Macaron - a divine dessert

Macaron is a sweet meringue-based confection made with eggs, icing sugar, granulated sugar, almond powder or ground almond and food coloring.

The macaron is considered to be the jewel of french pastries in Europe. Macarons are lightly crisp on the outside, smooth and creamy in the center, filled with ganache (chocolate), rich cream, home-made fruit jams or  other quality ingredients.

Wanna try to make this pretty little treats ? Here is the recipe :

We need 100 gr eggs white, 50 gr white sugar, 200 gr confectioners' sugar,  110 gr  finely ground almond

(for 16 macarons)

 Directions :

1) Line a baking sheet with a silicon baking mat (a Silpat) 

2) Beat egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer  fitted with a whisk attachment until whites are foamy; beat in white sugar and continue beating until egg whites are glossy, fluffy, and hold soft peaks. Sift confectioners' sugar and ground almonds in a separate bowl and quickly fold the almond mixture into the egg whites, about 30 strokes.

3) Spoon a small amount of batter into a plastic bag with a small corner cut off and pipe a test disk of batter, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter, onto prepared baking sheet. If the disk of batter holds a peak instead of flattening immediately, gently fold the batter a few more times and retest.

4) When batter is mixed enough to flatten immediately into an even disk, spoon into a pastry bag fitted with a plain round tip. Pipe the batter onto the baking sheet in rounds, leaving space between the disks. Let the piped cookies stand out at room temperature until they form a hard skin on top, about 1 hour.

5) Preheat oven to 285 degrees F (140 degrees C).

6) Bake cookies until set but not browned, about 10 minutes; let cookies cool completely before filling.

• If you do not have a sifter, you can use a blender or food processor to thoroughly mix the almonds and confectioners' sugar. Just blend or pulse for thirty seconds. Remember that because the consistency of the mix is like cake batter, you're going to have to be quick about piping it onto the silicone mat. Hold the pastry bag sideways between piping so it doesn't spill.
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Sift that powdered sugar and almond powder together. It's necessary to let them set for an hour before baking.

 It is possible to mix it too much, and the cookie won't puff up when baked. Use as few strokes as possible when folding the almond into the egg whites.

The almond have to be ground to a very fine powder.

Voila ! Now you know how to make your own macaron, invite your friends over to taste them, and have a happy chat with them while enjoying your macaron. Have fun :)

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Valentine's Day - for Him

Have you prepare something special for Him ? Surprise Him this Valentine's day and create the unforgettable moments, show him how much you loved Him :)

 Champagne, Red wine or White wine, Vodka or Bourbon

 a wrist watch, every time he looked at it, he remembers you

 Flowers wilt, jewelry tarnishes, and candles burn out...but chocolate doesn't hang around long enough to get old. The sweetness, the rich flavor, express your love with chocolate :)

a New gadget for Him

 Sun glass  or  perfume

Best of all, invite Him for a candle light dinner... show Him you cooking skill by making  delicious meals just for the two of you.

Have fun to prepare your Valentine's day - create your own magic to charm your Prince :)

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Simple braided hair

Your hair is your asset. Do you think that your hair grows too long and want to cut it ? are you bored with pony tail day after day ? If you have a long hair like this

think twice before cutting it. 

When you go to a formal party, attending a gala dinner or a wedding party, you can braid your hair with many style and be the center of attention. Here are some trick you can use to bride your hair.

Basically, you need  a three-way mirror, a hairspray,  bobby pins, and a lot of practice to make it perfect.

This hairstyle is neat and simple, and makes you look taller.

This hairstyle makes you look gorgeous like a princess, add flowers or hairpin clips.

Finally, practice after practice and you might create your own braid-style. 

Braiding your hair each night before bed, would reduce tangling

Begin by applying a styling gel, mousse or pomade to clean, damp hair and blow drying the hair as smooth as possible. A French braid in hair that hasn't been washed that day and already has hair products in it also works well.

Beautiful lady, beautiful hair, beautiful dress, now you're the star of the party. Have fun !

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Honey for your beauty & health

Do you wish to look younger ? do you want to have a smooth and shiny skin ? do you want to have a beautiful healthy hair ? Honey is the answer

Mix a tbsp honey with a glass of warm water and drink it every morning.
Before you sleep at night, wash your face with warm water and apply 1 tsp of honey to your face and neck, apply it overnight. Don't worry even though honey is sweet, pure honey won't attract ants.
You can combine honey and egg yolk for hairmask (for hair growth) and honey + avocado for repairing a damaged hair and to add shiny to your hair.

Honey is known as natural humectant which means it has an ability to attract moisture and hold it. It is known to increase production of collagen fibers and improving skin elasticity, thereby assisting cell regeneration for a more youthful looking skin.

