Let me take you on a typical Monica adventure....
Picture this.... late one night.......PinInterest - yes that rabbit hole - ...find a bizarre looking meringue with a whole it ... and it's large... really large.... got my full attention as am thinking, I have never seen a tip that can create that big a meringue....my mind goes nuts thinking of all the possibility with it.....and so it began....
Google.... searching... reverse image searching.... "big tips" (word of advice, never search this term unless you are prepared for what google will present hahahah)... I find it's a Sultane tip - now to buy it.... $70 WTF!?!?!?! Are you kidding me? Was the best I found and nothing available in Australia... surely I'm wrong? I pop onto all the major suppliers of tips in Australia, searching searching... nothing... no one has it....
Deflated..... thinking, I am not going to spend $70 on something I don't even know if I like using it.... then for the first time in my life, I thought I will reach out and ask if anyone has them and it's just not up in line. I message various suppliers via their contact us pages on their sites....... how many replied? 1..... one awesome supplier answer.... Thank you Loyal Bakeware!
Within 24 hours I get a reply, "Sorry Monica we don't currently stock it, but we can get it for you, how soon do you need it?"... what a gentleman! "Thank you for replying, is no hurry, was more of an impulse inspiration and would love to have a play with it"... Loyal replies "Leave it with us and I will see see what we can do".
Meanwhile I am going on and on about this tip to hubby.... he goes and researches and prints me a version in 3D as a surprise. He says, it's not 100% right but at least it might work to try it? I love him!! So I make my first batch.. they were sloppy and not well defined....but I was hooked!!!
A couple of days later I get an sms with a photo of 2 glorious sultane tips in his hand saying "Look what I just found in my sample draw!" I squeal! "Shut up and take my money!!!"
Loyal graciously lend me the tips to have a play and 24 hours later I have them in my greedy little hands.... and what ensued was 7 days of none stop meringue making, recipe testing, baking, rebaking, piping experimenting and general sugar overloading and sugar induced comas..... it was AWESOME!!!!
I randomly send a few photos to my new little friend at Loyal and they are blown away.... fast forward a couple of weeks.... my baking photos are on Loyal's new Sultane tip panicking and my photos and logo are everywhere.. on every forum, newsletters etc to say I am blown away is an understatement.....
Meanwhile for me, the obsession hadn't ended and I went next level...
Then I shoved them on cakes.... and social media LOVED them!
And it didn't end there... say hello to Sultane Macarons... yes you read that right... and they are perfect with feet and all.....
Want a set? Currently available from Lollipops Cake Supplies in Queensland and Cakers Warehouse in NSW!
Want more? I am teaching the meringues in both Brisbane in May at Lollipops Cakes Suppliers, Demonstrating them at ACADA in May and then another class in Caking Mad in Adelaide in July! And yes, there are classes coming to Sydney very very shortly!
Am making cookies as you read.. stay tuned!!
I have so much more coming...
Love and baking hugs, Monica <3