Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

holiday baking

Chocolats Favoris: Your New Obsession

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Last year, after catching up with a long-distance friend, she slipped something in my handbag as we parted ways.

“Try this,” she said. “It’s my very favourite chocolate from Quebec.”

At the time, I hadn’t heard of Chocolats Favoris – but, being a bona fide chocoholic, of course I accepted the treat with gratitude.

It was the birth of an obsession.

Friends, I want to introduce you to my very favourite brand of chocolatey confections. Chocolats Favoris is a Quebec-based brand – soon to expand further into Ontario! – that has reinvented the traditional concept of a chocolate shop.

Why do I love them so much? Let me count the ways.

1. They’re pretty – almost too pretty to eat. (I said “almost”.) Everything from the whimsical, dreamy packaging to the artistically masterful fine chocolates lures you in. You’ve heard the adage “like a kid in a candy store”… at Chocolats Favoris, you’ll feel like an Instagrammer in a confectionary paradise.
2. They’re devastatingly delicious. I’ve often joked with my husband that death by chocolate would only be acceptable if the sweet treat was from Chocolats Favoris. Their fine chocolates are concocted by master chocolatiers and made with care. Their packaged fondue – both easy to prepare and irresistibly delicious – makes the perfect dessert or gift.

And who can forget about their chocolate bars? Available in inspiring flavours such as Hazelnut Praline, Raspberry Burst, Maple Vanilla, Creamy Coffee and many more, you’ll have a hard time picking a favourite. My advice? Try them all. …

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A Recipe for Happiness: CHIPITS + Christmas

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Bake on, friends, bake on.

This holiday season, don’t worry if you don’t have an arsenal of Christmas-themed recipes. (Although you could try my Santa Baby! Bars. Super easy!) Don’t worry if you’re not a domestic goddess; if you don’t have coordinating tableware or if your home is only half decorated. There’s only one thing I want you to do: grab an apron, a cookie sheet (or pan) and a few staple ingredients. And bake on.

Bake delicious chocolate chip cookies or decadent brownies. Know that regardless of the time of year, comforting homemade goodies are always perfect for the occasion.
20161203_111345Recently, we attended the Lakeshore Santa Claus parade in Etobicoke. It was a nice change from the hustle and bustle of downtown Toronto’s parade; here, there was a feeling of community, and many of the floats included local residents, businesses and of course, children. We staked out a great spot along the front of the route, and my boys had a wonderful time taking in their favourite floats and characters. …

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Santa Baby! Holiday Bars Your Family will Love

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Years ago, when I worked in the corporate world, I was a willing participant in holiday potlucks.

“I’ll bring the Christmas cookies!” I’d declare with glee, enthusiastically sacrificing a weekend to bake goodies around the clock. For years, this tradition continued – me, offering a variety of sweet treats in whimsical holiday colour and shapes, and the others, oohing and ahhing over my baking prowess.

Until one fateful year, when she-who-will-not-be-named brought in the most decadent, most delicious holiday bars I had ever tasted.
_dsc0861a“What are these?” I asked in wonder.

“Oh, I don’t know,” she replied modestly. “I’ve always just known them as Santa Baby! Bars.”

From then on, her bars took top billing at the annual holiday potluck. Defeated, I swore I would never bake again. (I’m kidding, of course. But it really was a shot to my ego!) However, not one to let a good thing go, I cornered her before I left for maternity leave, practically begging her to share the recipe. …

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Lindt The Halls! Warm Up with Mexican Spiced Hot Chocolate

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T’is the season to celebrate! It’s time to deck the halls, trim the tree and of course, eat the chocolate! All the chocolate. But not just any chocolate… only the smoothest, richest, most delectable chocolate will do – one that melts tenderly in your mouth and gently caresses all your senses.

Oh, Lindt – you do make my holidays bright.

And this Christmas, we’re all in for a treat! Featuring 24 Days of Christmas inspiration, Lindt’s The Season magazine offers recipes, crafts and how-to articles which will add a touch of magic to your holiday season. For more than a century, Lindt’s Swiss Maîtres Chocolatiers have been passionate about creating unique and delicious chocolate experiences. Lindt’s The Season gives you an inside peek into their confectionary mastery!

Inspired by this recipe for Swiss Classic Hot Chocolate, I decided to try my own twist on a family classic with a rich, velvety and aromatic Mexican Spiced Hot Chocolate.
DSC_1862aFeaturing Lindt Swiss Classic Surfin, the original luxurious dark chocolate created by Rodolphe Lindt in 1879, the smooth hot chocolate base is accented with savoury cinnamon and spicy cayenne. It’s a feast for the senses and sure to become a favourite over the holiday season! …

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Get Ready to #BakeWithStyle!

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Tenderflake knows how good you feel when you #BakewithStyle and wants to help women coping with cancer feel good too. That’s why they’ve partnered with Look Good Feel Better, Canada’s only charity dedicated to empowering women by helping them manage the effects that cancer and its treatment have on their appearance.

Sounds amazing? IT IS. And here’s how you can help: Vote on one of their stylish Easter recipes and you’ll be making a $1 donation toward the Look Good Feel Better organization.