It defends the skin from damage, rejuvenates and refreshes the skin, making it healthy, supple and soft.
Rub honey every night before bed (specially in the winter) to your lips with your finger, it helps to cure chapped lips.



Health benefits :

1. Prevent cancer and heart disease
2. Reduce ulcers and other gastrointestinal disorders
3. Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal
4. Increase athletic performance
5. Reduce cough and throat irritation
6. Blood sugar regulation
7. Heal wounds and burns
8. Probiotic
9. Moisturizing and nourishing skins
10. Useful in improving eyesight, weight loss, curing impotence and premature ejaculation, urinary tract disorders, bronchial asthma, diarrhea, and nausea.
    

Cleopatra used honey and milk for her bath to keep her looking youthful. 

Now we know why Winnie the Pooh loves Honey so much, so do I :)

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10 sexiest men

1. Channing Tatum

Best known for : 21 Jump Street (2012), Magic Mike (2012), The Vow (2012), White House Down (2013). He was born April 26, 1980 in Cullman, Alabama, USA
 He has modeled for Abercrombie & Fitch, Nautica, Gap, Aeropostale, Emporio Armani, and has been featured in television commercials for American Eagle, Pepsi, and some very popular mountain dew commercials.  He was also in the very popular TV series CSI : Miami (2002) where he played the role of Bob Davenport.


2. William Levy

He was born August 29, 1980 in Havana, Cuba.
In 2006, People magazine in Spanish named him as one of the 50 Sexiest Bachelors.
He appeared in People en Español's list of the 50 handsomest men.
He is an actor, known for Cuidado con el angel (2008), Triunfo del amor (2010) and The Tempest (2013).


3. Hugh Jackman

Best Known for : X-Men (2000), X-Men : The Last Stand (2006), The Prestige (2006), Les Miserables (2012). He was born October 12, 1968 in Sydney, NSW, Australia
Has played the character of Logan/Wolverine in seven different films.
Chosen as one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" 5 years in a row, 2000-2004.
Voted one of "The 50 Most Beautiful People in the World" by People magazine [2003]
Won Broadway's 2004 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for his portrayal of Australian singer/songwriter Peter Allen in "The Boy From Oz." Jackman also served as host for the televised ceremony for the American Theatre Wing's annual Antoinette Perry (aka Tony) Awards in 2003, 2004, and 2005.
People Magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" in 2008.


4. David Beckham

He was born May 2, 1975 in Leytonstone, London, England, UK.
 Son of Ted Beckham and Sandra West. 
He began his footballing (soccer) career at the age of 17.
Voted the #1 best male body in "Celebrity Bodies" (UK) magazine. [October 2001]
Voted best dressed male by readers of "Heat" (UK) magazine. [December 2001]
In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated his salary for the year to be $33 million.
The Sunday Times estimates his net worth at $205 million.
Ranked #5 in the 2008 Forbes The Celebrity 100 list.
His legs are insured for $70 million.


5. Liam Hemsworth

Best known for : The Hunger Games (2012), The Hunger Games : Catching Fire (2013), The Expendables 2 (2012), Paranoia (2013)
He was born January 13, 1990 in Melbourne, Australia. The son of Leonie and Craig Hemsworth
He is the younger brother of actor Chris Hemsworth. 
He was cast as Gale Hawthorne in the big-screen adaptation of the best-selling novel The Hunger Games (2012)
Was considered for the title role in Thor (2011). The role ultimately went to his brother, Chris Hemsworth.
Ranked the #3 "Sexiest Man" in 2013 by Glamour, several places ahead of his older brother Chris Hemsworth who ranked in at number 7.


6. Richard Gere

Best known for : Pretty Woman ( 1990 ), Runaway Bride ( 1999 ), Chicago ( 2002 ), The Hoax ( 2006 ),  Hachi : a dog's tale ( 2009 )
He was born August 31, 1949 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Son of Doris and Homer Gere.
Richard was picked by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world in 1991, and as their Sexiest Man Alive in 1999.
Turned down the lead role in Die Hard (1988) which went to Bruce Willis.


7. Ryan Reynolds

Best Known for : The Proposal (2009), Buried (2010), Green Lantern (2011)
He was born October 23, 1976 in Vancouver, Canada.
One of the few actors to star in films based on comic books from both the Marvel Comics  : X-Men Origins : Wolverine (2009)  and  Green Lantern (2011) 
Was named the "Sexiest Man Alive" by 'People' Magazine in 2010.


