I would like to extend my very best wishes to all for a most Happy Thanksgiving! Here in Canada we celebrated our Thanksgiving in October, but I’m of the opinion that one can never have too many opportunities to give thanks.

To celebrate, I decided to prepare some delicious pumpkin doughnuts. These are beyond easy. You mix the batter, let it chill and then fry up these tender, cakey doughnuts full of pumpkin flavour. A generous dab (or two) of powdered glaze and you’re good to go. This recipe comes from the ever-inspiring Epicurious. For the recipe, click here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

ALL THE NEWS THAT’S FIT TO PRINT

Canadian Blogging by Post #2

CBBP #2 was a huge success! Thanks to the efforts of my dearest Jasmine of Confessions of a Cardamom Addict and Sensual Gourmet, we had an even larger turnout than CBBP #1. Judging by the lovely gifts that were exchanged by bloggers across this country, everyone ended up with many wonderful treats.

I had the honour of sending a CBBP package to Sarah Lou of One Whole Clove. While I’m relatively new to Sarah Lou’s blog, I’m so impressed with the variety of dishes she prepares and bakes, as well as her ability to constantly prepare whatever it is that I seem to be craving. We must be cosmically linked!

Most importantly, however, I would like to thank Mamma Tiff of Life Changes After Birth who sent me the loveliest package! It included the tenderest Apple Cookies I have ever tasted (they didn’t last very long) as well as the recipe for the cookies. Mamma Tiff also very thoughtfully included a CD with music from Glen Gould, a booklet of Sudoku puzzles and a delicious hot chocolate drink bar. I was thrilled with my goodies and am enjoying them all. Mamma Tiff, thank you so much! It’s been a pleasure to meet you!

The Tea Towel Swap

The sweet Jackie of Wren’s Nest hosted a tea towel swap in October. I don’t know about you but I have a huge thing for tea towels. Linens are of the utmost importance in my family, especially since my maternal grandmother was taught to operate a loom. She always taught us about the importance of nice linens.

My swap partner is the gracious (and patient) Raesha of My Love. Raesha sent me exquisite tea towels that are perfect for a Cream Puff like me that loves to bake. I would show you a picture of the tea towels, but I’m planning a special post about them (to be posted in the next week or two) so you’re just going to have to wait. In the meantime, though, I want to thank Raesha for her thoughtfulness. I shall always treasure these tea towels!

Onion Day!

The ever-creative Zorra of Kochtopf has decided to host another one-off event. Her Bread Day event was so popular that it’s still going on. I unfortunately couldn’t participate in Bread Day due to oven troubles (am I glad that those are over!), but I thought I’d take a moment to let you know that Onion Day is November 27th. You can read all the details of the event by clicking here, or just head over to Zorra’s blog. Happy onion-chopping and crying!

Swedish Anyone?

I’ve mentioned this before on my blog, but in case you’re interested, the too cute Clivia of Clivia’s Cuisine has taken it upon herself to teach the world Swedish by offering a new Swedish word every time she posts. I’m you’re interested in expanding your language repertoire, check it out!

Cream Puff and Co-Workers Become Famous!

Well, maybe we’re not quite famous yet, but certainly we are being recognized for our cooking and baking abilities! Tanya Wenman Steele, the editor of Epicurious’s epi-log blog pointed out the incredible Thanksgiving potluck that my co-workers and I enjoyed for Canadian Thanksgiving. Tanya has requested an invitation to next year’s potluck to which I reply that she is welcome anytime! Thank you to Emily of Appetitive Behavior for pointing that post out to me.

Italian Anyone?

For all the Italophiles out there, check out SevenFishesBlog.com. It’s a great new blog about all things Italian, especially food. Big surprise there!

The Holidays and Health Concerns

Last but certainly not list, I wanted to direct your attention to a wonderful resource for anyone with concerns relating to sugar intake and diabetes. My own family has been touched by diabetes so I know how challenging the holidays can be. I received an e-mail from Tom Karlya of dLife.com about the wonderful recipe database available on this site. In addition to some important information about diabetes, there are a number of great recipes available to help everyone make it through the holidays.

