Ok, frankly, I don't know about you, but if I get myself a little treat, the first thing I do is find ways to justify it. I find myself repeating a variety of little mantras over and over... You know, as a way to magically reduce calories. Stuff like "Really, its organic. Really, its got fiber...err... somewhere. There's fruit! Fruit somewhere!"

So, let me help you with this. When lovely Amanda offered to let me post a guest entry, I thought... What can I do to convince you that ANYTIME is a good time for D&B….

And then it hit me. What if you could make a meal of your D&B treats? Cover some more food groups with it and you are good to go! Maybe a little dairy (calcium!), or nuts (protein!), or fruit (fibre!) ... See? Virtually all the food groups, covered right there. It can be a D&B breakfast, lunch or dinner (Hey, don't judge. ;)

Here are some really fun little treats that you can use to totally justify a little D&B morning, noon, or night. Just dip, smother, spread.... whatever strikes your fancy. And congratulate yourself for covering more food groups, which, really, means like more nutrients, right? So, its a meal. And therefore TOTALLY justifiable.

Are you ready?

Try drizzling a little melted chocolatey Home Made Nutella...

Or perhaps spreading some fruity, spicy Orange-Rhubarb Butter...

And if you are feeling hoity-toity and fancy, you REALLY need to scoop clouds of exquisite Lavender Rose Mascarpone Cream...

Since I discovered how eaaaaaaaasy it is to make homemade Mascarpone, I'll also share the recipe with you. Its so worth it, you have no idea... Its almost ethereal.

Lavender Rose Mascarpone Cream Ingredients

* 2 cups organic whipping cream (regular cream has stabilizers in it, making this less successful)

* 1 tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice

* 2 heaping tbsp strong honey

* 1 tsp lavender flowers

* 1.5 tsp rose water

Directions

1. Heat the cream in a sauce pan over low heat until it reaches 190 degrees Fahrenheit (use a candy thermometer!). Stir it continuously to prevent any scorching.

2. Add in the lemon or lime juice, continue stirring.

3. When the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of your spoon, turn off the stove heat, add in the honey and lavender. Let it cool undisturbed for 30 min.

4. Pour the mixture into a damp cheese-cloth lined strainer, set over a bowl. Let rest in the fridge over night.

5. The next morning, Peel the cheesecloth off. Stir in 1 1/2 tsp rose water.

Note 1: For a firmer mascarpone, add more acid than what is called for here, augment by 1/2 tbsp at a time.

Note 2: You will probably find that with a bit of extra acid, the firmer mascarpone doesn't need to drain. You may not need a cheese cloth to strain over night. Also, you may find that squeezing the leftover mascarpone out of the cheesecloth is a bit of a pain- its easy to waste a lot (*heartbreak*)- so, cheesecloth can be optional.

And by the way, you're welcome. Now you totally have 3 brand new delicious reasons to go out there and indulge in some D&B. Because, *technically* I'd call it a meal if you have a few extra food groups included with your treat.

Enjoy, everyone.

The ultimate date spot, a cozy nest, perfectly decorated, and pies to die for… Introducing

The Pie Shack.

Located at 2305 Queen St E on the south side, just east of Glen Manor, this adorable shop is just out of the touristy part of the Beaches across the street from a beautiful park. 

image borrowed from: http://www.blogto.com/bakery/pieshack

The shop is owned by a hard working, most welcoming, truely nice man.   Tim is his name and Pie is his game.  He is always accompanied by Campbell (owner of the Paw Shack).

 The pies are baked off site but are always fresh and good lord their butter tarts are To Die For.

The Pie Shack is where it's at.  Go in for a piece of your fav pie, snuggle up on the couch with a book, and sip a cuppa tea!  Dreamy.  Gentlemen, bring your favourite lady and you will score big points!  Or bring your kids and play board games and eat pie until you're sick!!

Please share how much you loved it once you go!

image borrowed from: http://www.blogto.com/bakery/pieshack

A couple of weeks ago I packed up the fam and we drove out to the country to my aunt's house (well truthfully she is my husband's aunt but I claim her, and all of his aunts, as my own).  Anne Mizen happens to be a master of good old fashion pie... the ingreadients she chooses are straight up REAL, her method is simple (and messy- my kind of baking), and the finished product will leave you craving MORE!

I walked into her farm house and she had the pastry recipe typed out for me and everything planned.  She begged me to fix the spelling mistake and I said no.  I figured it would allow for mistakes in my pies!

It all started with this here recipe book.  I swear it dates back to biblical times... It is amazing and used and stained and that's exactly what a cookbook should be!

We then went out to Anne's garden and picked fresh rhubard for our rhubard pie!

We mixed (not too much), rolled, patted, filled, and pricked...

