The Best Macaron Recipes

 Elegant, colorful, and irresistibly delicious, macarons are the crown jewel of French patisserie. These delicate sandwich cookies—crisp on the outside, chewy in the center, and filled with everything from buttercream to ganache—have captured hearts (and taste buds) around the world. But behind their beautiful shells lies a baking process that demands precision, patience, and a little pastry magic.

The origins of the macaron date back to 8th-century Italy, but it was the French—especially the Parisian bakery Ladurée—who refined the version we know and love today. Over the centuries, these once-simple almond meringue cookies have evolved into the vibrant, flavor-packed treats perfect for holidays, tea parties, or just a luxurious afternoon pick-me-up.

If you’ve ever tried baking macarons and ended up with cracked tops, hollow shells, or lopsided cookies, you’re not alone. Don’t let that intimidate you! In this post, I’ve gathered some of my favorite macaron recipes—along with essential tips for macaron success—so you can achieve bakery-worthy results right at home.

Top Tips for Baking Perfect Macarons

1. Weigh Your Ingredients

Use a kitchen scale to measure your almond flour, powdered sugar, and egg whites. Macarons are sensitive to even small deviations, so accuracy is key.

2. Use Aged Egg Whites

Let your egg whites sit in the fridge for 1–3 days before using them. This reduces moisture and helps achieve stiff, stable peaks when whipping.

3. Sift Your Dry Ingredients

Sift almond flour and powdered sugar at least once, ideally twice. This ensures a smooth shell and avoids lumps in your batter.

4. Master the Macaronage

Macaronage is the technique of folding the meringue into the dry ingredients. Fold gently until the batter flows off the spatula like lava—thick but able to settle into itself within 10–15 seconds.

5. Use a Template

Pipe your macarons onto a silicone baking mat or parchment paper with a printed template underneath to ensure even sizes.

6. Rest Before Baking

Once piped, let your macarons sit at room temperature for 30–60 minutes (or until the tops are dry to the touch). This creates the essential “feet” when baking.

7. Control Oven Temperature

Every oven is different. Start testing at 300°F (150°C), but use an oven thermometer to verify accuracy. Rotate the pan halfway through baking for even heat.

8. Don’t Skip the Tap

After piping, tap the tray on the counter a few times to release air bubbles. Use a toothpick to pop any visible ones to avoid cracked tops.

9. Cool Completely Before Removing

Macaron shells are delicate! Let them cool fully on the tray before removing or they might stick or break.

10. Mature the Macarons

After filling, refrigerate your macarons for 24–48 hours. This aging process allows the flavors to meld and the texture to improve—chewy, soft, and perfect.

On to the recipes!

S’mores Macarons by Broken Oven Baking

Raspberry Jam Filled Macarons  by All We Eat

Blueberry Macarons by Salt and Spoon

Tie Dye Macarons by Homebody Eats

Valentine’s Day Macarons by This Mama Loves

Almond Joy Macarons by Ruffles and Rain Boots

Vegan Macarons by Baked by Chlo

Almond Flour Macarons by Spatula Desserts

Donut Macarons by Meals by Molly

Salted Caramel Macarons by Britney Breaks Bread

Champagne Macarons by Barley and Sage

Keto Macarons by Wholesome Yum

Cookie Butter Macarons by Barley and Sage

Pistachio Macarons by House of Nash Eats

Strawberry Macarons by State of Dinner

Mastering macarons may take a few tries, but once you get the hang of it, it’s incredibly rewarding. Remember: measure by weight, age your egg whites if needed, and always let your piped macarons rest before baking to form that signature skin. A little care and attention go a long way toward perfect shells.

Whether you prefer classic flavors like vanilla and raspberry or something more adventurous like matcha or salted caramel, these recipes offer something for every palate. Happy baking—and don’t forget to share your macaron creations with someone who deserves a sweet treat!

Let me know in the comments which flavor you're trying first or if you’ve discovered your own perfect macaron technique. Bon appétit!

Maple Brown Sugar Cookies

Copycat Crumbl Golden Graham Cookies

Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies

Brown Sugar Sugar Cookies

Cake Mix Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies

Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie Bars

Mint Chocolate Chip S'mores

Find more favorite cookie recipes here:

Five Reasons to Go Back to School

 Whether you're considering a career change or you're aiming for a promotion, going back to school can be a transformative step to take. Maybe you're just craving personal growth and you're looking for a way to recover some of the fun that you once had when you were actually at college once. 

If you've got children, it may be stopping you and making you hesitant to wonder if school is even an option for you because of the financial commitment required. But there are financial support advantages for you, like an RESP grant for your education, and that can serve as a powerful reminder of the value of lifelong learning. But adults can benefit greatly from returning back to the classroom, and here are 5 reasons to go back to school, no matter how old you are.