8. Ricky Martin

He  was born December 24, 1971 in San Juan, Puerto  Rico
He began his career at the age of 12, as a member of the Puerto Rican music group Menudo.
In 1991 he began his career as a soloist, with the release of his first album, "Ricky Martin". It sold over 500,000 copies worldwide, becoming one of the highest debuts for a Latin artist under the Sony label in the previous ten years.
His song, "The Cup of Life" was the official theme of the World Cup in France, for 1998.
He earned "Best New Latin Artist" at the 1993 Billboard Video Awards
Ranked #42 on VH1's 100 Sexiest Artists.
Named one of "People" magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People


9. Josh Duhamel

Best Known for : Las Vegas (2003), Transformers (2007), Transformers : Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Transformers : Dark of the Moon (2011)
He was born November 14, 1972 in Minot, North Dakota, USA.
 On television, Josh is best known for his role as Danny McCoy on the NBC crime drama "Las Vegas." and starred in several seasons of the long-running ABC soap opera "All My Children," 
He is known for his role of Captain William Lennox in Transformers 


10. Ben Affleck 

Best known for : Argo (2012),  Good will hunting (1997), Armageddon (1998), Pearl Harbor (2001)
He was born August 15, 1972 in Berkeley, California, USA. Son of Tim & Chris Affleck.
He and Matt Damon sold their Good will Hunting (1997) script for $600,000.
The first director ever to win both the Golden Globe and the Directors Guild awards for Best Director after failing to earn an Oscar nomination for the same work, for Argo (2012).
He has played two comic book characters whose most famous story lines were written by Frank Miller: Batman and Daredevil.
Chosen as one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in the World
Named People Magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" (2002)
2002: Voted Most Eligible Bachelor by People Magazine.

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Manicure & Nail Art

Manicured nails are part of a finished look for many women. You can go to the nail salon or do it yourself.

First, you must remove old nail polish thoroughly.
Soak hands in warm water for 15 minutes then dry hands.
Fail nails in one direction only, avoid using seesaw motions.

Push back cuticles. Use a cuticle moisturizing if they don't push back easily after soaking.
Massage your hands, use a moisturizing lotion, or an exfoliating lotion if your skin is dry and or roughened.

Apply a base coat, allow it to dry.
Apply polish, clean any stray marks with a cotton swab dipped in polish remover.
Add a second coat for deeper color.
Finish the manicure with a top coat of clear polish.

That was a simple way to do your own manicure. If you bored with one simple color, try nail art.
Basically you need to polish your nails with 2-3 different colors then paint it using a thin brush.

You need a lot of patience to do nail art yourself, ask a friend to help so she can paint your nails and you paint her nails.

You can design your own nail art, how fun it is :)

The nails below are using green color, blue and yellow on the front. add glitters and bow tie stickers.

Using a clear polish and purple polish for the front, and using small thin brush to draw the flower petals.

Easy and elegant, using a clear polish and french manicure for the tip, finish with the small jewels.

Bring a sample of nail art photo to the nail art salon so they know what design you want.  Have fun :)

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Cupcakes for special occasion

Having a small social gathering at home ? It's just for 2-3 hrs, what should i serve for my guests ? Cupcakes :)  

Decorate these to be quite elegant & fancy in presentation for Brunches, Bridal showers, or whatever suits our needs. These sell at gourmet bakeries, coffee shops & cafe's for a pretty penny.

Lets make & decorate it ourselves

 here are the ingredient lists :
1/2 lb butter - softened
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
4 eggs
1/2 cup milk
2 1/2 cup flour
1 cup of sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
3/4 lb chocolate chips (optional)

 Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Butter muffin pan and set aside
Combine butter and vanilla using a hand mixer until light and fluffy

In large bowl, slowly beat in eggs and sugar until combined, slowly add the butter until it combined.
In small bowl, combine baking powder, flour, milk and salt. Slowly mix into butter until just combined, but still lumpy. Add chocolate chips and combine.

Pour mixture into muffin pans, filling each cup 2/3 full.

Bake for 25 minutes or until muffins turn a golden brown, and a toothpick inserted into center of muffin comes out clean. 

Now time for decorating, you can buy icing cupcake decoration or make your own icing

Lets make lemon & cream cheese icing (for example)
We need :
8 tbsp unsalted butter - softened
1 package (8 ounce) cream cheese, softened
4 tbsp lemon juice
5 cups confectioners sugar

In large bowl, combine cream cheese, butter and lemon juice with electric mixer until light and fluffy
add confectioners sugar, one cup at a time, continue beating until light and fluffy
If icing is too thin, add additional confectioners sugar, 1 tbsp at a time.

Now we can decorate our cupcakes, frost cooled cupcakes with the cream cheese frosting, add icing decoration or fruits on top.

Serve the cupcakes with tea or coffee. Have fun ! :)

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