Diet

Let’s make a delicious cake!

Chocolate mayonnaise cupcakes

Decadent chocolate cupcakes you could eat with or without frosting, that’s how good they are! Accompany with the frosting of your choice for an extra special treat.

Tip: Cake recipes that use sour cream, mayonnaise, buttermilk, yogurt or kefir will yield a moist cake every time!
 
Red Velvet Cake

The Red Velvet cake recipe is said to have originated from the fancy Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York and it features a surprisingly bright red interior that delights while the subtle flavors of cocoa combined with a rich cream cheese frosting is a pleasure for the taste buds.

Hint: Did you know that you can substitute buttermilk in recipes by mixing 1 cup of milk with 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice? Just allow the mixture to stand for 5 minutes and use the amount needed in your recipe.
 
Molten chocolate cake

Do you want to melt someone’s heart? This small molten chocolate cake with its soft and creamy inside is perfect for Valentine’s Day! For a special treat, add a scoop of ice cream!

Tip: If you are a big fan of chocolate, you can modify any recipe that contains chocolate by adding a small amount of coffee or espresso to accentuate the chocolaty taste.
 
Vanilla bean cake with salted caramel sauce

Here’s a simple dessert that reminds us of our childhood but with the added twist of the salted caramel, which enhances the flavours. Delicious with or without the sauce and even better hot!

Tip: If you can afford it, always use fresh vanilla beans instead of vanilla extract to obtain an even more refined taste. Just take the tip of a sharp knife, split the bean in half and take your knife to scrape out all the delicious grains inside the pod. 1 vanilla bean equals about 3 teaspoons of extract.
 
Vanilla Cake with mixed berry jelly, white chocolate fondant

If you consider yourself an apprentice baker and you are dreaming of creating a cake like the ones you see in the magazines, this Ricardo recipe is perfect to learn how to work with fondant, which in this recipe is made out of melted white chocolate.

Tip: When you melt chocolate in a double boiler, always keep an eye on your chocolate and when it starts to melt, stir the mixture constantly to avoid burning. If you choose to melt your chocolate in the microwave, only set it for 30 seconds at a time.
 
Opera cake

My personal favorite, a cake which is both rich and refreshing, the Opera cake is composed of layers of Joconde cookies soaked in coffee syrup, coffee buttercream and topped with a chocolate ganache.

Tip: To increase the taste of your chosen flavor, create syrup using your ingredient (fruits, coffee, extract, etc.), boiled water and sugar. You can brush this syrup on your cake to get a stronger flavor.
 
Chocolate and Zucchini cake

A chocolate cake everyone will love even your little picky eaters who would never even guess that there’s a little green hidden in there! Top with ganache or simply sprinkle with icing sugar.

Tip: For healthier cakes, add veggies! There are versions of the Red Velvet cake that use beets instead of food coloring to achieve the beautiful red color. Obviously, we can’t forget about the traditional carrot cake, a family favorite for centuries!
 
Deep chocolate cake with a raspberry mousse heart

A deliciously moist chocolate filled with a fresh raspberry mousse and topped with a rich cream cheese icing. Perfect for Valentine’s Day! You have a whole year to practice!

Tip: for an original result, visit stores that offer molds in different shapes like Michael’s or a specialized bakery in your area and purchase some different molds to give a professional look to your cakes.
 

This week
Ear infections, antibiotics, and prevention

Becoming a parent also means being acquainted with several small infections encountered during our own childhood. Ear infections are numerous and can leave you having lots of questions. We try to respond to the most frequent ones.

My child is often absentminded!

Do you find yourself often repeating phrases like "Hello? Is anyone there?" ? If so, it seems that your child is often absentminded. Here's how to help your distracted children stay concentrated.

A teenager’s bedroom

Your teenager's bedroom is a disaster. You even invented new words to describe this horrendous place where food and clothes seem to blend into a new kind of carpet but your child doesn't seem to mind. What can you do?

My child is smelly!

Your child is now 6 years old. The innocence of childhood still shines brightly in his or her eyes but… they're smelly! When your child gets hot, you scrunch your nose and smell a tinge of sweat. Are they too young for deodorant?