AN OVERDUE MEME

Every time I’m tagged for a MEME, I’m thrilled! Unfortunately I don’t get to them so quickly because I generally have so many other planned posts to get through first. But I have made a commitment to respond to all MEMEs, even if it takes me the equivalent of 100 Blog Years!

Way back in March, the brilliant Ilva of Lucullian Delights tagged me for the "Around the World MEME." If you’re not familiar with Ilva’s blog, you should visit for the incredible recipes and the even more incredible photographs. Ilva is one of those individuals that can see beauty all around her, in even the simplest of objects or scenes. Her blog is a constant reminder that the world, even with all its imperfections, is a beautiful place.

Thank you so much for tagging me, Ilva!

So here we go …

Please list 3 recipes you have recently bookmarked from food blogs to try:

1. Raspberry and Chocolate Ganache Tarts from Rubber Slippers in Italy
2. Fried Cardamom Cookies from Gattina
3. Fettuccine with Fresh Figs, Chard and Gorgonzola from Albion Cooks

A food blog in your vicinity:

I had the good fortune of actually meeting the "Muffin Man" from Do You Know the Muffin Man? As it turns out the Muffin Man also lives in the Greater Toronto Area and as luck would have it, we were both enrolled in the same class at George Brown’s Culinary School. The Muffin Man is an avid and passionate baker and his blog is a journal of all that he makes. Mouth-watering!

A food blog located far from you:

There are so many blogs to choose from in this category! Every day I discover a new blog that I admire. But today I’d like to direct your attention to the delicious Foodbeam-100% Sweet. The baking talent behind this blog is the adorable Fanny. She is from the Cote d’Azur in France (jealous yet?). She bakes the most delicious things. She takes the most wonderful photographs. And I truly believe that she is 100% sweet. Go and pay her a visit!

A food blog (or several) you have discovered recently? Where did you find it (them)?

A blog that I just recently discovered (and am really enjoying) is called Grignote et Barbotine. I discovered this blog after "Grignote et Barbotine" left a comment on my blog. While my high school French isn’t what it used to be, I’m a firm believer that beautiful food transcends all languages. Check out their blog … it’s wonderful!

Any people or bloggers you want to tag with this MEME?

I’ll leave this one open for anyone that wants to try it! You’re all it!

Ciao!

Technorati tags:  pumpkin, doughnuts, pumpkin doughnuts, thanksgiving, canadian blogging by post, tea towel swap, onion day, around the world meme

We’ve got a busy post ahead so I’ll just get right down to the business at hand:  some news, some recipes and a long overdue MEME response.

News, News, News!

Earlier this year, the first edition of Canadian Blogging by Post was launched with great success.

I’m happy to announce that CBBP #2 is proceeding thanks to the witty, charming and talented Jasmine of Confessions of a Cardamom Addict and Sensual Gourmet (yes … she has two blogs!).

Jasmine stepped up to the plate and offered to host CBBP #2. She’s posted all the details here so if you’re a blogger and you live in Canada, take a moment to consider participating in CBBP #2.

The food blog world is fairly bursting at the seams with events and I for one am thrilled. Nothing gets the creative juices flowing more than a blog event.

The latest one to capture my attention is World Bread Day, which I first read about on Andrew’s blog SpittoonExtra. The event is organized by Zorra of Kochtopf. I’d never visited this blog before and I assure you that I will rectify that situation by visiting often. It’s gorgeous! The details of the event are here. As someone who is taking two bread courses this Fall, I think it is more than incumbent upon me to participate. I hope you do as well.

Recipes, Recipes, Recipes!

Many months ago, I took it upon myself to finally go through the mountain of printed recipes threatening to topple over and smother my family! And just as soon as I’d done that the mountain was quickly replaced by another mountain of recipes, except this time they were recipes I’d printed from all the blogs I visit. I decided it was high time to try some of them lest Mount Blog erupt and doom us all!

Here’s a list of recipes I’ve tried. There are no pictures, mostly because I was too anxious to eat the food rather than photograph it. Yes. I am a weak Cream Puff.

