Maple Glazed Pumpkin Muffins

Over the Canadian Thanksgiving last weekend, I baked up some muffins with my favourite fall ingredient: pumpkin. Super moist and yummy, these pumpkin muffins have almost a cake like texture and are drizzled with a thick maple glaze. Oh my glaze -- sticky and syrupy sweet, this glaze is what makes the muffins and is quite literally, the icing on the cake. The muffins itself are pretty healthy and nutritious, so I don’t feel bad going a little glaze crazy. To make them even healthier, I used all whole wheat pastry flour, subbed coconut sugar for white, and used coconut oil instead of olive oil. These pumpkin muffins are the perfect little fall treat, as evident by how quickly I gobbled them up.

A Bulova Birthday -- Fall/Winter '15 Collections from Bulova, Caravelle New York & Wittnauer

Last week, Bulova celebrated its 140^th anniversary with stunning new collections from Bulova, Caravelle New York, and Wittnauer. And what birthday wouldn’t be complete without some bubbly, sweet treats, and of course, a little bling? Known for its innovation, craftsmanship, and advanced technology, Bulova has mastered the classic art of timekeeping, while achieving modern style and beauty. I previewed the upcoming fall/winter 2015 collections, which mixes and matches bold and classy, with pops of colour against classic metal tones.

While I loved all the collections, a few pieces stood out to me. I was instantly drawn to the sparkle and colour at the Caravelle New York table, lusting over the candy-coloured pops of magenta, royal blue, and glistening gold watches. I also adored a champagne and a black face watch with gold bands from Wittnauer, its elegant and sleek style making them classic winners.

With such timeless yet innovative styles, the new collections were truly a celebration of a history of modern. Happy 140th Bulova!

Maman Toronto

On Bastille Day last week, I celebrated my love of French culture at the grand opening of Maman Toronto, an enchanting French bakery and café. After hearing wonderful things about their first location in Soho New York, I was excited to see what this place would bring. And I was not disappointed. The French word for 'mom', Maman emits a unique Southern France charm -- a certain je ne sais quoi that left me smitten. 

I was salivating at every turn, not only for the mouth-watering food, but also for the gorgeous décor and delightful ambiance. It was picture perfect; evident by the million photos I snapped all night. The interior of the café radiates a warm and rustic feel, with a long wooden communal table, wisps of flowers, and beautiful displays of baked goods and treats. Stepping onto their patio is equally as lovely, with the prettiest blue tiled tabletops that simply begs to be photographed.

We sampled a variety of their family-inspired cuisine, all of which were fresh, delectable and bursting with flavourful goodness. Melt-in-your-mouth red pepper and goat cheese quiche was velvety soft, the cleverly named croque ‘maman’ with ham, cheese and béchamel sauce was sinfully delicious, and a cross between a tuna and egg salad sandwich with sundried tomatoes, olives and pesto were just a few of their savory bites. And then the desserts arrived. Despite my impending food coma, I couldn’t resist the mini tropézienne (a cream-filled brioche) and the cutest lemon meringue cookies, all of which sent me on a satisfactory sugar high.

But what I can’t stop dreaming about are their chocolate chunk cookies, a renowned treat that was undoubtedly my favourite of the night. Crunchy on the outside, soft and gooey on the inside, my taste buds were ooh la la-ing with creamy chocolate, macadamia nuts, almonds and walnuts. Served with a shot of milk of course, it was worth every insatiable bite.

I have yet to visit the beauty of the South of France, but until then, I’ll let Maman whisk me away to a cozy, idyllic sanctuary, with a cocktail and cookie in hand.

Strawberry & Banana Stuffed French Toast with Almond Butter

When I first made this French toast, my friend was staying with me and I wanted to add a touch of indulgence to our otherwise lazy weekend. And what could be more indulgent than a stuffed French toast, smothered with a thick layer of almond butter, topped with layers of fresh strawberries and banana, and coated with a crunchy walnut crust? The answer is quite simply nothing. This classic breakfast fare is elevated to another level, turning it into something decadently gourmet, yet also rather healthy. Mangoes also work nicely in this recipe, if not better (but I’m slightly biased towards all things mango). Add a little indulgence to your next weekend brunch and your palate will surely be pampered.

Strawberry & Banana Stuffed French Toast with Almond Butter (serves 2):

Ingredients:

- 3 eggs

- ¼ cup almond milk
- 1 cup walnuts

- ½ tsp vanilla extract

- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ tbsp maple syrup

- 1 banana, sliced

- 4-5 medium sized strawberries, sliced

- Almond butter

- 4 thick slices whole grain bread (I used a chia fruit loaf from Cob’s Bread), or brioche

Directions:

1. Add walnuts in a food processor and pulse to a coarse grind. Spread the walnuts on a large plate and set aside.

2. In a large shallow bowl whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon and maple syrup.

3. Spread a layer of almond butter on each slice of bread. Arrange the sliced strawberries and bananas on top of the buttered side. Place the second slice, buttered side down, on top and press down firmly.

4. Gently dredge the stuffed toast in the egg mixture, coating both sides evenly. Remove the toast, letting the excess mixture drip off. Then dredge both sides in the ground walnuts.

5. Heat a nonstick pan or griddle on medium heat and lightly oil or butter the pan. When hot, place the toast on the pan and cook for a few minutes until golden brown. Flip over and cook for another few minutes.

6. Serve with a nice drizzle of maple syrup on top.

World MasterCard Fashion Week FW15 -- Mikael D

Last week Toronto dazzled under the bright lights and frenetic bustle at World MasterCard Fashion Week. I attended several shows where prominent Canadian designers unveiled their Fall/Winter 2015 collections. One such collection belonged to the final one, Mikael D, whose sumptuous dresses stunned from every angle. Inspired by the theme of Mystical China, the collection boasted the most incredibly intricate details, with beautiful appliqués and elaborate lace brimming with flowers of Chinese origin. But the wow moment of the night was undoubtedly my favourite look -- a sublime bridal gown that hushed the entire room and left me instantly speechless. Floral appliqués dotted the entire princess ball gown, with a gorgeous open v back. Swishing effortlessly behind was a breathtaking train, leaving a trail of coveted bliss (and a pool of my drool). It was simply magical and made for the perfect ending to a show that reveled in such splendor.