My delightful sister-in-law, Elizabeth, Jewess of Love and Light, and her mini-chef, and my favorite mid-western nephew, Ari, are guest-blogging and sharing a recipe with all of you that I personally cannot wait to try out on my family. When I asked Elizabeth to enlighten us with some seasonal treats, I had no idea that corn and legumes were prohibited during Jewish Passover. What was clear all along, something I know first hand, is just how delicious macaroons are.
Now, put on your schmata and get to it….
Elizabeth writes:
Passover – the Feast of Redemption. Some people feel enslaved being limited to matza, but I like to look at it as a challenge. No chametz (bread, flour, leavening, corn, legumes, etc.)? No problem. You just have to get a little creative. The thing is though, I like to be able to reach for a cookie. Yeah, yeah, it’s only eight days, but still. Sponge cake and matza crunch just doesn’t do it for me in the dessert department. Thankfully I found a recipe some years back for macaroons that hit the spot. No, not the things from the can, almond-apricot macaroons, nary a shred of coconut in sight. For everything else, it’s just eight days people!
Almond-Apricot Macaroons
(from Cooking Light)
2 Tbsp matza cake meal, for dusting cookie sheet
3/4 cup whole blanched almonds
3/4 cup matza cake meal
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1 tsp grated orange rind
1/4 tsp almond extract
3 large egg whites
Big person: Preheat oven to 325. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Have your little person help sprinkle the pans with 2 Tbsp. matza cake meal.
Place the almonds in a food processor; pulse 3-4 times or until coarsely chopped.
Lightly spoon 3/4 cup matza meal into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Add 3/4 cup matza cake meal, sugar and remaining ingredients to almonds; pulse 3-4 times or just until combined. (Careful not to over-process.) Transfer to a bowl.
Together: Using hands dusted with cake meal, divide dough into 16 portions (or 12 if you’re feeling generous). Roll each portion into a ball. You might need to squeeze it a bit to get them to stick together. Place on prepared baking sheet.
Big Person: Place in oven for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.
