Almost too pretty to eat (photo © Culinary Vegetable Institute).

Here’s something easy for Mother’s Day (or Valentine’s Day): a dessert or tea snack consisting of a single macaron, beautifully decorated.

It’s from the Culinary Vegetable Institute in Ohio, where farmers grow the most glorious produce and chefs create wondrous dishes with it.

You can create this macaron at home, either as a light dessert or as one of a number of dessert courses.

Serve it with a cup of tea or a glass of sparkling wine. For birthdays, add a candle for the honoree.
 
 
RECIPE: MACARON WITH FLOWERS

Ingredients

1. PURCHASE or make macarons, ideally in a bright color for visual appeal.

2. PLACE the macaron on its side, using a dab of frosting to affix it to the plate and keep it from rolling. While we don’t like canned frosting, in this case its thickness works to adhere the macaron.

SPRINKLE the plate with sanding sugar in a complementary color. It’s typically available in pastels: blue, green, lavender, pink and yellow.

3. PLACE the flower near the top.

4. SCATTER the sanding sugar on the plate.
 
  

Most fans of “Top Chef” Chef love Carla Hall, a finalist on her season and a subsequent Top Chef All Star, winning the “Fan Favorite” award.

She went on to become a cohost on “The Chew” and to start Carla Hall Petite Cookies, an artisan cookie company that specializes in teeny cookies.

A brilliant idea for people who need just a bite, the cookies are either half-inch cubes or one-inch drop cookies, depending on the nature of the dough.

They’re meant to pair “boldly and beautifully,” according to Carla, with beer, wine, tea and coffee.

For home, entertaining and gifting, we’ve been charmed by these little cookies. Made in small batches, every step from mixing the dough to packaging is done by hand.
Of course, only the finest ingredients are used: European-style butter, unbleached sugar and flour, couverture chocolate, artisan cheeses, fresh nuts, premium spices and, says Carla of her most important ingredient: love.

Focusing on familiar flavors with a twist, choices include:

Mexican Chocolate Chip Cookies, teeny bites of heaven. Carla Hall Petite Cookies.

 
There’s one savory option:

 
There are also cakes and regular-size cookies (including the best Magic bar we’ve ever had):

A gift box for any cookie lover. Photo courtesy Carla Hall Petite Cookies.

WHAT SHOULD YOU GET?

Most definitely, the Sweet Collection Gift Box, which includes six of the seven varieties of sweet petites. It’s $25.00; there’s a smaller box with three varieties for $12.50.

If you want to include a signed copy of Carla’s cookbook, Carla’s Comfort Foods: Favorite Dishes from Around the World—you can add it to the Sweet Collection gift box for a total of $45.00.

There are other gift options, other goodies, and of course, you can buy individual packages of whatever you like.

Head to CarlaHall.com to get yours.

Or, find a retailer near you.

CARLA HALL TRIVIA

Fans of Top Chef may remember that Carla spent several years working as a model on the runways of Paris, Milan and London. It was in Paris that she fell in love with the art of food.

But what most people don’t know is that before heading to Europe, Carla spent two years as a CPA at Price Waterhouse.

When she returned from Europe, she attended L’Academie de Cuisine in Maryland where she completed her culinary training and began her career as a professional chef.
  

Love coffee, tequila and heat? Here’s a cocktail called The Spicy Bee, from Patrón Spirits. It uses Patrón XO Cafe Dark, a rich coffee liqueur with a tequila base. If you want to use what you have, feel free to substitute, e.g., tequila and Kahlúa.

RECIPE: COFFEE & TEQUILA COCKTAIL

Ingredient For 1 Drink

 
*Mike’s Hot Honey infuses honey with hot chiles and a splash of vinegar. You can buy it or infuse your own. It’s delicious in/with barbecue sauces, biscuits, cheeses, fruits, glazes, salad dressing, in a cup of tea, even as an ice cream topping.

A Spicy Bee, for lovers of coffee, tequila and heat. Photo courtesy Patrón.

Preparation

1. COMBINE the coffee liqueur and honey, shake, and strain into a chilled glass.

2. SHAKE the heavy cream and layer on top of the cocktail.

3. GARNISH with a dollop of crushed red pepper in the glass.