Miss Mouse's Frosty Cake

My sister and I made this cute cake on the request of Miss Mouse.  When asked what cake she wanted for her 2nd birthday she said "Frosty!"....so here is our Frosty Cake!

Cake broom hand-crafted by Cole (mucho appreciation!)

Easter Cake

We are now offering Celebration Cakes at Eve Chocolatier!

Country Living Excursion

Yesterday, while sifting through my collection of decorating magazines, I picked up this month's issue of Country Living and whilst basking in all the beautifully photographed articles I spotted the advertisement about their upcoming Women Entrepreneur event.  They are celebrating women who "bank on their bliss"  (love it!) and featuring leading women entrepreneurs in creative industries.  So, my mom and I will be packing our trunks and hitting the road.  Our little town in Canada is about 5-6 hours from the bright lights of Chicago which means it's a proper road trip.  Anything that is over 3 hours away, requires crossing borders or boarding ferries is thus a proper road trip and in my books requires all the accompaniments of said road trip.  1) picnic snacks that can be nibbled in the car or made into a picnic lunch if a location is spotted  2) custom created road-trip music designed with scenery and destination in mind.  3) pocket camera...something you can take a great picture with but can hold with one hand out of a window.  4) good, old-fashioned road maps...no GPS!  Preferably one that can only by spread out on a car hood the size of a 1950's Cadillac.  5) A good friend!        

Hope you can make it to this event to share and meet with other women who "bank on their bliss" (still love it!).  Hope to see you there!

Pauline

Country Living Women Entrepreneurs Event

...and the winners are!

The finished Chocolate Oscars....

Oscar Beginnings

The beautiful Retro Suites hotel has asked me to create Chocolate "Oscars" for their A Night With Oscar party on Sunday night.  I was unable to find an existing "Oscar" mold to use to make the trophies so I decided to create my own.  I found a company in Ohio, with a charming chap who explained in great detail how to create a mold with his food-grade silicone putty.  Here is the beginnings of my mold creation.  As I am writing this, I am on attempt #3 with little success but I shall continue my trials and will create a golden chocolate trophy....at least that's the idea!

Escape Artist

Yet another dreary winter day in the land of snow and ice.  Don't get me wrong, I love all the seasons and all their differences but sometimes I wish you could speed them up a little.  Well, if you are like me and you are looking for a mini-break and I mean a really, really mini-break.  Check out some of these webcams from some of my favourite places.  Comment on some of your favourite places and if there is a webcam..please, please share!

Florence

Paris

Favourite New Cookbook

If you've ever lacked any desire to visit France, Anne Willan's The Country Cooking of France will surely cure you.  This beautiful hardcover book is as much a cookbook as it is a culinary escape.  The book is well organized into sections of various meats, soups, sauces, breads, vegetables, potatoes and desserts.  Within each chapter there is an accolade section where they pay homage to different French culinary legends as well as a few pages dedicated to local traditions, customs, and other various aspects regarding different regions of France.  It is worth its weight in truffles!

Phaedra's Butterfly Cake

A little girl named Phaedra turned 3 on Valentine's Day.  We made her a pink frosting cake with chocolate butterflies.  Happy Birthday Phaedra!

History's Greatest Love Letters - Victor Hugo

Victor Hugo was a French poet, playwright, novelist, and exponent of the Romantic movement in France.  In 1822, he married his childhood sweetheart Adele Foucher.  

To Adele Foucher (1821) from Victor Hugo

My dearest,

When to souls, which have sought each other for,

however long in the throng, have finally found each other

...a union, fiery and pure as they themselves are...

begins on earth and continues forever in heaven.

This union is love, true love,...

a religion, which deifies the loved one,

whose life comes from devotion and passion, 

and for which the greatest sacrifices are the sweetest delights.

This is the love which you inspire in me...

Your soul is made to love with the purity and passion of angels;

but perhaps it can only love another angel, in which case I must tremble

with apprehension.

Yours forever,

Victor Hugo

Win a Trip to Paris!

I thought I would pass this along to my readers.  Nivea has a contest going on right now until February 17th where you can win a free trip to Paris.  Who doesn't dream of strolling along the river Seine and sipping cafe au lait at Fouquet's.  Here is the link to the Kiss-O-Mate contest site.  Good luck!

