Pear and Chocolate Lava Cake Recipe

Yesterday morning I picked a basketful of ripe pears from our garden. I think there are probably about 60 more pears I can gather by the end of the season. Everyday, I give my little baby Aria fresh fruit and vegetables, and at already 10 months old, she clearly adores pears. I made a lot of compote de poire ("pear sauce" in English) and after Aria finished her portion, I used the remainder and made chocolate lava cakes. The molten chocolate center paired with chilled pear sauce is absolutely fabulous.

If you're looking to impress guests with an elegant chocolate dessert, search no more. I served this dish last evening for our special guest, a monk who came to visit all the way from 'Đà Lạt, Vietnam. He assured me he had never tasted something so good!

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.

Poached Pears in Chocolate Sauce

Miniature Forelle pears are poached in spiced syrup made of candied ginger and various other spices. Once softened, the pears are covered with chocolate sauce. 

I prepared the pears a day in advance and the chocolate sauce was made at the very last minute. It took me probably 5 minutes tops. Everyone was pleased, the cook included! The small size of this dessert makes it a perfect finish to a heavy meal. 

Flourless Chile Chocolate Cake Recipe

Please welcome Lynda from Taste Food Blog. Lynda is a Paris Cordon Bleu graduate. After her culinary journey all over Europe (France, Switzerland, Great Britain and Denmark), she came back to the US 17 years later with a Danish husband and two children.

I recently started following her blog. The photographs are stunning and I love her approach to classic French dishes, many of which I grew up eating. Today she's sharing her chile chocolate flourless cake, especially for Valentine's Day. Enjoy!

This month, I have the pleasure of guest-posting on Jackie's wonderful blog, Pham Fatale. When I discovered Pham Fatale, it immediately resonated with me. It shares a similar love for feeding friends and family, while influenced by an international family and life. Jackie's Vietnamese parents, Parisian upbringing and vegetarian, sweet-loving husband create a kaleidoscope of good eats which keep me coming back for more. And with Valentine's Day fast approaching, I can't think of a more perfect way to share a little blog (and chocolate) love with her readers than with this recipe.

Flourless chile-chocolate cake promises to add a little spice to your Valentine's Day. Laced with chipotle, cayenne and cinnamon, this dense fudgy cake has a naughty kick of smoke and heat cloaked in chocolate that's both surprising and exciting. Now that's a Valentine's cake.