• Hungry in Hogtown’s Nutella Ice Cream:  It’s ice cream with nutella in it. You figure it out!
• Cookbook 411’s Apricot Mini Cakes:  If I had to pick one fruit that represented the summer recently past, it would be the apricot. We were blessed with a bounty of them, many of which found their way into these glorious little cakes which I reproduced with great success.
• Milk & Honey’s Chocolate Marble Cake and Spicy Honey Peanut Sauce:  Sweet Rorie is back to blogging and I couldn’t be happier. The Chocolate Marble Cake is a must-try and the Spicy Honey Peanut Sauce has become a family favourite.
• Nosheteria’s Roasted Garbanzo Beans:  When I was a child, we would snack on roasted garbanzo beans (chickpeas) all the time. At some point we stopped eating them so I was hit with a wave of nostalgia when I saw this recipe. Delicious and good for you … you just can’t go wrong.

A Long Overdue MEME Response

Speaking of Jasmine of Confessions of a Cardamom Addict, I am in her debt as she tagged me for a MEME a veeeeeerrrrrrrry long time ago and I have yet to respond. It’s the "You Are What You Eat MEME" and it made it’s way ’round the blogosphere for quite some time. The objective is to name ten foods that you cannot live without. Having recently taken time to answer the question that Melissa put forth, I won’t bore you by repeating my list of five. But I will add another five to my original list in no particular order.

• Chocolate:  No explanation required.
• Milk:  It does the body good.
• Doughnuts:  Dough that is fried and then dipped in sugar is very good for you.
• Tomatoes:  I cannot imagine a life without tomatoes and all the various dishes they inspire.
• Cheese/Yogurt:  Who knew bacteria could be so yummy!

And there you have it. Some news, some recipes and a MEME.

Ciao!

The spirit of the MEME has been reawakened by Melissa of The Traveler’s Lunchbox who has encouraged bloggers everywhere to compile a list of foods they’ve eaten and would tell others to eat before they head off to the great bakery in the sky.

The following unbelievably talented people tagged me for this one and I thank them profusely: Natalia of From Our Kitchen, Susan of Porcini Chronicles, Rebecca of Eat and JenJen of Milk and Cookies.

(Editorial Note:  In a moment of sheer forgetfulness I neglected to mention that the lovely Mae of the beautiful and elegant Rice and Noodles also tagged me for this MEME. Mae, my sincerest apologies! There’s a platter of Olive Ascolane, Crema Fritta, Prosciutto, Parmigiano, Ravioli di Castagne and Bread with Nutella waiting for you whenever you like!)

Compiling this list was incredibly difficult for me. How can I narrow down all the incredible foods out there to simply a list of five? I finally decided to stop fretting and listed five items that seemed impossible to do without. Of course my actual list probably numbers at least one hundred! But here goes:

1. Olive Ascolane (Ascolane Olives):  Close to the Adriatic Coast, in the region of Le Marche is the province of Ascoli Piceno. Home to my father’s family, it is like a second home to me. Ascoli Piceno is famous for the large olives grown there known as Ascolane. These beautiful olives are used in a dish that easily qualifies as a family treasure:  Olive Ascolane. The olives are peeled from the pit and then filled with a meat stuffing. Battered and then fried, they are a delicacy beyond compare. Stay tuned. You’ll see them on Cream Puffs in Venice eventually.
2. Ravioli di Castagne (Chestnut Ravioli):  Another famous dish from Le Marche, these sweet ravioli are prepared especially around Christmas time using local, fresh chestnuts. The finest pasta dough is stuffed with a chestnut puree. The ravioli are then fried and sprinkled with sugar. It is impossible to eat only one. Never fear … you’ll see these on Cream Puffs in Venice as well!
3. Prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano Reggiano:  If you have never experienced the joy of tasting a silky slice of the world’s best cured ham accompanied by the best cheese ever, go and get some now!
4. Crema Fritta (Fried Cream):  Another family favourite, this is basically a heart attack on a plate. But so worth it! Crema fritta is a rich, eggy custard that is left to cool (preferably on a marble board) until it’s thick and set. It’s then cut into squares, breaded, fried and sprinkled with sugar. Oh yeah!
5. Nutella:  I am always amazed at how many people have never tried Nutella! But I can’t think of much that’s better than a fresh piece of bread slathered with this chocolate hazelnut spread.