Of course, a campaign this wonderful is a cause for celebration – and we’re celebrating with a #BakeWithStyle Twitter Party! Join @TenderflakePie as they share stylish and scrumptious recipes like these Easter Sweet Treats. Best of all, we’re giving away FREE Tenderflake coupons and TWO KitchenAid Artisan Mixers – valued at $499.99 each!

RSVP below for a chance to win, and get ready to #BakeWithStyle! …

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#WhatsCooking? It’s the @KraftCanada Twitter Party!

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If you’re like me, you tune into the all-holiday classics radio station on December 1st. Between Silver Bells and I’ll Be Home for Christmas, I’m really getting into the festive spirit!

But as I drove around the city this afternoon, I realized that as much time as we spend baking, cooking and otherwise entertaining during the holiday season, not many holiday tunes are dedicated to the art of good food. I mean, it’s the year 2013; shouldn’t we have a carol about Peppermint Mocha? It’s a *game changer* as far as the holidays go. And what about Irish Cream Cheesecake, Cranberry Biscotti and Chocolate Chip Shortbread? Seriously, people, we need more holiday songs dedicated to good, festive food.

(“I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas?” Puh-lease. The only thing I’m dreaming of is this Peppermint Bark Cheesecake from www.kraftcanada.com.)

Well, if we can’t have carols… we can have a Twitter Party!


Fa-la-la-la-follow @KraftCanada for the BEST holiday tips and tricks as we share mouth-watering festive recipes. From entertaining ideas to favourite desserts, we’ve got you covered. At Kraft Kitchens, they’re always busy cooking up delicious food solutions to try and make getting dinner on the table easy – holiday dinners included!

(Five words: Roast Turkey with Sausage Stuffing.)

We’ll also have some fabulous prizes up for grabs – $1000 worth, to be exact! Simply tweet to win, and bring your best holiday tips to share. Good luck, and RSVP below to join all the fun! (See our official rules here.)

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Bake with Style: It’s the #BakeOver Twitter Party!

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Folks: You will NOT want to miss this one.

Need a KitchenAid 9-Speed Hand Mixer? Cause, oh, we’re only giving away FIVE. Not good enough for you? Okay. How about this: we’re also giving away FIVE KitchenAid Classic Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixers!

Join us for the @TenderflakePie #BakeOver Twitter Party. Now you may not know it, but I happen to be very well versed in sweet, doughy goods. In fact, I hold a certificate from George Brown College in Bakery Arts. It’s true! After I received my BComm from university, I couldn’t decide if I wanted to be in business or in baking. So I strapped on an apron and enrolled myself in the college program.

There, I learned how to flute, pipe, knead and fold… yes, I’m a master at making dessert! Unfortunately, my skills were lost when I married a man who lacks a sweet tooth. It’s tragic, I tell you!

However, I appreciate that everyone has their own unique baking style, and I’m proud to be part of the #BakeOver Twitter Party, which celebrates our holiday baking traditions! And when you have Tenderflake, you can be ‘Tastefully Traditional’ or a ‘Laid Back Baking Lover’.

Of course, I saved the best news for last – the GRAND PRIZE winner will receive both a KitchenAid 9-Speed Hand Mixer AND a KitchenAid Classic Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer! It’s the perfect opportunity to pay it forward and gift one of your winnings to a family member or friend.

RSVP below to join all the fun!…

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The Undomestic Goddess? #DessertMoments

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Is it possible to leave a corporate job, stay at home to raise two boys… and become undomestic?

Because that’s exactly how I’ve felt for the past few years. Until recently, the days leading up to Christmas were crammed with eggnog swinging, tree-trimming and of course, holiday baking. Yes, my kitchen was my bakery: with cakes, cookies and confections galore, I’d stay up well past midnight waiting for the shortbread to cool or the icing sugar to set. It was my thing – friends knew that once the holidays came ’round, Lena would be baking up a storm.

And you’d think that being at home, with little children (who love the aforementioned cakes, cookies and confections), I’d increase my baking efforts – right?

Sadly, no. Since the boys were born, I’ve found myself making less and less time to enjoy holiday baking. To tell the truth, I didn’t bake at all last year – opting instead for a few store-bought goodies that worked in a pinch, but could never compare to a homemade treat.

So when Kraft Canada contacted me about doing a fun, festive photo shoot to capture some wonderful Holiday #DessertMoments, I couldn’t say no. And it wasn’t because I was looking forward to having a professional photographer take beautiful pictures of my handiwork (though that was an awesome fringe benefit) – it was so I would be guaranteed to turn out some holiday goodies this year!

And so without further ado, I’d love to share Kraft Canada’s recipe for Salted Chocolate Covered Caramels… made by yours truly!

(The photographer, Teddy Chau, is a creative genius. Look for drool-worthy pictures of the candy – plus a few fabulous shots of moi. You didn’t really think I’d let the food be the star of the show, did you?)

What You Need:

1 pkg. (269 g) Kraft Caramels
5 squares Baker’s Premium 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate, melted
1 Tbsp. sea salt
toothpicks for handling the Caramels

(That’s all folks! Just 3 ingredients and a waxed paper-covered baking sheet. Anyone can make this recipe – and since there’s no baking involved, it’s a great one to do with the kiddos.)

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