Thursday, 6 October 2011

Chefs Can Study Abroad In France And Hone Their Craft

By Michelle Conner


When studying abroad in Paris, a macaron is the perfect sweet snack. You can pick one up quickly and conveniently in virtually any bakery in Paris. They are perfect in combination with tea, coffee, or just plain by themselves. Whenever you need a break from your studies or just need a mid day snack, these sweet treats are the perfect option.

A macaron is basically two cookies held together by a ganache of some sort. They are made from egg whites, almond powder or crushed almonds, icing sugar, food coloring, and granulated sugar. The ganache is usually a jam or butter cream. The cookies are dome shaped on the top and bottom and tend to come in a variety of beautiful colors. Read more on study abroad program in France and study in your major while immersing yourself in the local color.

Macarons are made in many kinds of flavors. They come in more traditional flavors and more unique flavors. For example, while many bakeries make chocolate, raspberry, and vanilla macarons, many also make green tea and truffle flavors. No matter what your taste buds are in the mood for, a French bakery will carry a macaron that you will love.

The macaroon in America is not the same food item as the macaron from France. Although spelled almost the same, the two cookies should not be referred to as the same thing. The dense cookie composed of chewy coconut is the American macaroon. The lighter cookie that is filled with a jam or jelly is the French macaron. Check out study art abroad and see the best of what's offered.

The creation of the first macaron is unclear. Some people think that the cookie was first made in Italy then brought to France in the early 150ss by Catherine di Medici. It was not until the late 1700s that the macaron started to gain more popularity among citizens of France. Around this time, two nuns who were homeless started baking and selling macarons during the French Revolution. The nuns' cookies did not have a ganache filling. They were simply the egg white cookie.

In the 1900s, French baker Pierre Desfontaines decided to take the cookies and fill them with a ganache.These are the type of macarons that you will see sold in Paris today.

Macarons are sold internationally. New Zealand, Switzerland, Japan, and other places sell these delicate cookies daily. The filling is what makes these cookies different depending on where they are made. For example, Japanese macarons have a peanut filling instead of a fruit filled ganache. The United States also sells macarons; you will not be missing out when you travel back home. Many bakeries in cities across the United States sell macarons in the same fashion that the bakeries in France do. You won't have to miss the taste of these cookies any time soon.




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