Now that I’ve shared my list, I am tagging the following food lovers in the hopes that they will share their list with all of us:

• Alicia of Posie Gets Cozy
• Hester of Hester in Geneva
• Geneve of Geneve’s Kitchen
• Adrienne of Nosheteria
• Rowena of Rubber Slippers in Italy

Ciao!

Things are very exciting in Cream Puff world folks! I have some news for you today, plus a recipe that you must all try, and to round things out, a MEME response that is long overdue.

First things first … the news:

Are you a Canadian blogger who’s green with envy after reading about all the incredibly delicious goodies that European bloggers have been sending each other by mail? Well it’s time we did something about it! Canadian Bloggers Unite!

Sweet Pleasure: Plaisir Sucre’, The Candied Quince and Cream Puffs in Venice are hosting the first Canadian Blogging by Post event. You can read all of the details here. If you’re interested, and we hope you are, e-mail Sam so that you’ll be included in the list of participating bloggers.

It’s bound to be tremendous fun and it’s also a great way to meet some fellow Canadian bloggers!

On to the next news item:

Even though I’ve only been blogging for about four months, the baking floodgates have really opened for me. I always knew that I loved baking, but even I’m surprised at the passion and drive that’s emerged from this Cream Puff. Rather than just sitting idly by, I thought it was time I did something about it.

While I wish I could say that I’m running off to Le Cordon Bleu or the French Culinary Institute, that’s just not in the cards right now. However, I have enrolled in the first course of what will hopefully end up being a Bakery Arts Certificate from the Culinary Arts School at George Brown College in Toronto.

While it may not be as famous as other cooking schools, George Brown has a solid culinary arts program and has produced many great chefs. This doesn’t mean that I’m going to run off and become a pastry chef. It does mean that I really feel that it’s time that I focus my energy and explore this passion that I have for baking.

My first course, Basic Baking, begins Saturday April 8th. I look forward to sharing my adventure with all of you and hope that you’ll join this Cream Puff for the ride. At the very least we can all enjoy some baking together … and as I always say, life would be so much better if we all baked more!

And finally, speaking of baking, quite awhile ago a certain cupcake recipe seemed to make its rounds in blog world. I arrived a bit late on the scene, but fortunately I caught the tail end of it and simply must share it with all of you again in case some of you missed it. I speak of the incredible self-frosting cupcakes that first appeared on the endlessly talented Nic’s blog, Bakingsheet. I found out about the cupcakes from the incredible Barbara of Winosandfoodies.com.

Of course anything with nutella instantly has me hooked. I followed Nic’s recipe and knew that I had a huge hit. I made the cupcakes on three different occasions and each time they disappeared before they could even cool down. So last weekend, I decided to make them again.

I prepared my ingredients, I mixed the batter, I filled the cupcake liners and then I went to get the jar of nutella to add the final touch.

But wait. Where’s the nutella?

That’s right folks … that earth-shattering scream you heard … was Cream Puff as she realized that there was no nutella in the house! As my cupcake batter was waiting, I had to make a quick decision so I reached for the peanut butter, when I suddenly remembered that I had a container of dulce de leche in the refrigerator.

Dulce de leche? As a replacement for nutella? Could it be?

Oh yes it could! And what a replacement! It was amazing … if you’re interested, simply follow Nic’s recipe but instead of nutella, use dulce de leche. You’ll have a hit on your hands … believe me!

Well that’s it for this edition of Cream Puff news. I’d like to end my post with a MEME response that is long overdue. I thank Mary of La Tavola and Anne of AnneCuisine, both of whom tagged me for this one. Thanks ladies!

