Coconut & Lime Macaroons

Since I am a huge fan of coconut and especially coconut and lime, it's no surprise that I absolutely love these Macaroons. They are quick and easy to make and utterly irresistible! Sweet and chewy the lime cuts through a little just to add just enough zing to stop them from being too cloyingly sweet.

I've tried lots of different macaroon recipes over the years but this one is my favourite since it is very straightforward, quick and easy and doesn't fail. It's a recipe by Rachel Allen from Home Cooking, I just changed it to use lime instead of the cinnamon that she prefers. This is a great recipe for getting kids cooking in the kitchen as it's as simple as 1-2-3 and is perfect for making if you have any unexpected guests showing up and even better it is also gluten free. If you have a batch of these in the cookie jar you are guaranteed to keep everyone happy.

Makes roughly 12 bite-sized cookies

100g shredded coconut
75g sugar
Zest of 1/2 lime
1 egg white

Preheat oven to 350F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.

Simply put all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix everything together until well combined. Use a tablespoon to measure out the macaroons and then with damp hands roll them into little balls and pop onto the baking tray.

Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes until light golden brown. Cool on the tray for roughly 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.


Variation:
For an extra indulgent treat dip half of the macaroons into melted dark chocolate. Total decadence!

Cookbook Review ~ Home Cooking by Rachel Allen

Although this is one of her older book's (2009) I couldn't resist testing out and cooking from Rachel Allen's Home Cooking for this month's Cooking the Books. My son is now 3 years old and although a fairly good eater, I'm always looking for ideas and reminders of family friendly meals that we can all enjoy without a fight at the dinner table! On top of that, my sister was coming to visit us for 2 weeks during March and unfortunately despite being 17 weeks pregnant was still suffering from morning sickness, so I thought she would appreciate some good home cooking and nothing too over the top! Cue therefore Rachel Allen's Home Cooking book which is packed full of very family friendly meals that are guaranteed to keep even the fussiest eater in your family happy (hopefully!). It was just coincidence that I happened to pick a book by an Irish chef for the month of March and the celebration of St. Paddy's Day!

The Chapters are divided up into meals of the day including Breakfast, Lunch, Supper and Dessert. There is also a chapter on Sunday Lunches and since this really is a family friendly cookbook there is even a handy chapter on Baby Purees. It is a lovely homely book with pages printed on different pretty pastel colours and lots of photographs throughout, showing not only the delicious looking meals but family snaps as well, which really adds to it being a family cookbook.

Cooking the Books ~ March

I am SO excited that my Sister is coming to visit us for a holiday for 2 weeks this month and so because of that and the fact that she is pregnant (Yay!!!) but still suffering from sickness (boo!), for this month's Cooking the Books I will be testing and reviewing Home Cooking by Rachel Allen (available from Amazon and some book shops). If you have this book why not try it out with me? I'll post what recipe I'm trying the day before I make it on my Facebook page  and Twitter so you can join in. So what are you waiting for? Let's Cook the Books!