Organizing Your Creative Space

I am currently writing today's post, after a one month hiatus, from my small dark office space at my shop. As the fog lifts from the holiday season it usually reveals a clump of clutter that appears to be amassed by little deviant, pranking trolls that seemed to go unnoticed on my payroll. You see, they scamper around at night making little piles of junk in all the little corners of my little office space and then before you know it, I can barely enter unscathed by falling towers of tupperware dishes and large leaning pillars of trade journals. So, for anyone else out there who also has a disturbing infestation of these covert, trash-wielding trolls, I have put together an easy 3-step process to help conquer the clutter and also some inspiration photos to keep you motivated. I will post some before and after pictures of my office space, when I complete the after!

Step 1: Trolls hide in trash and piles of junk. So to completely eradicate them you must go through all your piles and neatly organize everything into easy to access storage. These little creepers love packed closets and drawers so make sure you eliminate any excess.

Step 2: Trolls are ugly and therefore love ugly spaces. Pick out a paint colour and get decorating. Make a beautiful space that you will love and trolls will hate.

Step 3: Trolls only work when you get lazy. So to keep these little devils in the bread lines, tackle one easy 15 minute project every night to stay on top of the clutter.

Pictures: 

1. Wren's Nest Cottage

2. Pottery Barn

3. Heather Bailey Studio

4. The French Inspired Home (Sommer Design)

Happy New Year!

Wow, I can't believe that we are now into 2009! As you can imagine, I was quite busy in the shop over the month of December and was unable to keep up on my posts. But, I'm back now and am bubbling with great ideas for this upcoming year. We are already working on Valentine's Day and churning out fresh new ideas for the upcoming Easter season. Stay tuned...

Mingle Bells! Cocktail Party and Open House

A night of holiday merriment! This Friday, December 5th at 7:00pm, we are hosting our Holiday Open House. Browse our chocolate boutique, munch on exquisite hors d'oeuvres and sip holiday cocktails! Be captivated by the Ridge Players and Lutherin Church Choirs and be enchanted by the award-winning vocalist Jade Lester. This is free event and will be lots of fun!

Holiday Gift Card Sale!

In the spirit of the holidays, Eve Chocolatier is offering $20 gift certificates for $10. They are available in our store in historic downtown Chatham at 14 King Street West.

The Home Journal

Another inspirational picture to go into the home journal. I love the casual yet still very elegant look of this room.

Gingerbread House

New this year at the boutique, we are making delicious Gingerbread Houses. I still smile when I see them in the store...they are so sweet (literally!)

The Cocktail Dress Dilemma

I have known for quite some time that one of the most impossible things in the world to find is a great cocktail dress, especially when you need it. I always tell myself that I'm going to "keep my eye open" throughout the year and then that way I won't have to sift through decimated clothes racks looking for the 1/2 price dress that will change my life. Alas, another holiday season is approaching and I have yet to secure my "spanks not required", body altering dress that is perfect for every occasion. Well, the good news is, I'm pretty sure I'm going to look better than Bjork. Oh Bjork, you really know how to make a girl feel better!

Holiday "Images to Inspire"

www.designmom.com
www.hgtv.com
www.potterybarn.com

My Little Wish Book!

I know that Sears is famous for their Christmas Wish Book but amazon.ca has become my little trove of treasures. My Wish List on amazon.ca has accumulated quite the titles over the last year and its newest addition if French Cooking in 10 Minutes. This little gem was written in 1930 and it has an undeniable charm. The book is filled with humour and wit and the common sense approach to life that is really refreshing to read. He advises you to cook soufflé potatoes only for your closest friends: in all likelihood, "either you will spoil the potatoes or you will spend your evening apologising for neglecting your guests". The author Edouard de Pomiane writes in an almost extinct verbal way, the way your Grandmother would teach you. Here is a sample from his book La Cuisine en Dix Minutes ou l'Adaptation au Rhythme moderne

Snails.

Buy a dozen snails from a concientious tradesman, that is to say, a man who will use good butter for stuffing his snails. Arrange the twelve snails on a large fireproof dish. It is not as easy as it sounds. The opening of the shell must face upwards. Otherwise as soon as the butter melts it runs out of the shell and the snail becomes dry and tough. When you have arranged the shells properly, pour a little water into the dish. Put the dish on the fire for three or four minutes, just long enough to warm it. Then put it under the grill. In five to six minutes the butter has melted and the snails are hot. Eat them as long as they burn your fingers.

Christmas Cheer at Eve Chocolatier!