Macarons. Happy Pride! To celebrate inclusion and diversity, we thought we’d finally conquer our fear of baking Macarons. These gave me major anxiety but I am pleased with the results first time out. Pride is about being fearless, being accountable and embracing yourself and all your flaws. While these weren’t perfect and smooth, on the inside and taste wise, they were the real deal. We loved them and these festive treats certainly embody that spirit! To be a better baker means having a deeper understanding of processes and ingredients and while we appreciate the process, we are just as happy supporting our local bakeries when they’re re-opened and buy them there! Shout-out to Tasty whom we got a few ideas from. Believe me, a lot of research went into this before I decided to give this a go! 🌈

Macarons:
1 cup Almond Flour, sifted three times
1 1/2 cups icing sugar, sifted three times
3 egg whites, room temperature
1/2 cup granulated organic sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp sea salt
4-5 drops red food colouring

Butter Cream:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups icing sugar
2 tbsps whipping cream
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Rainbow Sprinkles for decoration

Instructions:

1. In large bowl, combine 1/2 tsp salt, almond flour and icing sugar. Ensure these are all sifted three times.

2. In separate bowl, beat egg whites and 1/2 tsp salt with handmixer till stiff peaks form. You should be able to flip bowl over and nothing moves. Gradually add granulated sugar.

3. Drop in food colouring and vanilla into egg whites and fold gently with spatula till colour is even.

4. Add flour mixture into egg white mixture bit by bit and combine gently with spatula. When ready, you should be able to lift spatula and draw a “figure 8” with batter. 

5. Scoop into piping bag with a circular tip and pipe each corner of baking sheet. Place parchment paper over it, using paste on corners to secure it.

6. Pipe Macaron batter evenly in circles over parchment paper. When done, take baking sheet and tap it on counter 3-5 times gently to rid of air bubbles and even out batter. Distribute sprinkles on-top.

7. Let sit for one hour.

8. Preheat oven at 300°F. Bake for 17-21 minutes depending how large your Macarons are. You’ll know they’re done when they don’t stick to the wax paper.

9. Allow to cool about 20 minutes out of oven and gently use spatula to remove from parchment paper and transfer to a tray. If they stick to paper, peel them off gently, taking a sparing amount of warm water and rub against back of cookie till paper peels off. Be gentle and do not over-wet.

10. Cool in fridge quickly for 20 minutes while you prepare Butter Cream.

11. Whip butter in large bowl till creamy. Add icing sugar, vanilla and cream till you get a thick icing.

12. Scoop into piping bag and pipe onto “foot” of Macarons leaving a bit of space around the edge. Place another Macaron on-top and gently press into a sandwich.

13. Place in air-tight container overnight, room temperature before serving.

Gallery:

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

We love new Canadian talent! Check-out this new Single from Alex Frew, GET OUT ALIVE.

About Alex:

Eighteen-year-old Canadian singer/songwriter Alex Frew is a swirling mix of emotions, yet unafraid to express the state of his mind. His sound speaks teenage angst that rings passionately over melancholy tracks, narrating a journey of wanting to be alone but needing to be in love. He may have “a lump in his throat” but the one thing that is clear is his unique way with words when it comes to music. This newcomer is set to make his mark with his debut in 2020.

Influences: Bon Iver, Interpol, Khalid, The 1975.

See the Lyric Video:

(Photo/video credit: Warner Music Canada)

Originally scheduled for a theatrical release, THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN is coming soon to Disney+!

Synopsis:

Ivan is a 400-pound silverback gorilla who shares a communal habitat in a suburban shopping mall with Stella the elephant and Bob the dog. He has few memories of the jungle where he was captured, but when a baby elephant named Ruby arrives, it touches something deep within him. Ruby is recently separated from her family in the wild, which causes him to question his life, where he comes from and where he ultimately wants to be.

The Film features the voices of: Sam Rockwell as the gorilla Ivan; Angelina Jolie as Stella the elephant; Danny DeVito as Bob the dog; Helen Mirren as Snickers the poodle; Chaka Khan as Henrietta the chicken; Mike White as Frankie the seal; Brooklynn Prince as Ruby the baby elephant; Ron Funches as Murphy the rabbit; Phillipa Soo as Thelma the parrot; and stars Ramon Rodriguez, Ariana Greenblatt and Bryan Cranston.

THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN arrives on Disney+ Friday, August 21, 2020.

(Photo credit: Disney)

From Producer J.J. Abrams, comes LITTLE VOICE, featuring the Music of Sara Bareilles, coming soon to Apple TV+!

Synopsis:

A love letter to the diverse musicality of New York featuring original music by Sara Bareilles, “Little Voice” is a story about finding your authentic voice—and the courage to use it. Brittany O’Grady, Sean Teale, Colton Ryan, Shalini Bathina, Kevin Valdez, Phillip Johnson Richardson and Chuck Cooper will star as the series follows Bess King, (O’Grady) a uniquely talented performer struggling to fulfill her dreams while navigating rejection, love, and complicated family issues.

See the Trailer:

Apple TV+ release LITTLE VOICES Friday, July 10, 2020.