Four jobs you’ve had in your life:

1. Writer/editor
2. Librarian’s assistant
3. Receptionist
4. Shoemaker (yes you read that correctly … when your father owns a shoe company … you learn how to make shoes!)

Four movies you’d like to watch over and over:

1. The Sound of Music
2. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
3. Billy Elliot
4. Babette’s Feast

Four places you’ve lived:

This Cream Puff has only ever lived in the amazing and incredible city of Toronto!

Four TV shows you love to watch:

1. The Amazing Race
2. Rosemary and Thyme (wonderful British show)
3. The Barefoot Contessa
4. Hockey Night in Canada

Four places you’ve been on vacation:

1. Ascoli Piceno, Italy
2. Boston, USA
3. San Francisco, California
4. Montreal, Canada

Four websites I visit daily:

1. La Tartine Gourmande
2. The Toronto Star
3. Epicurious
4. Bloglines

Four of my favourite foods:

1. Chocolate
2. Bread
3. Potatoes
4. Champagne

Four places I’d rather be right now:

1. I’d rather be in Rome, having an espresso.
2. I’d rather be in my father’s town in Italy, watching the sun rise over the hills.
3. I’d rather be in San Francisco, at the Ferry Building Marketplace, eating Cowgirl Creamery Cheese, Acme Bread and sipping some sparkling wine.
4. I’d rather be in Stockholm, Sweden, wishing my good friend IK a very happy birthday (belated)!

Four bloggers I am tagging:

Since this MEME has already made it’s way around the blogosphere, I’ll leave it open-ended. If you want to tag yourself … you’re it!

In closing I’d also like to thank the lovely Patricia of P.A. Moed who tagged me for the MEME in 7 Parts. You can see my response to that one here. Thanks Patricia!

Stay tuned to Cream Puffs in Venice for more on the loveliness of lemons in April.

Ciao!

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in January (it seems like ages and ages ago), the lovely Kat of Our Adventures in Japan tagged me for the cookbook MEME which has made its rounds in this incredible universe of food blogs. I’m glad to finally get to it, especially because cookbooks are my favourite subject (i.e., The Overburdened Bookshelf). But before I get to the MEME, there a few items I’d like to share with you.

If you haven’t visited the Well Fed Network yet, I highly recommend you do. Well Fed is the home base for a series of blogs that deal with various subjects so near and dear to the hearts of bloggers. I’m happy to say that I will be contributing to two of those blogs:  A Nice Cuppa and Paper Palate. I’ll be learning all about tea for A Nice Cuppa and Paper Palate will finally give me the excuse that I’ve been looking for to justify the ridiculous amounts of money I spend on food publications. Take a look when you have a chance!

The second bit of news I wanted to share has to do with a recipe that the world needs to know about. Several months ago I was hopscotching my way through  blog world, having a great time, when I came across a post on a wonderful blog called Gastronome. The post was about a charming recipe for Rum Butter Cakes. Intrigued, I saved the recipe and tried it a few weeks later. All I’m going to say is this: YOU MUST MAKE THIS CAKE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! It’s incredible … light, buttery and not-too-sweet with the warmest hint of rum. Since finding this recipe I’ve made it about ten times. So please visit Gastronome, read the post, and enjoy one of the best cakes you’ll ever taste!

The final point I wanted to make before I get to the MEME has to do with the recipes we all share with each other. As many of you know I grew up in a family that was passionate about food. The passion displayed by the cooks in my family was equaled only by their generosity. I don’t know how many people my grandmother gave cooking lessons to. And my mom is always at the ready to share any recipe she has, even the ones that are most precious to her. This generosity is partly due to a philosophy that food and tradition are meant to be shared and passed on. But it also has to do with the pure joy you experience when someone tries a recipe of yours and ends up making something they love. Inevitably, they make the recipe their own, which is a wonderful thing indeed.

So you can imagine how happy I was to see that Anne of Anne’s Food tried a recipe for penne alla vodka that I’d given her. In characteristic brilliant Anne fashion, she made the recipe her own and produced tortiglioni alla vodka. Check out Anne’s post to see how beautiful her plate of pasta looks!

