The other day I asked my 12-year-old daughter, “Do you think you are spoiled and if so who spoils you, me or Dad?” To which she looks up, rolls her eyes thinks for a little while and says that she thinks she is spoiled a little bit and points her finger towards her dad. She thinks he is the one who spoils her.
I really did not expect to hear that she thinks that her dad spoils her. I thought I am the one who has been indulging her and spoiling her. I am the one who orders all her crafting supplies and believe me sometimes they do cost a bomb. I am not even exaggerating this, but G and her Dad fights like cats and dogs. Whenever we are in the car, it’s a WAR between Ariana Grande and RD Burman to make it to the stereo. If we are choosing on where to go for dinner, the dad and daughter do not have to work hard to disagree. And I end up losing my hair trying to play the referee. Yet, she knows that in the midst of it all it’s the Dad who spoils her. Probably somewhere she senses the love, affection, and camaraderie disguised in her dad’s conflicting actions. And I am so glad that somewhere she has the maturity to perceive and feel it.
Mini Mocha Macarons Recipe – Nutella-Dark Chocolate Filling
I grew up in a middle-class environment. We never had access to luxury but our parents did everything possible to ensure that we have a safe and comfortable upbringing and we were exposed to opportunities that could help us make something of ourselves. In fact, we grew up knowing that we were their center of universe and baba and ma did spoil us crazy maybe not with money but with love. We would be scolded, reprimanded, corrected, maybe even occasionally hit but we knew we were loved and there are two shields which would stand in the way of any harm directed towards us.
Dad passed away in 2001. It was my biggest blow but I carry him within me and would do so till I leave this world. After dad, mom took over his role too and even to this date continues to stand strong for me and indulges my every whim and fancy. I have been married for 13 years now and have been managing my family, career, and home. Stress is always there but God only knows how much comfort I draw from the sense of having been spoiled. It is so important to know that there is a place where you are still a little girl for someone.
And it’s not always parents, I have been fortunate to have a few people in my life that still does the same for me, loves me to the extent of pampering me. My husband, my in-laws, a few friends and for these people I have learned to look beyond the obvious words. The words they speak may not always represent the feelings they have for me. They would be there for me, pray for my well-being irrespective of what I tell them. And as much as I consider the parent-child relationship divine, divinity can exist in any relationship if the intent is right and the love is strong.
So being spoilt is not at all a bad thing especially if you realize in your heart that you are loved to the extent of being spoilt. And the small revelation by G actually gave me so much happiness. Knowing her dad, I know that he probably cares for her even way more than I do but may not be always expressing the same. I know he behaves more like a sibling than a father with her but probably that’s exactly what she needs. And that’s what she would carry in her heart forever.
So the day this happened, I asked her if I could make her a little treat and she says that she could not have enough of the macarons [2] I made last to last week. And would love some more again. So I made them again. These are mocha macarons with a Nutella-Dark Chocolate filling. And I am quite happy to have mastered this temperamental French confection. Yes, macarons are one finicky cookie but when you get it right and they turn out perfect, you feel on top of the world.
Along with Mocha Macarons Recipe, You may also like:
- Chocolate Macarons with a Dark Chocolate Ganache Filling [3]
- Madeleines [4]
- Coconut Jam Heart Cookies [5]
Mini Mocha Macarons with Nutella Dark Chocolate Ganache Filling
- Prep Time: 30
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 45 minutes
Description
Try out this mouth watering Mini Mocha Macarons Recipe with Nutella-Dark Chocolate Filling. Everyone and specially kids gonna love it.
Ingredients
For the Macarons
- Powdered Sugar – 1 cup
- Almond Meal – ½ cup
- Egg Whites – 2 large (Room Temperature)
- Granulated Sugar – ¼ cup
- Salt – A pinch
- Instant Coffee – 1 tsp
- Cocoa Powder – 1tsp
For the Filling
- Heavy Cream – 4 ounces
- Dark Chocolate – 4 ounces
- Nutella – 3 tbsp
Instructions
For the Filling
- In a heavy bottomed pan, heat the cream just enough till it comes to a boil.
- Remove from heat and add the chocolate.
- Stir to mix and melt it until smooth.
- Let it cool for 15 minutes and then add the Nutella. Stir and keep it aside for another 20 mins.
- Pour in piping bag and keep ready.
For the Macaron
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line two baking sheets with parchment or silpat.
- Prepare a pastry bag with a round tip 1A (Wilton).
- Sift together powdered sugar, almond meal, cocoa powder, instant coffee and salt. Throw away the larger pieces.
- In a clean bowl, pour the egg whites and beat them with a hand mixer or you could use a stand mixer. As the egg whites start forming soft peaks, pour in the granulated sugar in two batches and blend that in. The meringue will have stiff peaks by the end of the process and it takes about two minutes after you add in the sugar.
- Fold in the dry ingredients in two batches very gently to avoid knocking off the air. There should be no streaks of whites and everything should be blended in.
- Pour in the macaronage in the pastry bag and pipe out 1/2 inch round circles on the parchment paper. These are mini macarons. However, you can choose to make bigger ones.
- Tap the baking tray on the counter couple of time to remove air bubbles from the macarons and let them rest open on the counter for 30 mins so that a skin forms on top and the batter does not stick to bare fingers.
- Bake for 15 mins and take out from the oven and let them cool before removing from the baking sheet.
- Take a cookie and pipe in a little ganache on the inside surface. Top with another cookie to form the sandwich.
- You are ready to serve your petite cookies.
Notes
- I try to separate the egg whites and keep them out at room temperature about 2 hours ahead to whipping them. But I do not age the egg whites.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 30
- Calories: 61
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 9
- Fat: 3
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 1
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 7
- Protein: 1
- Cholesterol: 5
Keywords: Mocha Macarons Recipe