Who would of thought that the words ‘good for you’ +  ’chocolate cake’ could ever be used in the same sentence. Definitely not me!  So when a friend sent me a recipe for a healthy chocolate cake, I was curious. I’ve been trying to cut the amount of sweets I have been eating to help shed those last few extra pounds. I’m a sucker for dessert and when I finally accepted that I can’t live my life without a chocolate something, I decided to give this healthy chocolate cake recipe a try. I have to admit I was a little sceptical. Who wouldn’t be with a cake made with…. wait for it…. black beans!

I adapted the recipe from Healthy Indulgences because I wasn’t able to find all the ingredients (I’m not even sure if they are available in Canada) so I made minor changes, for the better I think. As for the chocolate butter cream frosting, I made a standard version with confectioners sugar (I know, not super healthy… but again the lack of ingredients didn’t allow for a healthy option). To be honest it was too sweet to pair with this cake… I actually preferred it without or simply have a small amount between the layers (if you are stacking the cake).

Now for the verdict….

The result… AHMAZING! I can’t believe I am saying this but you MUST give this cake a try. It is so yummy, moist and you would never guess it has no flour or sugar let alone made with beans. I kept the ‘secret ingredient’ from the hubs because I knew he wouldn’t want to taste it if he knew. When he told me it was the best chocolate cake he has ever eaten, I couldn’t help but be giddy, and when I told him what it was made of, he didn’t believe me.

I will certainly make this cake again… why wouldn’t you when it low in calories (compared to what I’ve been used to all these years) I’m looking forward to trying to make a vanilla version of this cake, but let me say I have a feeling I will be baking with beans more often. I have included the recipe if you’d like to give it a try… but like I said, you should (and you won’t regret it)

Makes a 9″ one layer cake

Ingredients:

• 1-15 ounce can of unseasoned black beans OR 1 1/2 cup cooked beans, any color
• 5 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 6 tablespoons unsalted organic butter
• 1/2 cup + 3 Tablespoons honey
• 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

This year I experimented with my salad. I think I’ve put fruits in every single one I’ve made. Pears, Raspberries, Apples, Grapes, Oranges …. And the list goes on.#weverb12 #day4 #experiment

The holidays are right around the corner and I get excited about baking goods for my loved ones. Every year I try and make something new, and this year believe it or not, I attempted to make a Quebec classic, Sucre à la crème. It’s basically a butter fudge and my grandmother would make so perfectly, melt in your mouth yummy. I decided to give it a try.

I have to admit I was a little worried I would fail at this recipe. Even though these ingredients  (there are several ways to make this fudge) are pretty basic, trust me when I say NOT MANY can say they’ve made good sucre à la crème. Some make it to hard and it brittles, others too soft you feel all you are eating is butter…. but I am happy to report that I label this recipe a success. Not only is it yummy … it’s just the right consistency. Some like to add more icing sugar to make it harder, while others reduce the quantity of icing sugar to have a softer fudge. I decided to put only 2 cups of icing sugar and I am happy I did.

Ingredients :

• 1 pound salted butter
• 1 kg (approx 7 cups) of brown sugar
• 6 cups of icing sugar
• 1 can of carnation evaporated milk
• 1 teaspoon  vanilla essence
• 1 lbs of crushed peanuts (optional)

With Mavrick’s second birthday just around the corner, I am tempted to try this pastel/watercolor effect. I absolutely love this cake. It’s simple yet is a show stopper. The color possibilities are endless (I predict someone attempting a rainbow version of this cake soon) Hop on over to Sweetapolita for a tutorial on how you can create a cake like this.

image | Sweetapolita

Last year, I met Luisa Galuppo at a baby shower and instantly wanted to be her friend. She is so genuine, sweet and beyond adorable so when she showed told me she was the one who made the shower cake… I knew she was my kind of baker. Her attention to detail is spot on and her creations beautiful (as in you don’t even want to eat them) She recently added pictures of her 2012 cakes.

I love everything about her cakes. The flavors, the designs and even the sugar flowers. That peony looks so real! She can create basically anything, whether you have an idea or want to leave it up to the baker artist. I’ll probably call her to make a cake either for Mavrick’s 2nd birthday or baby girls Christening.

