Blackberry Muffin Recipe

When we first got married I had a lot free time, but ever since Aria came into our lives, I'm not able to be as attentive to Lulu and have decreased the number of romantic gestures I make. So this weekend I brought him breakfast in bed. 

I made little blackberry muffins and baked them in heart-shaped molds. Lulu greatly appreciated them but he made one remark I found amusing. He thought the blackberries made it look like the hearts were "bleeding". He teased me and said "Is there a hidden message here?"

Apple Hazelnut Cake Recipe (Eggless Dessert)

Whether served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, crème anglaise or simply a dollop of Greek-Style vanilla yogurt, this apple hazelnut cake will satisfy your sweet tooth. What I love most is the contrast in texture of the crisp, buttery top and the moist interior.

I flavored the cake with Red Delicious apples. I chose this particular variety because of their firmness and beautiful bright red color. I usually use them in salads or eat them as is but they also work well in these baked goods.

The girls have been working out hard this week and asked if they could break their healthy routine with some sweets. I'm so happy they decided to join me in my workout routine and thought they deserved a little reward. They're teenagers after all. As you can probably tell by our meals, we don't really diet, though I try to find healthier alternatives as long as they don’t sacrifice flavor. After enjoying these treats, the girls and I hit the gym and enjoyed 30 minutes of pure Stairmaster fun!

Gluten Free Cardamom and Chocolate Napoleon Pastry Recipe

Our friend Carol came to visit the other day to see how much our daughter Aria has changed. I always make sure that I serve her special dishes because of her celiac diet. Since sweets are Carol's guilty pleasure. I made gluten free chocolate wafers and layered them with cardamom-flavored cream. Chocolate and cardamom are two of my favorite flavors, and I love using them together. 

If you're thinking that gluten free means sacrificing flavor or texture, you have to try this recipe. It tastes just as good as it looks.

Chocolate Almond Drink Recipe

Since I started working out intensely, I sometimes feel a little low on energy especially after my early morning workout before my infant daughter Aria wakes up. I've tried some of the commercially available protein drinks, and a few are ok, but when I have the time I make an almond chocolate drink. It's made of homemade toasted red rice powder (I've mentioned it in the past), ground almonds, almond milk, unsweetened cocoa powder and a natural sweetener. I usually pour it in a travel mug and enjoy it in the car later in the morning.  It's thick, nutritious and extremely filling. I'm usually less hungry at lunch time so a light salad is more than enough to stay satisfied until dinner.

I'll share more of the flavors I've developed soon. These drinks have become my grab-and-go "breakfast," once my little Aria wakes up and keeps me busy for the rest of the day. I'm no dietitian or medical expert, but I've noticed a boost of energy and I eat a lot less when lunch time comes.

Chocolate Pear Trifle with Mulberries

I really wanted to impress one of the guests who came for dinner last night, so I went a little over the top preparing dessert. This triple-flavored twist on the traditional trifle (try saying that three times in a row!) consists of Asian pear, mulberry mousse, dark chocolate mousse and a dark chocolate croquant. And yes, it's as delicious as it looks.

We picked very ripe Asian pears and mulberries from our garden to create this dish. Pears go wonderfully with chocolate, and you really can't go wrong with mulberries. This is definitely a dish you can have fun with though, so make substitutions depending on what ingredients you have available. As long as you put a little effort into the presentation, you'll end up with deliciously decadent, edible artwork.