Aziza ‘Zee’ Richards is an award-winning actress, vocalist and scholar. She’s the daughter of both a professional musician and theater veteran.  After landing her first professional acting gig at the age of nine, Zee has continued to build an impressive resume working as a theater actress, Jazz vocalist and professional writer. She is an awarded President’s Scholar at Hampton University in Virginia where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Theatre Performance.

 

As a displaced Texan now living in Georgia, Zee is the current city editor for Dining Out Atlanta. There, she combines her love of food, passion for the arts and creative writing skills to cover new restaurants, write reviews, host promotional events and more. Married to the love of her life, Akili Richards, Zee is the mother of four children, Amirah, Asha, Asanti and Amaziah.

 

France is commonly accepted as the authority on all things food, fashion and romance. From Champagne to Chic,  we are inundated with seemingly all things French — but you won’t hear us complaining! They bring a special passion to their artistry that is undeniable.

 

The “Rich and Famous” are afforded the luxuries of life that many of us can only dream about. They often travel by private jet across the ocean to Paris in search of excitement and the best of food and drink. (We’ll try not to be too jealous.)

 

While we may not be able to afford that private jet just yet, there is one sweet delicacy you can try right now — The French Macaron. One of our favorite treats from the fair France is the Macaron, a delightful, decadent little cookie.

 

These simple treats are light as air with a crispy exterior and chewy center. Ans as an added bonus, they won’t threaten your waistline. Made with only the simplest of ingredients, traditional Macarons are gluten free and low in calories.Yet they are so satisfying you don’t really need more than one.

 

The Macaron cookie was born in Italy, introduced by the chef of Catherine de Medicis in 1533 at the time of her marriage to the Duc d'Orleans who became king of France in 1547 as Henry II. The term "macaron" has the same origin as that the word "macaroni" -- both mean "fine dough”. The first Macarons were simple cookies, made of almond powder, sugar and egg whites.

 

Only at the beginning of the 20th century did the Macaron become a two-tier affair. Pastry Chef Pierre Desfontaines had the idea to fill them with a "chocolate ganache" and stick them together. Since then, French Macaron cookies have been nationally acclaimed in France and remain the best-selling cookie in pastry retail stores.