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1. The chance to advance. One of the most common reasons that an adult returns to school is to boost their career prospects. Whether it's completing a degree that you started years ago or you want to earn a new certification, additional qualifications help to set you apart in the competitive job market we have today. Many industries are evolving rapidly, and staying up to date with current knowledge and skills can help you to remain relevant and increase your earning potential along the way.

2. You want a change. Maybe your current job no longer excites you, or the industry you're in is facing long term decline. Going back to school gives you the opportunity to pivot, and a structured education can provide the foundation that you need to break into that new field. You also gain access to internships, networking opportunities, and mentoring that can ease your transition.

3. Improving your earnings. There is a very strong correlation between education level and income level. Individuals with college or university degrees on average tend to earn more over their lifetimes than those with only a high school diploma. Even the short term programs or specialist certifications out there can lead to higher paying jobs. While going back to school is a huge investment in your future, the long term financial benefits can often outweigh those costs.

4. It feels good. Education is not just about making more money, it's also about personal development because via learning new concepts and being challenged academically, you'll be able to achieve new goals. Many adults find that going back to school can boost their confidence, sharpen their critical thinking and reignite a passion for learning.

5. You can set an example. It's really good for your family to see you achieve. If you're a parent, returning to school can send a huge message to your kids about the importance of education, perseverance and self improvement. Children will often look up to their parents as role models and seeing you dedicate time and effort to better yourself academically can inspire them to take education seriously.

Going back to school is a huge step, but there's nothing stopping you from saying yes and going for it.

How To Prevent Pests From Taking Over Your Garden

When pests get into your garden, it’s not a lot of fun and you wish they weren’t there. But, of course, it’s something that happens. 

The key is to figure out what to do to prevent it. Surprisingly, it probably isn’t as challenging as you might think. Once you know the correct strategies, keeping pests at bay is surprisingly straightforward. 

So, what should you be doing? 

Maintain Healthy Soil

You’ll want to start by maintaining healthy soil. You need to ensure that it is less susceptible to pests and has a healthy ecosystem. 

The best way to do this quickly is to enrich it with a combination of compost and fertilizer, and then turn it over. This will add diversity to the soil and encourage the good bugs and worms you want to move into it over time. These will then create an ecosystem that makes the presence of pests less likely. 

Practice Crop Rotation

At the same time, you’ll also want to practice crop rotation. For example, you might want to move tomatoes between beds each year to prevent the buildup of critters that like to feed on them. 

Crop rotation seems simple, but it is one of the most advanced strategies you can use. It keeps pests guessing and stops large populations from building up year after year, mimicking the natural environment more. 

Add Companion Plants

If you can add pest-repelling companion plants, that also works. These species actively deter pests and make them think twice about setting up in a particular bed or rut. Basil along with tomatoes, for instance, reduces the risk of whiteflies. 

What’s nice about companion plants is that they reduce the need to use chemicals. Many create a natural barrier. 

Encourage Beneficial Insects

If you can encourage beneficial insects, that can also help. Pest control experts will often recommend this strategy if you have a problem in your garden. 

For example, ladybugs and predatory beetles are often great additions. These will eat the larvae and spawn of pests before their populations can grow, keeping their numbers and bay throughout the year. Just ensure the ecosystem provides sufficient food for beetles so that they stick around and don’t go wandering off elsewhere. 

Keep Your Garden Cl

What about keeping your garden clean? That’s also a good way to reduce the risk of pest infestations. 

Fallen fruit is a surprisingly big risk, and can attract fruit flies. It also provides space for pests to breed, which is something you want to studiously avoid if you can. 

Plant debris can also cause problems, attracting woodlice and slugs. Because of this, you’ll want to keep it to a minimum, or clear it away entirely if you have a real infestation problem. 

Add Natural Pest Repellents

Finally, you can try adding more natural pest repellents to your garden. Substances like neem oil and insecticidal soap can keep many creepy crawlies at bay. The best time to apply these is early or late in the day so you can avoid getting too many of them on bee pollinators.

How to Properly Clean Your Home

 

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When things get on top of you and lead a busy lifestyle, cleaning can be moved to the bottom of the priority list. This is okay in the short term, but in the long term, it can begin to negatively impact your health and well-being. 

A clean home is really important for your safety as well as your well-being. Mold can begin to build, and you may find your home beginning to attract pests. This can lead to a vicious cycle of poor mental health, where you can’t bring yourself to clean your home, but your home desperately needs a clean to make you feel better. 

To help you on your journey, here are some top tips to properly clean your home. 

#1 Book a day off

If things have gotten too much, book a day off work to sort things out. You can spend the morning cleaning, and then you reward yourself in the afternoon with something fun. This is a great way to get it off your chest, get it done, and then you can move on with your life without it hanging over your head. 

