I haven't written a post on macarons for a quite a while. And the reason is THIS : I didn't really want to write this post. I felt discouraged, and worst of all, I was embarrassed I felt this way, after this particular batch of macarons. This was made for a fundraising bake sale for one of the kidlet's extra-curriculum activities. We were asked to bring along baked goods to sell, and thinking that I didn't want to be the umpteenth parent to bring cupcakes, I decided I would bring along some Hello Kitty Macarons since my recent successful trial run was well received. The event was being held on a Sunday afternoon, so despite the crazy juggle of weekday activities, I made time to bake on a Thursday evening so that the macarons would have matured nicely by Sunday.
Instead of obsessing about how to keep Kitty's bows aligned, I should have thought harder about the target audience. Parents and kids commented on the cute Hello Kitties on the day, but I don't think a lot of people there knew about macarons, let alone the effort it took to make them. Most of the kids spent their money on bags of squashed brownies and cupcakes, whereas the parents went for the bar cakes. (Chocolate, I should have made something chocolate!!!!) Yes, sadly lots of unsold Kitties came home with us!
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| Yes I felt a bit like this particular Hello Kitty! |
I admit I felt pretty ordinary that day. And then I felt even more awful that I had felt awful. After all, it's not about whether my baked goods sold or not, it's about raising money! Fortunately my Hubby and kids are my most appreciative audience, and Macaron Monster would have eaten the whole lot we brought home if I hadn't stopped her, bless her heart. Watching her happily munch on the macarons made me feel happy again - SHE is my intended target audience after all, and why I started baking these tricky little diva treats to begin with!
Lessons Learned - This entire selling macarons thing was a lesson learnt. I think I won't be giving up my day job in a hurry!
I can't believe these didn't sell well! They look adorable. Hugs for the effort and I'm glad you felt better again by the day's end.
ReplyDeleteAwww thank you! It's absolutely true, the joy of baking is in the enjoyment of those whom you bake for! :) (How wise doest THAT sound!!!)
DeleteI would buy the whole lot if I were there! I guess those people don't even know what is a macaron or what is hello kitty!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I don't blame them, just disappointed by the lack of sales :P
Deletelooks wonderful though >_< it's been so long since I've my share of nice macarons. Need to head down to Melb for desserts again!!!
ReplyDeleteThanx!!! We DO have a good selection of sweet treats (and coffee!) in Melbourne!
DeleteLooks pretty awesome! I can almost taste it. I havent had a decent macaron for a long time. NEED TO HEAD DOWN TO MELBOURNE AGAIN SOON!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!! You're up in Brisbane right? Any nice macarons up there? I had some up in the Gold Coast which were not bad! (whispers : but not as nice as some of the ones in Melbourne!)
DeleteCan I tell you, if you were selling them in HK, they would have sold like, hot cakes! Hello Kitty crazy here, and macarons are really getting popular here too.
ReplyDeleteThey do look fabulous! So well done. Sorry they were not appreciated.
Awwwww thanks Cat! Yes I remember there were Hello Kitty EVERYTHING in Hong Kong!
DeleteAw, I would have totally bought one of your macarons! They are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lauren, that's so sweet of you! :)
DeleteI can't believe they didn't sell. Your macarons always look and taste amazing and I know my little macaron monster would have polished them off.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo!! I know she loves them, so she'll get some every time I make them!!!
DeleteWe would have bought a whole bunch, they are awesome xo kris
ReplyDeleteThanks Kris :)
DeleteWHAT. They are crazy. I would definitely have bought them and I'm not even really into macarons. Your Hello Kitty ones are bloody awesome!
ReplyDeleteAwww, thanx Agnes! *blush* Might have to keep baking and pass some to you, might convert you into a macaron-lover one day!
DeleteAw, such a shame that your macarons didn't sell... and all that effort into making them into the cutest Hello Kitty ones! I would've bought them. Hugs* Don't worry, there's always another time! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you! It felt like more effort than usual since I baked them after the kids went to sleep at night, when I'd much rather be kicking back with a cup of tea :) More fun to bake when I'm baking for fun!
DeleteOh my.. what sort of place/school is this that they won't buy these super cute hello kitty macarons?!!! I would have bough a dozen :) THEY LOOK AMAZING! BUG HUGS!
ReplyDeleteAwww thanks I-Hua!!! Everyone has been so nice with their comments on the blog! I was obviously selling at the wrong fund-raiser - would have had better luck selling them online, hahahahaha!
DeleteI think your macarons look fantastic. I have made macarons before and I have struggled! They are not easy to master and I think you have done really, really well. They are cute and gorgeous xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Charlie! I do enjoy the challenge of making macarons and I'm sooooo happy when those "feet" appear as they bake! However I'm pretty rubbish at most other forms of cooking that isn't a dessert :P Thank you for your lovely compliment!
DeleteI'm amazed! I would have snatched up the whole tray and then hired you to make some for another event. Clearly they weren't in their right minds ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks Lorraine, greatly humbled by your comment :)
DeleteOhhh Winnie. I'm sorry to hear that but honestly, it's their loss! Thanks also for being so honest about the whole experience, I'm sure it was difficult. It's hard bearing these feelings but even harder to talk or share about them. Huge respect to you and I hope you know we really appreciate that. My heart melted to mush at that last line about how everything made sense and worth it as soon as you saw Macaron Monster enjoying your hard work. Thanks for the reminder that it's the little things that matter....! Take care Winnie and I'm sure you're gonna KNOCK it out of the ballpark come the next bake sale... GO TEAM WINNIE!
ReplyDeleteThanx Winston! Thank you for being so supportive of my macaron efforts :)
DeleteThat's such a shame Winnie :( after all the trouble that you went to! I would have bought the WHOLE tray then and there! Sighh i guess it's just the kiddies and the parents probably weren't too familiar with them that's why. But don't worry about it, it's not because they're not yummy or brilliant looking! Don't give up :) hope you'll make me some macarons one day hehe ~
ReplyDeleteThanks Daisy! Hopefully one day you can try my macarons (and like them!!), that would be awesome since you're such a sweets connoisseur! I haven't made any macarons since the wedding ones (still yet to blog that!) Haha, macaron baking burnout!
DeleteOh what a shame. I would have totally bought some :) they're too cute
ReplyDeleteHehe, thanks Nic! Will have to fly them up to Sydney for you!!!
DeleteI read the title and was confused... who wouldn't want Hello Kitty Macarons?? They look stunning! I would have totally bought some but I guess most kids probably haven't seen them before... but you have obviously trained your daughter well since she is called Macaron Monster :D Hope I can taste your macarons one day!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ames! Lovely to have so much support in the bloggosphere!
DeleteDid not sell? I can't believe it either. Try again. Don't give up
ReplyDeleteThanks Penny! Having a macaron mini break, but I'm sure it own't be long before my kids want me to make some more again!
DeleteHello! kitty. They look sooooo cute : )
ReplyDeleteFrom a fellow macaron aficionado I know how much time and effort goes into making them and I think that your Hello Kitty macarons are GORGEOUS! I experienced the same thing at a school fete so know exactly how you feel:(
ReplyDeleteSadly, I don't make macarons for fetes anymore but make small batches and give them to family and friends where they're appreciated:)
What a shame to have put some much work in and have then not well received! It's so intriguing that some people don't know anything about macarons, or have never tasted them and others love them! I LOVE THEM!
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