Mac Attack #17: Fruits & Spices

I'm obsessed with baking macarons., even though I have not posted my recipe yet, but I will do that within the next week.
Recently I discovered Mac Attack, of course I had to become a member, and the first challenge was: fruits and spices, so I made a brain storming. I had no idea which flavours I should use. I don't know much about spices or how to pair them.
Of course, everyone know the combination of apple and cinnamon, but that was just too boring, so is anything with vanilla. I was thinking about an avocado cream. Also, I don't wanted to use ginger with something like orange or lemon, I just wanted something more special... I wanted to use sesame / tahina but I really didn't know what to pair with.

I ended up choosing pineapple and curry. Probably not that special, too.

Florentine Cookies

The February 2011 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Mallory from A Sofa in the Kitchen. She chose to challenge everyone to make Panna Cotta from a Giada De Laurentiis recipe and Nestle Florentine Cookies.

I must admit, I only know the florentine cookies from the supermarket, probably Swiss brand "Wernli". And even these, I had them very rarely and the last time I ate florentine cookies, I can't remember it. Some years ago.

I think this was really an easy challenge. There were some confusions about some ingredients and how to substitute them (this is just what I expected, this just happens when a Swiss uses preferably non-european recipes), as we don't have dark corn syrup (nor bright) here. People suggested to do some syrup with sugar, but I chose maple syrup. People wrote this wasn't a good substitute as it would be too sweet, but I reduced the sugar, or better: I didn't really use some.
Also, I have no idea what quick oats are and google couldn't really help me out, but I used "fine" oats.

I made half of the recipe, unsandwiched, but I only got about 15 cookies, not 2 1/2 dozen!

Also, it was the first time I made something out of oats, and it's even the first time I bought them. I often read about oats in cookies, but I really didn't know how good that was and how crispy the cookies get!
I added almonds and used dark chocolate, but for more, scroll down!
And, they are quite healthy!