Dinner SOS!

Roasting is a delicious way to enjoy a warm, comforting meal without spending too much time prepping or cleaning up. Just throw everything together in one pan, put it in the oven, and go!

Roasted Lamb Shoulder with Lemoney Greek Potatoes is always a crowd pleaser in our house. The only problem with this dish : there never seems to be enough potatoes! Crispy and roasted on the outside, tender on the inside and packed with lemon. These potatoes will help you cope with the long, Toronto winter. I promise.

Making The Perfect Chocolate Cupcake

For years I have scoured cookbooks, the internet, folklore and everywhere in between in search of the perfect chocolate cake base. Something light, fluffy, moist and dangerously chocolatey.

One day, I was in my usual Mad Scientist mood and created the most incredible dark chocolate cake that I had ever tried.

Intensely dark, ultra moist and a soft crumb. This was the perfect chocolate cupcake.

Now, I am sharing my secret catering recipe with you.

Enjoy.

Leave your caramel sauce in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving. It will set up giving you a smooth, rich, dense topping that can be spooned on top of your cupcakes. Try this as a cake filling, as well!

 

Holiday Gifts from Better than Yia Yia’s

HUGE thank you to better than yia yia’s for the beautiful (and delicious!) Gingerbread Cookies and Baklava. I have been gifting plates to clients and friends this past week and the reaction has been tremendous.

So good. So addictive. So festive!

The baklava is flaky and nutty, with the subtle sweetness of honey. It is not too sweet or dripping in syrup like most Greek pastries from the store. Large pieces of almonds, walnuts, and pistachios are wrapped in the delicate spice of cinnamon, complimented by the buttery pastry. I challenge you to limit yourself to one piece.

The Gingerbread Friends are the perfect type of gingerbread cookie – soft and chewy, and filled with festive holiday spices, they taste just like the holidays. Again, they are not too sweet and have a perfect texture. Almost like a cookie mixed with a cake – dense with a good chew. For the gingerbread lovers on your list, there is nothing better.

Check out better than yia yia’s website and their holiday menu here. Best of all, you can make any of their sweets into a beautiful gift platter! Beautifully wrapped and even topped with a bow.

Better than Yia Yia's Festive Gingerbread Friends are even better to eat than to admire. Soft, chewy, and full of holiday spice, they are a must for everyone on your list!