(Photo credit: Apple TV+)

Banana Upside-Down Cake. My friend Michelle sent this one over, so I know this one is good. This Recipe was created by Jessie Sheehan and we made a few adaptations to it. It’s basically an Pineapple-Upside Down Cake (see our Pineapple-Upside Down Cheesecake) but made with Bananas and even more caramel on-top.

Topping:

2-3 large bananas, sliced length-wise

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup butter, unsalted

1/2 tsp sea salt

Cake:

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup butter, unsalted

1/2 cup organic raw sugar (or more)

1/4 cup almond slivers, toasted and crushed

1 egg yolk

1 egg

2 tsps vanilla extract

1 1/2 tsps baking powder

3/4 tsp sea salt

Whipped cream

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.

2. Prepare topping. In large skillet, melt butter, stir-in salt and sugar till dissolved.

3. Transfer mixture into cake pan (spring-form, if you have). Arrange banana slices on-top and press-in.

4. Prepare cake. In large bowl, cream sugar and vanilla with handmixer. Add eggs.

5. In separate bowl, mix flour, salt and baking powder.

6. Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients with handmixer. Fold-in almonds.

7. Pour batter over bananas in cake pan. Bake 35-40 minutes till center comes out clean with toothpick.

8. Cool five minutes and flip cake over.

9. Allow to cool 1-2 hours before serving. Store in air-tight container for up to a couple days or freeze. Serve warmed with whipped cream.

(Photo credit: Elevation Pictures)

Cheesy Latkes. Our favourite place to get a Rösti (like a giant Latke) in Toronto, Mövenpick Marche recently ceased operations and we will miss them! We are left to our own devices and since we have creative freedom at home, we’re doing these classic Potato Pancakes our way – with cheese. Latkes are popular among several cuisines including Jewish, German, Russian, Polish, Austrian, Hungarian and more. Serve these with a dollop of sour cream and smoked salmon, roast chicken or sausage if you wish!

Ingredients:
3 large white potatoes, shredded with skin on
1 white onion, shredded
1/2 cup Mozzarella, shredded
1/4 cup Parmesan, grated
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup Panko or Bread Crumbs
1 tbsp potato starch
Sea salt and pepper, to taste

Canola oil
Sour cream

Instructions:
1. Heat oil in large skillet on medium-high heat.
1. Combine shredded onion and potato in a large bowl. Use paper towels to absorb liquid and gently squeeze till dry.
2. Season with salt and pepper, add starch and Panko, mixing well.
3. Add cheeses and distribute evenly.
4. Shape mixture into discs, mixture should yield about 12 pucks or 6 generously-sized pancakes.
5. Once oil is hot, fry in oil in batches, careful not to overcrowd the skillet. Cook 4-5 minutes each side till golden brown.
6. Place on dish lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil.
7. Serve hot with sour cream. You may freeze uneaten portions.

Fried Periwinkles in Black Bean-Chilli Sauce. Periwinkles are a river snail, hence if you love mussels or clams, these will be up your alley! It’s best to pluck the flesh out with a toothpick but so worth the work!

Ingredients:
2 lbs Periwinkles, cleaned
2 tbsps Lee Kum Kee Black Bean Garlic Sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 red chillies, seeded and minced
2 shallots, minced
1 tbsp ginger, minced
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsps tapioca starch
1/4 cup chicken stock/water
2 tbsps white/cooking wine
1 tsp organic raw sugar
1 stalk green onion, minced
1/2 sweet yellow pepper, cut into chunks
1 tbsp sesame oil
Black pepper to taste

Coriander, chopped for garnish

Instructions:
1. Heat oil in large skillet on medium-high heat.
2. Sautée garlic, peppers, chilli, shallots, green onion (reserving some aside) and ginger till caramelized. Add black bean sauce and cook for 2-3 minutes.
3. Turn heat to high and add Periwinkles and wine. Cover lid.
4. In small bowl, mix soy sauce, sugar and equal parts water.
5. Uncover lid after four to five minutes, add stock/water and stir soy and starch paste into liquid till sauce thickens. Add sesame oil and pepper.
6. Stir evenly. Transfer to platter and garnish with green onion and coriander. Serve with rice.

Happy Bill & Ted Day!  Don’t forget to check-out this brand-new Trailer!

Synopsis:
Once told they’d save the universe during a time-traveling adventure, 2 would-be rockers from San Dimas, California find themselves as middle-aged dads still trying to crank out a hit song and fulfill their destiny.

See the Trailer:

VVS Films release BILL & TED FACE THE MUSIC Friday, August 28, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: VVS Films)

This pandemic has brought out the worst of us and also the best of us. If you’ve been following along our Social Media channels you’ll notice that this extra time at home as awoken a culinary renaissance for us and we’ve taken delight in sharing food inspiration and recipes on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If Recipes like Baked Lobster and Cheese Pasta, Dumplings, Mexican Shrimp Casear Cocktail, Peach & Blueberry Pie or just how to make basic amazing White Bread pique your curiosity, then this is all for you!

We’re thrilled to unveil MR. WILL WONG COOKING to you!

Just click here to visit some of our Recipes. Happy cooking!

Mr. Will

p.s. Thank you to our dear friend Jensen Lee for the perfect logo!