#2 Do a deep clean 

The best thing to start with is a deep clean. This will take a lot of time and effort, but it will only be something you have to do once, and then you only have to think about maintaining it in the future, which means a much smaller task that is not as overwhelming to tackle. 

To do a deep clean, you may want to consider storage units and move out your belongings. This can give you a completely clean slate to work from and scrub down everything to make it super clean. 

#3 Declutter your home

If your home is filled with belongings that have built up over time, then you should consider adding a day to declutter in the process. You can consider what items you need and want in your home, and which ones are adding to the stress and overwhelm. This will help you clean your home, maintain it, and make it less stressful in the long run. Star small, maybe with a draw. 

#4 Work systematically

Creating a system that works well for you, your brain, and your energy levels is important. If not, you are going to create an impossible task that you fail at before you even start. This might be focusing on one room or one area of your home at a time. 

You can make a list or a plan, so you have something to follow. You can track the time and effort it takes, so when it comes to planning how you will maintain your home, you can plan according to your lifestyle. 

Make sure you equip yourself with the right tools. This might be a duster, cleaning solutions, sponges, and mop. This will ensure the work is much easier and efficient for you to complete and will reduce the stress it puts on you to complete. 

Cleaning your home can feel like a chore. If you can get a good, deep clean done, then it will be much easier to maintain.

4 Ideas for a Low-Maintenance Yet Functional Garage

 The garage is often overlooked by homeowners, and not entirely without justification. Along with the basement and attic, it’s the part of the property that sees the least amount of action.

Still, that doesn’t mean that the garage requires no love or attention. Spending a little bit of time, energy, and money to bring it up to speed won’t only prevent it from falling into a state of disrepair, but can transform its functionality and appearance. Throw in the fact that it can boost property value and make a home more appealing to buyers, and working to improve your garage becomes a no-brainer. 

And doing so is a lot more straightforward than you might think. In this post, we’ve put together a few handy strategies that will significantly improve your garage in no time at all.

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Rent a Storage Unit

The garage often serves as the home’s dumping ground. While it makes sense to put your unused belongings there rather than elsewhere in your home, this approach quickly creates a cluttered and chaotic environment that you’ll never want to spend time in. One smart way to get around this issue is to rent a storage unit, which will give you additional space at an affordable price. Use the storage unit to house the items you need to keep but don’t use every day, and sell the items that no longer serve you. Just like that, you’ll have a blank canvas to work with.

Make it Easy to Clean

Garages can quickly become dirty, and with so many other home cleaning duties to take care of, many homeowners aren’t willing to spend hours on end making sure that their garage is flawlessly clean. By making your garage easy to clean, you can both keep dirt at bay and save time. Working with epoxy garage floor installers to add epoxy flooring, which is easy to clean and maintain, is a good starting point. You’ll also find that you’re more likely to clean the garage if you install a wall-mounted vacuum, while adding shelving units that provide easy access to the underneath areas is also recommended. 

Upgrade Storage

Upgrading your storage won’t only enhance the appearance and functionality of your garage. It’ll also make your life easier. Taking a laissez-faire approach to garage storage is a one-way ticket to never being able to find what you need. Hanging storage racks, making the most of wall space, and investing in shelving will all make your life easier. And remember the golden rule: label everything. You might think you’ll remember where you put the Christmas tree lights, but you won’t.

Take Five Minutes 

Now that your garage is in shape, it’s time to keep it that way! And happily, this doesn’t actually require much time at all. Even five minutes of tidying up and organizing can keep things in check. Ultimately, it’s much easier to spend a few minutes sweeping and tidying a few times a week, rather than waiting until everything is chaotic and having to spend many hours in there. 

House Removal Hacks That Every Homeowner Should Know

 Moving house can be stressful at the best of times and a nightmare at worst! If you are soon to be relocating to another region of Australia, here are a few moving hacks that we all should know.

• Use quality packing boxes – Label each box and use room colour codes for easy access. Write on the side of the box and then you can see them in a stack. When you connect with one of the Townsville removal companies, packing supplies are included in the cost, while the team handles the packing if you prefer that.

• Start packing early – Choose rarely used items and pack them in advance, which makes it much easier on moving day. Many removalists use containers; drop an empty container and this can gradually be filled until the moving day arrives and a grab truck puts the unit on the flatbed.

• Create a to-go list – List all items that are due to accompany you to your new abode; this is something the removalist will need; room by room is the best way to work. Create a list of things you are planning to sell and one for stuff you are planning to dump.

• Hire a skip – Regardless, you are going to end up with a lot of stuff that has to be recycled at the local tip. Buy a pack of XL black plastic bags, you will need them. A local skip provider will drop the skip at your home and collect it when full. Please read their terms and conditions to understand what you can put in their skip and what you cannot. Click here for a blog about exploring your home’s financial potential.

