Lemon-Tropical Macaroons

These were delicious! I made these for my people at FastCap, and they loved them! The thing I heard the most was that they were not too sweet. They were easy to make and fun to experiment with. I only spent about $15-20 and made enough for about 15-18 pieces.

The original recipe called for currants, which at the time I had no idea what a currant was. So, your daily cooking lesson... here it is:

Currant may refer to: ...dried Black Corinth grapes; smaller than raisins


--Wikipedia.com


Ew, raisins. Gross! Well I wanted something more tasty than a raisin, so I substituted it with a tropical medley of dried mangoes, pineapples, and papaya. I just had to dice it up a bit so I wouldn't have huge pieces in it. Also, I used dark chocolate morsels instead of milk chocolate, because 1) I am a huge fan of dark chocolate and 2) dark chocolate is healthier for you...

Melt your chocolate with a small pot with water
and a bowl on top so you don't burn your chocolate.

Why is Dark Chocolate Healthy?:

Chocolate is made from plants, which means it contains many of the health benefits of dark vegetables. These benefits are from flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body from aging caused by free radicals, which can cause damage that leads to heart disease. Dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants (nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries). 

--Ask.com (http://longevity.about.com/od/lifelongnutrition/p/chocolate.htm)

FAIL!!
Try using parchment paper.. or just a REALLY greased pan
and  be patient while cooling after baking.
I fixed this by spooning my chocolate on the bottom
and using the melted chocolate as paste to hold it together.

Theirs

Directions

Whisk 3 egg whites, 3 tablespoons sugar and a pinch of salt until frothy. Stir in 3 cups shredded coconut, 1/3 cup currants and 1 teaspoon lemon zest. Drop by packed tablespoonfuls onto an oiled baking sheet. Bake at 325 degrees F until golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool, then dip in melted chocolate.

(http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/lemon-currant-macaroons-recipe/index.html)

Mine