And now ladies and gentlemen, without further delay, I present the Cream Puff Cookbook MEME …

How many cookbooks do you own?

Let’s just say I own more than 100 and less than 1,000. I refuse to put the actual number in bold print for myself and the world to see. To do so would be to admit that I have a problem. I prefer to live in denial … blissful cookbook denial!

Which is the cookbook that you bought most recently?

The cookbook that I bought most recently is The Best Quick Breads by Beth Hensperger. I love her! I have several of her books including Bread for Breakfast and Bread Made Easy. Her cookbooks are clearly written and suitable for both the novice baker and for someone with a bit more baking experience.

Which is the cookbook that you read most recently?

The cookbook that I read most recently is Caramel by Peggy Cullen. I was lucky enough to find it on sale at the best book store in Toronto, The Cookbook Store. If you’re ever in the city, stop by as you will find the very best selection of cookbooks anywhere. And they always have great titles on sale.

Name 5 cookbooks that mean a lot to you.

Oh, this is a tough one. To have to choose among all my lovely babies … it’s heartbreaking but for the greater good I’ll shall try my best.  Here goes:

1. The Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan — Even though I have not tried a lot of the recipes in this book, it’s one of my most treasured cookbooks. I think that’s because when I read Hazan’s words, I feel like all the incredible cooks that I’ve known in my life are speaking to me. The book is intelligent, no-nonsense, authentic and inspiring.
2. Soffritto by Benedetta Vitali — This is a cookbook by a woman who did not learn how to cook until she got married. She has since become one of Italy’s most beloved chefs. I love this book because Vitali’s love for her land is palpable. It’s a beautiful thing.
3. Kaffeehaus by Rick Rogers — I love this book for the recipes. I love this book because I can almost smell the coffee roasting in all the gorgeous coffee houses in Vienna and Prague. I love this book because it makes me dream of places I have never been, but will one day get to.
4. Zingerman’s Guide to Good Eating by Ari Weinzweig — This book has everything that I ever wanted to know about the condiments and foods that I love … olive oil, balsamic vinegar, cheese … Weinzweig explains how they’re made and tells you who the best producers are. Plus the recipes are incredible.
5. Baking with Julia by Julia Child — No explanation necessary.

Should they have the time and/or inclination to share a little bit about their favourite cookbooks, I tag the following bloggers:  Tea and Cookies, Beyond Salmon, Habeas Brulee, Bron Marshall and Chaud Devant.

Ciao!

I love you.

Je t’aime.

Ti amo. 

我爱你

Ich liebe dich.

Aloha wau i’a oe.

Eu te amo.

Innibig kita.

Ya tebe kokhayu.

Jeg elsker dig.

Konoronhkwa.

Te quiero.

Ja tebe volim (This one is for Jenny of de Arte Coquinaria!)

However you say it. In whatever language you say it. Today is the day to say, "I Love You!"

So I’m putting on my little cupid outfit, I’m pulling out my little love arrow and I’m aiming it at all of you.

A shot of chocolate love.

Straight to the heart.

Blanc et Noir

Adapted from Pure Chocolate by Fran Bigelow.

Note:  Because I love you, I will not lie to you. This is a difficult dessert to make. The sponge portion of the cake is extremely delicate and must be handled with care.

This dessert also requires time as there are many steps to follow. My advice is to begin making the cake 36 to 48 hours before you plan to serve it. This will give you plenty of time to chill the dessert.

This post is also my entry for the Valentine’s Day MEME that I was tagged for by Cannella of La Zuccheriera. Mille grazie, Cannella, e Buon San Valentino!

For the White Chocolate Ganache Filling:

• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 8 ounces (1/2 pound) white chocolate, finely chopped

1. Place the white chocolate in a heat-proof bowl.
2. In a saucepan, heat the cream until simmering.
3. Pour the cream over the white chocolate; stir until melted and smooth.
4. Place plastic wrap directly on the surface of the ganache to prevent a skin from forming.
5. Let sit at room temperature overnight; but not longer than 12 hours.

