Chocolate Lava Cake

The first time I had this chocolate lava cake, I devoured it in about 5 seconds. Then died. The boyfriend made it for me last Valentine's Day and I was instantly transported to a place of pure, chocolate bliss. It's rich, insanely delectable and literally melts in your mouth. And surprisingly, it's actually quite simple and quick to whip up. Top it with some fresh fruit and you have an elegant little dessert that is sure to win anyone over. I can't think of a better way to end a romantic meal than with this.

Origami Lucky Stars

I made these little origami stars for the boyfriend for our anniversary recently. I’m not a crafter so the process was a bit time-consuming, but once I got the hang of it, it was actually relatively simple and quite fun to do (after multiple redo’s and constant swearing). With Valentine's Day soon approaching, this is an adorable, inexpensive homemade gift you can make for that special someone. To make it even more sweet, I wrote a little something on the inside of each star -- every time he opens one, he's reminded of something that makes him truly amazing.

You'll Need:

- Paper (computer paper or scrapbooking paper)
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Glass jar
- Ribbon 

Instructions:

1. Take a strip of paper, 11 inches x 0.5 inches, and make a knot near the top end of the strip
2. Flatten the knot slightly
3. Flip it over and tuck the loose end into the back of the knot
4. Flip it over again and take the strip and wrap it over one side
5. Flip over and wrap the other side. Continue flipping and wrapping alternative sides until you're left with the end piece
6. Tuck the end piece into the back
7. Using your thumbs and forefingers, take four of the five edges (with one of the points at the top) and carefully push inwards so that the star inflates
8. Rotate and push the edges again. Pinch the points to ensure it stays intact  
9. Fill a glass jar with as many stars as you'd like. Decorate with a pretty ribbon and tag

  

Potato Cakes with Scrambled Eggs & Smoked Salmon

The boyfriend first made this for me two birthdays ago and I am surprised it took us this long to consume again. It’s the perfect savory brunch with three different components that go so deliciously well together. Not only is it simple to make but also creates a beautiful and elegant presentation. Jamie Oliver raves about this being one of his favorite brunch dishes to whip up (it is his recipe after all) and I couldn’t agree more.

Oxblood Lips

I’ve been obsessed with everything in oxblood for quite some time now, and this fixation has bleed over to my lips (pun intended). Oxblood lips are extremely bold, sexy, and an updated twist to the classic red. You definitely need confidence to pull off this look. Keep the rest of your makeup natural and to a minimum -- your lips are the statement here. For something this bold, I prefer to use a lip brush so that you can layer on the colour as much or as little as you want. You can also use your fingers to dab it on for a more subtle look, or apply directly from the tube for something more dramatic. I used Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Creme in Black Cherry 447, which you can find here.

Lip prep: moisturize before applying any lipstick

Using a lip brush provides precise coverage

Layer on colour to your liking

Macadamia Crusted Mahi Mahi

 

This post is long overdue. I had originally planned this as part of my Hawaiian themed week a while back, but life got a little crazy so I am posting this now. The first time we tried mahi mahi (a Hawaiian fish) was on our last night at the Grand Hyatt in Kauai. Flaky and tender, this beautiful fish was so juicy and had a macadamia crust that was to die for. It was quite simply the best meal to end our wonderful trip. The boyfriend then made this dish for me on my last birthday and we decided to recreate it for our Kauai themed weekend. It was just as perfect (if not better) than I remembered. Beautifully golden on top, the crust had amazing crunch, texture, and was packed full of flavour. We had this along with the mango, pineapple and papaya salsa we made here and the entire meal was truly a Hawaiian delight and brought us right back to our favourite place on earth. This is such a simple, yet beautiful and sophisticated dish that’s perfect for any special occasion. 

We adjusted the cooking time for the mahi mahi. Use this as a guideline: for every inch of mahi mahi, bake for 10 minutes. Ours were slightly thicker than 1 inch so we cooked it for approxmiately 13 minutes, then broiled it for an additional 2-3 minutes, keeping a close eye to ensure the crust didn't burn.