While Anne and I baked my man and my baby went off with uncle Tom...they foraged for wild asparagus (which we grilled for dinner- so delish) and morels, played with catepilars in the hammock, played the piano, and enjoyed the beautiful garden.

The whole day was lovely.

Pie Perfection.  We made and mastered Rhubard, Apple, and Lemon Meringue Pie and Blueberry and Butter tarts.  I have to say that the butter tarts were some of the best I have ever had!  I must make them again to see if it was just luck or if they really are that delish!

Thank-you Anne for a most special day!  I now say that I can do pie's!!

xo

I will keep this friendly post short and sweet!  On your next visit to New York city "concrete jungle where dreams are maaaade of..." (Alicia Keys), you must visit these two Sweet Spots...

Milk and Cookies

This adorable little bakery has been on my must visit list for over a year now!  Located at 19 Commerce street in the West Village,  you can smell fresh baked cookies from around the corner.  They do cookies and they do em right.  They keep it real with daily flavor selections of:  Chocolate chip, Oatmeal Raisin, Peanut Butter, Snickerdoodles, and Sugar to name a few.

Milk and Cookies offers in store cookie making parties and you can design your own cookie, with advanced notice, by choosing your own cookie base and selecting what goodies you with like to add!  One seriously cute little shop if I do say so myself!

NY Cake

This is it bakers... a one stop seriously intense shop for all of your baking needs.  There is nothing they do not have.  Located at 56 West 22nd Street Between 5th & 6th Avenues you may want to pop in on your next visit!

NY cakes has every sort of sprinkle, liner, mould, pan, tip, cutter, and piping bag you could ever want.  They also sell the coveted (not available in Canada) Valhorona Cocoa powder.  No if's, and's, or but's about it this is THE baking Mecca.

That's all from NY for now... until next time! xo

I recently went to New York City with my most favourite girlfriends (minus a few).  While I was there I checked out every possible cupcake shop I could to see what people are doing, what's new, and what is different.  From New York to your tummy, Enjoy:

Baked by Melissa is where mini's rule the land.  There are 2 locations and I visited the one at 7 East 14th street which is just around the corner from Union Square.  The cupcakes were delish.  The buttercream was straight up goodness and the cake was great too.  I was surprised at how mini their mini's actually are...I think you could eat 6-8 of their mini's to equate to one standard size cuppie.  Buuut I guess that's a good thing is you like a different taste for every bite!

About the size of a quarter, you can choose from a yummy selection of cookie dough, red velvet, Peanut Butter and Jelly, and Tie Dye to name a few!  A great place to visit if you want to try a little of everything!

The famous Magnolia.  I visited the downtown location at 401 Bleeker street.  The shop was as cute as I imagined it to be and the staff was lovely in spite of the fact that their air conditioner broke and the store was soooo stinkin hot. 

I have to admit, their cupcakes were less then average... The cake was really dry (again, could be the result of the heat) and the icing- gulp- I can't say that I liked it at all.  I have heard many a mixed review about their icing and it just isn't for me.  Over the top sweet and leaves an oily after taste.  However, my friend insisted on getting the banana pudding which is a combination of sliced banana, a custard like banana pudding and vanilla wafers- OHHHH MYYY GOOOOD. I never go for deserts like this- it was to die for.  Click here for the recipe!!

Eleni's is located in the Chelsea Market at 75 9th avenue.  This was one of the cutest shops I visited and in, hands down, one of my most favourite areas in NYC.  They are a cookie shop first but they had a large variety of cupcakes for sale.  The price was steep at around $3.50 a cupcake but they charge that because they can...

Crumbs!!! Of all the cupcakes I tried, these were the best.  The cake was moist and flavorful and the icing was bangin'!  The sizing of their cuppies is a little different in that they carry only Chocolate, vanilla, and red velvet in a standard size and all other flavors come in these jumbo-ish size.  You could quite possibly share with 3 people.  They also have a mammoth cupcake, that is really a cake, if you want to feed 6-8 people but I'd rather have my own!

The Cupcake Stop.  This little shop was inside an old church that had been converted into this gorgeous house for boutique shops!  My kinda church!!!  They had everything from Hunter rain boots, to Ralph Lauren, to designer baby clothing and puppy accessories.  The church also had an area that sold treats: cheeses, aged balsamic vineagars, and cupcakes!!! 

 The cupcakes were descent.  I wouldn't crave them but they were good.  The shop was definitely cute but their cupcake truck was so cool!

Can you imagine if there was a cupcake shop in your church???

 The Cupcake Stop's main source of business comes from their mobile cupcake truck and this is where their business began.  They pull up to all of your favourite places in the city and sell cupcakes- this is where it's at.  This is where D&B is  going... hint hint!!!

And so there ya have it...a tour of New York cupcakes in a nut shell!  I had an amazing trip, got lot's of great ideas, and ate a s&%t ton of cupcakes!  Stay tuned for more from NY...