Check out more of her cakes via her website or facebook page for details about upcoming events or pictures of her recent creations. Luisa… you rock! (but you know that already!)

[ photos : Luisa Galuppo Cakes & MoniquePhoto ]
[ Cake stands : Principal Planner Rents.com ]

Being on a budget, a great way to save money and still offer gifts to your loved ones is by making homemade gifts. My favorite type of homemade gifts are “food” ones, and in the past I’ve given cookies, truffles, and apple butter. This time around, I thought I would share this EASY and Inexpensive Dulce de Leche recipe. I gave these little containers as gifts to the “mommies” in my life on mother’s day.

• 1 Can of Sweeten Condensed Milk (I used the Eagle Brand kind)
• Cupcake liners
• Divine Twine (or any twine for that matter)
• Sticky Labels
• Glass containers (recycled)

Step 1 : Remove the label from the can of condensed milk.

Step 2 : Pierce two holes in the can with a can opener.(on each opposite ends)

Step 3 : Place the can in a small pot and fill it with enough water to come up to one inch from the top of the can. Not enough water will make the can explode (and we don’t want that)

Step 4 : Place the pot on your stove and turn it on to medium-high heat. Watch the water closely until its starts to simmer. Then reduce the to Medium Heat.

Step 5 : Let simmer for about 2 hours. If you want a thicker caramel, then opt to let it simmer 3 hours

Step 6 : Open the can carefully with a can opener and pour in a bowl. Mix. Reason for this, is that the bottom of the can will be much thicker and you want a smooth consistancy.

Step 6 : Pour into desired containers and Tighten Lids

Step 7 : Place Cupcake Liners on top of lid and tie with bakers twine

Step 8 : Handdraw a label, cut and place on the container and give it to your loved ones.

Hope you will enjoy making this inexpensive recipe. This thick caramel is great on desserts, ice cream or even toast. (I even eat it by the spoonful, but that’s between you and me! lol )

Images : Homemade Dulce de Leche, Cupcake Liners, Divine Twine

I am bad with recipes. I love them, think the idea about them is amazing…but I never use them. I have recipe books, printed recipes and even an online catalog and nada. I don’t tend to try new things, nor do I really make the effort to. I think the last couple of months have been about changing my habits. (I will elaborate on this another time) But I want to start planning my meals, making my grocery list accordingly and what better way then to recipe it. (yup I just created my own term)

Maybe the fact that I have random books, my ipad and iphone and I don’t have a consistent way of going about it… maybe it’s because it’s not all in one place? Who knows. But what I do know, is that when I saw this adorable Recipe Journal from Rag & Bone  my little heart started to smile. Hmmm… how cute is this recipe journal.

If I ended up getting a book like this, maybe I wouldn’t want to write in it seeing I’d be afraid to make it look ugly. Who wants to have crappy writing or scribbles left and write due to spelling mistakes. Maybe I would never fill it up because lack of time or interest…. but maybe, the fact that its so pretty might just do the opposite.

What do you do to keep your recipes together? Any tips on how I should go about and using recipes more in my everyday life. (think baby steps please)

{ Via | Recipe Journal from Rag & Bone }

I love my Superstore. I mean seriously… it’s like my go-to place to get everything. Food, Clothes, Makeup, Toys and even kitchen/decor items. I even go out of my way  (drive 15 mins) to go to the superstore  because they just have amazing stuff and great deals too. You already heard me talk about Joe Fresh their clothes line, well they recently launched their Home brand called “Everyday Living” which is basically all the home brands put in to one. Their recently launched their “Outdoor” Catalog and saying that I want everything is an understatement.

Aren’t the tables adorable?! Not to mention inexpensive. Forget the outdoors, I want these in my house! And 6$ pillows in great patterns?! YES YES YES! Of course I’m their fan on facebook, so when I saw they posted these ridiculously cute bakeware, another thing to add to my want list. I had to share as well. I mean seriously, how could you not want?!

Unfortunately I went to the store this weekend but they either sold out, their haven’t put them on the shelves yet… but I mean Cake as a Cone?! YES PLEASE!!!

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Note : I have not been compensated in any way for writing about these products. I really do love their brand and this review/post is simply because I wanted to share it with everyone.