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Community Table from Epicurious

from Epicurious

Take your place at the table

I'm excited to be participating in my first #SundaySupper this week. Every Sunday, a team of food bloggers (like me) gather together virtually for Sunday Supper - a movement created to bring that meal back to the family table. Or, in my case, a table with my hubs and I, and a crazy dog with a one pointy ear and one floppy ear lurking behind the table:

I'm a big supporter of this Sunday Supper movement, as I've always been an Italian grandmother at heart - I enjoy taking the time to make an awesome meal each Sunday evening. Risotto, roasted chicken, ragu, and big pots of soup are all favorites around here.

This week, Brandie over at Home Cooking Memories is hosting an "April Showers"-themed Sunday Supper. While party hostesses will find some great ideas at the bottom of this post, you don't have to be throwing a baby or bridal shower to join the fun. There's awesome stuff for parties, but also delicious recipes to make for your family.

I kind of felt like a mad scientist working on the recipe I'm contributing this week. I really thought coconut, chocolate and balsamic could be good together. I think I was right.

For this recipe, I used a bottled balsamic glaze that I was given as a gift. This product can be found in gourmet markets and some grocery stores, and I love having it in the fridge, because you can drizzle a little glaze on some roasted vegetables or meat whenever the fancy strikes you. However, if you don't have it, you can easily make your own - just put 1 cup balsamic vinegar in a very small saucepot and cook it over medium heat until it becomes the consistency of syrup. The time will vary depending on your stove, but you'll need to watch it very carefully to make sure it doesn't burn (I know from experience how rough it is to scrub burned balsamic off your saucepot). You'll have the tablespoon of glaze needed for these cookies, plus some leftover glaze to keep in the fridge to jazz up an upcoming meal.

I love the way these macaroons came out - using a large pinch of sea salt insured that they hit the right note of sweet and salty, and the balsamic adds a touch of acid that makes the flavor go crazy on your tongue. The chocolate and balsamic play so well off of each other, and the coconut just adds a little nuttiness. I hope everybody loves these as much as I do.

Chocolate-Balsamic Macaroons

Makes about 24 macaroons

[printer-friendly recipe]

  • 2 egg whites
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • Large pinch of sea salt or kosher salt
  • 7 ounces (2-5/8 cups) sweetened coconut flakes
  • 1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350°. In large bowl, whisk together egg whites, balsamic glaze, sugar and salt until mixture is frothy. Fold in coconut and chocolate chips.
2. Drop mixture in 1-1/2 tablespoon spoonfuls onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Using wet hands, gently form spoonfuls into small mounds if they don't come off the spoon that way already. I usually do this step near the kitchen sink so I can keep re-wetting my hands (coconut doesn't stick to wet hands as much as it does to dry hands).
3. Bake 15 minutes or until dark golden brown. Transfer baking sheet to cooling rack and allow macaroons to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then transfer macaroons from baking sheet to cooling rack and allow to cool completely.

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foxes love lemons - recipes, food, cooking tips, detroit restaurant reviews and more!, Lori Yates

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I'm a metro Detroit-based freelance recipe developer & tester, food writer, cooking instructor and restaurant reviewer. I started Foxes Love Lemons in 2013 to share recipes, cooking tips, restaurant reviews and more!