Cinnamon Macaroons

Captivating Christmas Goodie

Christmas is here and so is my favourite childhood treat- Macaroons.  The very word conjures up image of delicious smells and melt in the mouth treats made by my Grandma and Mum.  They have passed on their love of food and skill with cooking to us and this is the time I put on my thinking hat and experiment with various spices and recipes and combinations, the results of which are surprisingly good.  This year I added cinnamon for a twist and my house is fragrant and Christmasy and the Macaroons simply Wow!  They are definitely going to be devoured by the handful.

The Recipe:

500 gms sugar, 300 gms cashew kernels or bits, 1 tsp cinnamon powder; a squish of lemon juice; one medium egg white; a pinch of salt

Grind sugar and cinnamon in blender. Place in mixing bowl. Add lemon juice, salt and cashew kernels and mix with spatula. Add egg white a little at the time until the mixture becomes a dough like consistency. Discard unused egg white. If too sticky add more sugar. Break off pieces and place on baking tray 2 inches apart. Preheat oven to 350 F or 200 C. Bake 15 to 20 minutes until done or slightly brown. Remove and cool. Serve as a dessert after dinner or transfer to airtight container. Subsequent batches take less time, so watch macaroons carefully.