Depressed Dave Lavender Macarons

Hubby's book on depression is finally launching! He wrote a book based on his Depressed Dave comics about depression. This is not just another self help book for mental health wellness full of platitudes or toxic positivity. It is written by a depression sufferer and rooted in real life. Despite its seemingly heavy content, there is humour in there. It covers what a person with depression feels like, treatment options, how friends and family can help to support the sufferer, as well as what are some of the unhelpful things that people do to mental health sufferers. Hubby wrote the book in the hope that it will help those who are suffering to understand their condition better, to seek help and get the support they need, as well as for people in general to have a better understanding of depression. Here is my macaron version of the book cover but done in reversed colours! 

A closer look at the macaron version! 

You may checkout @depdavecomics (Instagram account) for a glimpse of what the comic is like. Hubby's focus has always been about the message and not so much about the art. So he used stick figures for his comic. While these are easier to draw, it is a challenge to create in macaron form 🤣. All the stick thin limbs and floating heads! I had to ponder how to make it work. 

So glad I managed it! 

I had lots of leftover white batter from premaking some macaron shells for class so I made the macarons. You may refer to this post for my Swiss meringue method recipe that I used for the white based macaron shells. 

I filled the macarons with lavender white chocolate ganache because lavender is known for its calming properties. Apt for helping to lift the mood although it is not a cure for depression hehe. Water based ganache are great for tea flavours as you extract the flavour from tea leaves or flowers better than using milk or cream. 

Water-based Lavender white chocolate ganache

Ingredients:

72g white chocolate couverture or finely chopped 

12g cocoa butter (may substitute with white chocolate) 

15g unsalted butter 

1/8 tsp salt

40g boiling water

10g dried lavender flowers

Steps :

1. Steep lavender flowers in boiling water for 10 min. Strain out the flowers and squeeze as much liquid out of the flowers. Don't need to top up with more water. Set aside the lavender tea. 

2. Combine white chocolate, cocoa butter, butter and salt in a microwave safe or heatproof bowl. Melt everything and stir until melted. Be careful not to overheat. Set aside to firm up at room temperature if you live in a temperate climate. You may want to chill the melted chocolate mix in the fridge for 15 min or until toothpaste consistency. 

3. Use an electric mixer to briefly whip the chocolate mix until light and fluffy like buttercream. 

4. Add lavender tea into the chocolate mix one tsp at a time and whip until combined. Transfer into piping bag and fill the shells. 

Filling up the crossing. 

I decorated the macarons using black royal icing. 

You may refer to this blog post about the book and the related events which are happening via zoom. Registration is free! I will be involved in one of the sessions as part of the panel which includes the caregiver (me), a psychologist (his ex-therapist) and a friend who has been supporting him in his journey. 

With lots of love,

Phay Shing