Macro-ron - Lidl Brownie Macaron Sandwich

Took a bit of a break, but I'm back, baby. 

Macarons are a lot of work. They're made with (expensive) almond flour, they need to be piped in uniform puddles, then you need to let them rest before tapping the tray on the counter to create the perfect "foot," all before baking and assembling. I sadly don't have the time, or the budget, to perfect a macaron in my kitchen. (Although I would love to one day.) So, for now, I buy them. Even when they come from Lidl. they still feel like a luxurious treat. 

Lately, I've noticed that macarons are getting Big-Mac-ified. Meaning, they are getting bigger, and more outrageous. Like those Milkshakes that were all the rage a few years ago. The ones that were topped with full-sized separate desserts and have glass vessels covered in chocolate. It's a spectacle more than anything else. (I mean, how are you supposed to eat the chocolate off the glass? It's such a waste.) It appears to be Macaron's turn. I've seen huge ones stuffed with ice cream and fillings, like ice cream sandwiches, or giant cake-sized ones meant to be cut up and served at parties. Then there's this smaller scale one I saw at Lidl. 

It's a macaron, filled with brownie chunks, vanilla bean crème, and salted caramel. In theory, it all sounds great, but will it be too much?

Summer Flavors, Fall Weather

Watermelon & Peach Macarons

It's officially fall, so today's post is a summer-specific product. (Being late is very on-brand for me.) I never found the time to write it up, so I'm doing it now, before I get knee-deep into my beloved Fall/Halloween nonsense that will ultimately roll over into November and possibly December. (Again, very on-brand.)  

If you're not following, What's Good at Trader Joe's, you're missing out. Not only are their captions on social media hilarious and give me life, but if you shop at Trader Joe's, they go through practically every item they have to offer and let you know which ones are worth checking out. They try everything, so you don't have to! (New slogan?) Sometimes, even when they say something might not be that great, it can still pique your interest. Which was the case with these macarons. 

While the What's Good at Trader Joe's rating for these was fairly low, I had a lot of fun with the Trader Joe's watermelon jerky, and watermelon spread. None of these products are things I NEED or really loved, but they were certainly unique, yummy enough, and a lot of fun. So, how could I NOT try it in macaron-form to complete my weird watermelon Trader Joe's trifecta? 

A Frugal Indulgence for a Millennial Marie Antoinette - Aldi Spring Assortment Macarons

Aldi Spring Macarons

There is a clear difference between freshly-made bakery macarons and mass produced frozen ones BUT that doesn't mean frozen macarons are bad. They're just different. 

Pros of frozen macarons: more affordable, are readily available in stores like Aldi, Walmart, Lidl, etc., keep for a long time but are quick to thaw for snacking.

Cons of frozen macarons: Their stability means they aren't as decadent or delicate as freshly made, and they tend to come in boring flavors. If you'd seen one box of frozen macrons, you've  seen them all. 

Until now that is. Aldi is opening their frozen macaron section up to seasonal flavors, like this spring box. I hope this is the start of a trend and we see more, maybe even limited edition, flavors in the future. So, what's in this spring mix and how does it compare to the normal year-round one? 

Wegaroons Part 2! Macaron 6-pack- Wegman's: Cherry Hill, NJ

Macaron 6-pack- Wegman's: Cherry Hill, NJ

Part 1: Vanilla, Pistachio and mystery Coffee/Salted caramel

I took a ton of photos today and I'll be writing a bunch of posts tomorrow so that the posting schedule will be back on track starting today!

Okay, let's finish off these macarons!

Assorted Macarons Part 2 - Trader Joe’s - Marlton, NJ

Assorted Macarons Part 2 - Trader Joe’s - Marlton, NJ

Sorry for the long hiatus, I just finished my last observation for student teaching so I had several papers and lessons to complete. I only have five days of student teaching left, and I am going to miss my students like crazy, but my posting schedule will return to normal.
Enough talking, let's finish up these macaron reviews!

See part 1 HERE.

Want to know the difference between a Macaroon and a Macaron? Check out the nifty little breakdown in this post.

I already discussed the packaging in part 1, so let's get right into the next three flavors.
The flavors in this assortment are:

• Coffee
• Pistachio
• Salted Caramel
• Raspberry Reviewed
  
• Orange Reviewed
  
• Cassis (AKA Black Currant) Reviewed
  

Assorted Macarons Part 1 - Trader Joe’s - Marlton, NJ

Assorted Macarons Part 1 - Trader Joe’s - Marlton, NJ

After I was wowed by the pumpkin variety, I decided to try Trader Joe's assorted macarons.

Want to know the difference between a Macaroon and a Macaron? Check out the nifty little breakdown in this post.

Once again a Trader Joe's package design falls flat. Nothing looks fully developed! The color balance in the photo is off, the text isn't kerned properly, and all of the boarders around the edge of the box make it look dated. To me, this looks like a slide from a PowerPoint presentation, not a decadent dessert. It wouldn't take much to bring out the beauty in this product, a little kerning and losing the boarders would go a long way, but the box does function well and it kept my macarons fresh.

Pumpkin Macarons - Trader Joe's - Marlton, NJ

Pumpkin Macarons - Trader Joe's - Marlton, NJ

I love Trader Joe's, but the location closest to me is surrounded by tons of traffic, the highway is always under construction, and their parking lot is an absolute nightmare. It is quite a journey, but I braved it all to get my hands on some unique pumpkin goodies.
I originally made the trek to Trader Joe's trying to find their version of a Pumpkin Pie Pop-Tart, but they were sold out. (Boo!) Instead, I picked up a few other items that I never knew exsisted:

• Frozen Pumpkin Macarons
• Frozen Pumpkin Croissants
• Pumpkin Spice Granola
• Pumpkin Soup

Just a quick little Macaron vs. Macaroon tip:

• Macaroons are those chewy, coconut-y, sweets that are shaped like cookies. Macarons are little delicate cookies made with almond meal and meringue. Macarons are typically made into sandwich-style cookies with a rich ganache, while Macaroons are often coated in chocolate.

As far as packaging, Trader Joe's usually puts a decent amount of effort into their designs to create something with an earthy, but hipster-y, feel. When compared to their products I have had in the past, this design falls a little flat. Everything is orange! There is absolutely no contrast in the design, which makes it look a little cheap. (Although these were a bit on the cheap side for macarons. It was $4.99 for a dozen.) The photograph is orange toned, the background is orange, and the text is either a creamy off-colored white or burnt sienna. It's just too much orange! This looks like a product I could have picked up at Aldi. (No offense Aldi, you know I love you.).