To me, macaroons are somewhere between a cake and a biscuit. They are great for afternoon tea or popping into lunch boxes.
Ingredients:
2 cups coconut
1 cup caster sugar
2 heaped tablespoons cornflour
2 eggs
pinch salt
Glace cherry halves to decorate
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
Line baking tray with baking paper.
Mix first five ingredients together well. Place dessertspoonfuls onto baking paper. Place a half cherry on the top of each.
Bake for 10 - 12 minutes.
Makes around 20 depending on how big you make them.
Notes:
This is one of those recipes where you really need to listen out for your oven timer bell. Macaroons can easily spoil if left in the oven for even 1 - 2 minutes longer than needed.
Food Facts:
Early Spanish explorers called coconuts coco, which means "monkey face" because the three indentations (eyes) on the hairy nut resembles the head and face of a monkey. Nearly one third of the world's population depends on coconut to some degree for their food and their economy. Coconut is highly nutritious and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is classified as a "functional food" because it provides many health benefits beyond its nutritional content. If you are really interested in further information on the medicinal aspects of coconut this site is well worth checking out - Coconut Research Centre
