ROSE PETAL MACAROONS

INGREDIENTS:
150 g ground almonds
200 g sugar
2 egg whites
1 tsp rosewater
1 tsp scarlet food colouring
1 tbsp plain flour
20 crystallized rose petals for decoration

INSTRUCTION:
1. Cream ground almonds, caster sugar and egg whites.
2. Add flour, rosewater and colouring.
3. Allow mixture to firm in the fridge for an hour.
4. Flour work surface and hands and roll small amounts of mixture into truffle-sized balls.
5. Flatten balls into rounds and place on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper.
6. Decorate the centre of each macaroon with a crystallized rose petal.
7. Bake 10-15 minutes in a warm oven (gas mark 3/160C).
8. Allow to cool and harden for 15 minutes.

Serve with a cup of fresh leaf tea or as a sweet post-dinner canape with champagne cocktails.

From Carolyn Dunster of Simply Roses www.simplyroses.com