages. After adding gel colour to the meringue and it has reached stiff peaks, stop the Kitchenaid stand mixer, take out the bowl and start whipping another bowl of aged egg whites.
Start folding the meringue with the almound flour.
All the while, pay attention to the second batch of meringue that is currently being whipped. Continue to add cream of tartar and granulated sugar as per recipe instructions.
Go back to your folding whenever you can. Once you've folded to the honey or lava stage, transfer the batter into a piping bag to prevent it from drying out.
The second batch of meringue should be ready to be used now. Continue steps 2 to 5 until you've created all the colors you need.

A Simpler Method

A simpler method to creating multiple colored macaron batters is to make one big batch of meringue and then split it up amongst bowls filled with equally weighted almond flour. Please read my brand new tutorial on How to Create Multiple Colored Macaron Batters.

Adding Cotton Candy

The cotton candy is optional. I added it because I had it on hand from my afternoon experience at Trump Hotels and thought it was a great opportunity to experiment with it. It's so fluffy and make the design really Pop! However, please note it needs to be added on immediately before consumption since they deflate within half an hour.

Video & Template

I've included a video to show you the steps in piping this character. Pipe each part according to the steps shown since you'll need to wait until certain parts dry up before adding more batter to it.

As for the template, make sure you print out BOTH of the unicorn cupcake templates. It's an assymetrical design so that's the way to make both the top and bottom shell match when they're assembled. This situation actually arose with one of the readers who used my Over the Rainbow Macarons, the clouds weren't matching up after baking because they had missed reading the instructions to print out BOTH templates.

Giveaway

Lastly, I'm going to be drawing a winner in four days for my latest Giveaway. There's still time to enter. Get the instructions here.

Good luck!

XOXO,
Mimi

Piping Step By Step

piping cupcake shape from macaron batter. — 1,) Pipe the cupcake base with the brown batter with a medium tip, Wilton 10 is used here. Pipe all the bases before moving onto the next step 2.) Pipe the cupcake top with the pink batter with a medium tip, Wilton 10 is used here

adding sprinkles onto macaron batter. — 3.) Before the pink batter dries up, gently add the confetti sprinkles on top with tweezers. Do this for each macaron before moving onto the next step. 4.) Pipe the ridges on the cupcake base with a fine tip, Wilton 4 is used here.

piping the head of the kitty onto macaron design. — 5.) Pipe the unicorn head with a medium tip, Wilton 10 is used here. Do all the heads at once. 6.) Pipe the unicorn horn and ears with a fine tip, Wilton 4 is used here 7.) Once the pink top has developed a "skin", add two little feet with a fine tip.

piping heads onto kitty face on macaron batter. — 8.) Once the heads have developed a skin, use a fine tip to add three hearts onto the unicorn head. 9.) Add white sprinkles onto the hearts with a tweezer 10.) Bake the macarons according to the instructions in my Best Macaron Recipe 11.) Once the macarons have finished baking and have cooled off, use a fine tip edible pen to draw in the eyes and eyelashes 12.) Use edible pens to color a rainbow pattern on the horn.

Adding cotton candy onto the macaron. — Optional: Roll up cotton candy into a small ball. Use edible glue to glue the balls onto the edge of the pink cupcake topper. COTTON CANDY MUST BE ADDED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE CONSUMPTION.

Unicorn on Cupcake Macaron Templates

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Recipe

Yield: 18 Macarons