Macaroon A macaroon (/mækəˈruːn/ mak-ə-ROON) is a type of light, baked confection, described as meringue-like cookies depending on their consistency. The original macaroon was a "small sweet cake consisting largely of ground almonds"[1] similar to Italian amaretti. The English word macaroon and French macaron come from the Italian maccarone or maccherone. This word is itself derived from ammaccare, meaning to bruise,[2] used here in reference to the almond paste which is the principal ingredient. Origins[edit] The name of the cookie comes from an Italian word meaning paste, maccarone. Italian Jews later adopted the cookie because it has no flour or leavening (macaroons are leavened by egg whites) and can be enjoyed during the eight-day observation of Passover. Regional varieties[edit] Scottish[edit] The Scottish macaroon is a sweet confection with a thick velvety centre covered in chocolate and topped with roasted coconut. North American[edit] Coconut macaroon[edit] Coconut macaroons Dominican[edit]
Meringue History[edit] Three meringue mushrooms. Each mushroom was made from two stiff, dry, baked pieces of meringue attached with a small amount of melted chocolate. The realistic "dirty" color is created by sprinkling with cocoa powder. It has been claimed that meringue was invented in the Swiss village of Meiringen and improved by an Italian chef named Gasparini in the 18th century.[2] However this claim is contested; the Oxford English Dictionary states that the French word is of unknown origin. Meringues were traditionally shaped between two large spoons, as they are generally at home today. Types of meringue[edit] French meringue is the method best known to home cooks. Chemistry[edit] Beaten egg whites When egg whites are beaten, some of the hydrogen bonds in the proteins break, causing the proteins to unfold ("denature") and to aggregate non-specifically. Sugar substitutes are not useful in meringue. Egg whites and sugar are both hygroscopic (water-attracting) chemicals. Uses[edit]
Postchristianity Postchristianity[1] is the decline of Christianity in contemporary societies. It is the belief that the loss of Christian monopoly in political affairs, especially in the Global North where Christianity had previously flourished, will eventually lead its demise in favour of secular nationalism. [2] It includes personal world views, ideologies, religious movements or societies that are no longer rooted in the language and assumptions of Christianity, at least explicitly, though it had previously been in an environment of ubiquitous Christianity, i.e. Christendom. The “decline of Christianity”[edit] Until recently, the overwhelming majority of Christians have lived in White nations, allowing theorists to speak of an “European Christian” civilization; conversely, radical writers have seen Christianity as an ideological arm of Western imperialism.[3] As a result, the loss of Christian influence in the West has led to beliefs of inevitable global decline of Christianity. Other Uses[edit]
Cringe comedy Cringe comedy is a specific genre of comedy in which the intent is to make the viewer uncomfortable rather than laugh.[1] Often a cringe comedy will have an air of mockumentary and revolve around a serious setting, such as a workplace, to lend the comedy a sense of reality. The protagonists are typically egoists and overstepping the boundaries of political correctness and break social norms. Then the comedy will attack the protagonist by not letting them become aware of their self-centered view, or by making them oblivious to the ego-deflation that the comedy deals them. Sometimes however an unlikeable protagonist may not suffer any consequences, which violates our moral expectations, and also make the audience cringe.[2] Popular examples of television programmes that employ this genre of comedy were The Office, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Louie, and Mr Bean.
Matcha Blends of matcha are given poetic names called chamei ("tea names") either by the producing plantation, shop or creator of the blend, or by the grand master of a particular tea tradition. When a blend is named by the grand master of some tea ceremony lineage, it becomes known as the master's konomi, or favoured blend. History[edit] In Tang Dynasty China (618–907), tea leaves were steamed and formed into tea bricks for storage and trade. The tea was prepared by roasting and pulverizing the tea, and decocting the resulting tea powder in hot water, adding salt.[2] In the Song Dynasty (960–1279), the method of making powdered tea from steam-prepared dried tea leaves, and preparing the beverage by whipping the tea powder and hot water together in a bowl became popular.[3] Preparation and consumption of powdered tea was formed into a ritual by Zen (Chan) Buddhists. A bowl of matcha on a black lacquered tray with a traditional sweet Production[edit] Grades[edit] Location on the tea bush[edit]
Victoria Justice Aside from acting, Justice is involved in her musical career. She has performed several songs for the soundtrack to the Nickelodeon musical Spectacular!, in which she starred. She has recorded a number of songs for the Victorious series. Justice has announced the release of her debut album, which is expected to be released sometime during 2014. Early life Career 2003–2009: beginnings and Zoey 101 In 2006, Justice played the supporting role of Holly in the thriller film The Garden. When being interviewed in 2010 about her musical career, Justice has stated "My family could always tell, ever since I was little, that [music is] something that's always come natural to me and that I've always wanted to do. 2010–present: Victorious and debut album Justice performing in 2011 Justice confirmed that she would be receiving her own musical show on Nickelodeon called Victorious, explaining the show's genesis thus: "I was on Zoey 101. Justice on November 11, 2012. Other endeavors Philanthropy Filmography
Insult comedy Publicity photo of Don Rickles, a well-regarded insult comedian, in 1973. Insult comedy is a comedy genre in which the act consists mainly of offensive insults directed at the performer's audience or other performers.[1] The style can be distinguished from an act based on satire, or political humor. Notable insult comics[edit] See also[edit] References[edit] Alternative comedy Alternative comedy is a term coined in the 1980s for a style of comedy[1][2] that makes a conscious break with the mainstream comedic style of an era but can also be found in cartoons.[3] The phrase has had different connotations in different contexts: in the UK, it was used to describe content which was an 'alternative' to the mainstream of live comedy, which often involved racist and sexist material.[4] In other contexts, it is the nature of the form that is 'alternative', avoiding reliance on a standardised structure of a sequence of jokes with punch lines. Patton Oswalt has defined it as "comedy where the audience has no pre-set expectations about the crowd, and vice versa. In comedy clubs, there tends to be a certain vibe—alternative comedy explores different types of material."[5] United Kingdom[edit] Alternative comedy came to describe an approach to stand-up comedy that was neither racist nor sexist but free-form and devised by the performers themselves. United States[edit]
Surreal humour The humour arises from a subversion of audience's expectations, so that amusement is founded on unpredictability, separate from a logical analysis of the situation. The humour derived gets its appeal from the fact that the situation described is so ridiculous or unlikely. The genre has roots in Surrealism in the arts. Literary precursors[edit] Edward Lear, Aged 73 and a Half and His Cat Foss, Aged 16, is a lithograph by Edward Lear from 1885 People speak of surreal humour when illogic and absurdity are used for humorous effect. Relationship with dadaism and futurism[edit] Etymology and development[edit] The word surreal first began to be used to describe a type of aesthetic of the early 1920s. Surreal humour is also found frequently in avant-garde theatre such as Waiting for Godot and Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. In the late 1980s and then the 1990s, Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer were dominant in the world of British surreal comedy. Analysis[edit] Drs. References[edit]