Fraisiers - or Fancy Cream Cake with Strawberries

The Daring Bakers July 2011 Challenge: FRESH FRAISIERS!

This is another Daring Baker challenge. I have been looking forward to getting this done, but sadly am doing it just before the deadline because it's been too freaking hot to bake! When temperatures hit 40 Celsius with a humidex of 52, there's no way I am turning the oven on. Salads and ice cream are just fine for meals thank you.

Parisian Macarons

Parisian macarons... as opposed to macaroons, have given me baking grief since I first ever tried to make them. The very first batch (from a Martha Stewart recipe) turned out good, but never again. No matter which recipe, which method, which six magical steps I followed (let them dry, old egg whites, bake with oven door propped open, recite incantation.. etc.) nothing worked.

Successful (but not neatly-filled) Swiss Meringue Macarons