Hope Childress likes a challenge. She has been baking cookies, pies, cakes and breads throughout her adult life, but that was not enough for her — or her family — once they began watching “The Great British Baking Show.”
“I started to see all of these European desserts and was so intrigued, as was my husband and daughter,” Childress said. “They both love baking, too.”
In fact, her husband BC and 12-year-old daughter Anabelle love baking so much they do a Facebook Live show where once a week they bake something they have never baked before.
“We usually have ‘The Great British Baking Show’ on in the background and make comments about how Paul and Mary [the show’s judges] would approve,” Childress said.
During one of the episodes of their favorite show, a contestant made macarons, a small round cake with a meringue-like consistency and consisting of two halves filled with flavored cream, and although Childress had eaten them before, she knew she had to make them. She made a batch of Key Lime and they “weren’t bad,” so a few weeks later her daughter made some for the Facebook Live show.
Childress said macarons are difficult to make, especially for this area of the country, because the weather can affect how they develop and bake.
“The more humid, the longer resting time they need,” Childress said.
This is why she keeps a dehumidifier in the kitchen. Of course, there are other factors that can cause an entire batch to have to be thrown away, something Childress said has happened more times than she can count.
After House Bill 263 was passed in April 2018, allowing anyone to become a home baker, Childress began selling the delicate cookies, making over 1,000 at Thanksgiving.
“Since then I’ve really refined my method and can almost always get a good batch every time,” Childress said.
She said she likes to choose flavors and colors by the season and even turns to her Facebook followers for inspiration. Current flavors include chocolate honey, pistachio, raspberry lemon and lavender honey. She will also have birthday cake, lemon, vanilla mint and Fruity Pebbles available for Easter, with three of them being available in the shape of an egg.
Childress’ business, Mad for Macarons, will have a booth at the Owensboro Regional Farmers’ Market this year where pre-ordered macarons can be picked up. She can also be contacted through email or her Mad for Macarons Facebook page. Childress does request to have at least two weeks notice for special orders, weddings or other events.