• Springclean the new dwelling – Send a team of pro house cleaners in a couple of days before the move and everything will be spick and span. Google can help you find a house cleaner and leave a set of keys hidden so they can access the property. Once finished, have the team leader show you the interior on a video call, then you can pay them remotely.

• Bubble wrap – Invest in a large roll of bubble wrap and you can protect all delicate ornaments, wine glasses and other fragile items. Of course, if you are using a top-rated removalist, you won’t have to worry about this, as they use bubble wrap to protect delicate items.

• End of tenancy clean – If you are leaving a rental property, you should carry out an end-of-tenancy clean and that should ensure you get your deposit back. Google will help you find a local cleaning contractor and as soon as you move out, send in the cleaning team.

If you can manage to find a top-rated removalist in Townsville, then moving house will be a breeze; make sure the company is fully insured and any damage will be covered.

5 Fun Ways To Stay Active And Connected As A Family

 

When the days get busy, family time is usually the first thing to slip. School runs, work stress, evening screen time—it all adds up. Even in close-knit towns like Bartlett, it’s easy to feel distant from the people right beside you. Everyone’s home, but not really together.

But here’s the thing: connection doesn’t always need conversation. Sometimes, a little movement says everything. From indoor fun to after-dinner rituals, a simple shared activity can shift the entire mood of a household.

Sound like something your family could use more of? Keep reading. This article walks through five fun, low-stress ways to do exactly that. No pressure, no planning—just real-time together.

Let’s begin!

1. Join a Family-Friendly Martial Arts Class

When it comes to staying active and connected, martial arts really does offer something different. It’s not just another after-school program. It teaches real-life skills—like patience, self-control, and how to keep going when something’s hard. That’s something both kids and adults can benefit from.

The best part is that you can learn right alongside your child. You support each other, encourage each other, and celebrate progress together. Even better? Many reputable schools like National Karate & Martial Arts Bartlett make it super easy to try. 

They often offer trial weeks and beginner classes so your family can test it out without any pressure. It’s a fun, welcoming way to stay active as a family while building skills that go far beyond the mat.

2. Add Short Walks to Your Routine

Don’t underestimate how much a simple walk can change the mood in your home. It’s low-effort, no-cost, and makes a big difference, especially when everyone’s been stuck to a screen all day.

Try making it a part of your routine. A walk after dinner. A short loop before breakfast on weekends. Even 10 minutes counts. It helps with digestion, sleep, and, surprisingly, conversation. Kids often open up more when they’re walking than when they’re sitting face-to-face.

Add little twists to make it fun. Switch who leads the walk each time. Bring a checklist of things to spot (like squirrels or yellow flowers). And if the weather isn’t great? Indoor walking at a local mall or even laps around the house still count!

3. Designate One Night a Week for Movement

Pick one night a week, any night, and call it “Movement Night.” It doesn’t need to be fancy or fitness-focused. Just get moving together.

Try silly dance-offs, simple yoga routines, balloon volleyball, or hallway races. Switch up the activity each week to keep things fun. The goal isn’t exercise—it’s laughter, energy, and a shared break from routines.

When families move together like this, the mood shifts. Kids are more relaxed. Parents feel present. And suddenly, that random Wednesday night becomes something everyone remembers.

Mini Tip:  Keep a “movement jar” on the table. Let each family member write fun, active ideas on slips of paper. Pick one every week.

4. Make Chores into Fun Little Challenges

It might sound silly, but yes, chores can double as movement time. All it takes is a timer, a little music, and maybe a challenge. Suddenly, cleaning the living room becomes a speed game.

Try setting a “5-minute blitz” where everyone tidies as much as possible before the buzzer. Race to see who folds laundry the fastest (neatly, of course). Or play a song and vacuum to the beat. Kids get moving, and the house gets cleaner. Win-win.

And here’s the bonus: it teaches responsibility, and teamwork, and builds routines that don’t feel like chores. That’s active parenting without overthinking it.

5. Plan One Simple Outing That Gets Everyone Moving

You don’t need a fancy plan to get out and get moving. A once-a-week active outing is often all it takes to reset the family’s energy and bring some fun into the weekend.

It could be a visit to a local park, a short trail hike, or even a backyard game that lasts a little longer than usual. You don’t need gear. You don’t need to travel far. You just need to be present and move together.

Let your kids pick the outing from a short list. That small choice makes them feel involved, and they’re more likely to enjoy the activity. Keep it light and low-pressure. It's not about perfection—it’s about presence.

Final Words

Being active together doesn’t need to be complicated. Whether it’s a short walk or a full class, what matters is that you're showing up together. Pick one thing from this list and try it this week. One step, one night, one outing. That’s where the connection starts.