For the chocolate cake:

• 8 ounces (1/2 pound) semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
• 5 large eggs, separated
• 1/2 cup sugar
• Chocolate Ganache Glaze (recipe follows)

1. Position a rack in the middle of the oven; preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
2. Butter a 9 x 13 inch baking sheet or quarter-sheet pan; line with parchment paper and butter parchment paper; set aside.
3. Melt the chocolate and butter in a double boiler over low heat. Stir until the mixture is completely melted and smooth. Set aside to cool while you begin the batter. (If the chocolate and butter harden a bit, return briefly to the double boiler.)
4. In a mixer with the whisk attachment, whip the egg yolks and half the sugar for 5 to 6 minutes, or until they have tripled in volume and become pale yellow.
5. With a rubber spatula, fold the chocolate/butter mixture into the egg yolks.
6. Clean the whisk and in another bowl, whip the egg whites on medium-high speed until frothy. Once the egg whites are frothy, increase speed to high and slowly add the remaining sugar. Continue to whip until the egg whites form stiff peaks.
7. Add 1/4 of the egg whites to the chocolate mixture to lighten it. Working quickly, fold the remaining egg whites into the chocolate mixture in three parts. Do not overmix.
8. Spread the batter in the pan.
9. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. The cake may rise above the edges of the pan and form a light crust on top. The cake is done when you insert a toothpick or cake tester into the centre of the cake and only a few moist crumbs cling to the tester.
10. Let the cake cool in the pan for 20 minutes.
11. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

For the Chocolate Ganache Glaze:

• 8 ounces (1/2 pound) semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 1 cup heavy cream

1. Place the chocolate in a heat-proof bowl.
2. Bring the cream to a simmer and then pour over the chocolate.
3. With a rubber spatula, stir until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.
4. Place 1/4 of the mixture in a bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
5. Allow the remainder of the ganache to sit at room temperature; stir the mixture occasionally.

For the decorating chocolate:

• 2 ounces white chocolate, roughly chopped
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1. In a small heat-proof bowl over simmering water, melt the chocolate.
2. Once the chocolate is melted, remove from heat and add the vegetable oil; stir until smooth.
3. Place the chocolate in a small plastic bag and seal the bag.
4. When you’re ready to decorate the Blanc et Noir, snip off one corner of the bag.

To assemble the cake:

1. With a hand mixer or electric mixer, whip the white chocolate ganache filling for 2 minutes on high speed. The filling will fluff up and lighten in colour.
2. Remove the cake from the refrigerator and run a sharp knife around all the edges. Using the back of a sheet pan, place the sheet pan over the cake. Flip the cake over, so that it releases onto the back of the sheet pan. Be careful with this step as you may experience some difficulty with releasing the cake. If you do, try to maneouvre a spatula under the parchment and slowly lift up the cake, being careful not to break it.
3. Once the cake has been released, you can cut it into three equal strips or two equal strips. The original recipe calls for three strips, but I chose two.
4. Place one strip on a plate.
5. Spread the white ganache filling over the strip and top with another strip (if you’re using three strips for three layers, then spread half the ganache over the first strip, place the second strip on top and then top with the third strip).
6. Refrigerate the cake for one hour.
7. While the cake is setting in the refrigerator, make the Chocolate Ganache Glaze.
8. Once the glaze is ready, remove the cake from the refrigerator and carefully transfer it to a cooling rack set over a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper.
9. Using the 1/4 of the glaze that was refrigerated and an offset spatula, spread the glaze in a thin layer over the top of the cake.
10. Return to the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
11. Remove the cake from the refrigerator and using the remaining glaze and an offset spatula, carefully pour the glaze around the edges of the cake using the spatula to cover the sides. Leave a bit of the glaze to pour over the top. With the spatula, make sure the top and sides of the cake are as smooth as possible.
12. Take the plastic bag with the decorating chocolate and snip off the corner. Pipe three lines of white chocolate from one side of the cake (lengthwise) to the other side of the cake. With a toothpick, quickly make figure eights with the white chocolate so that you create a design over the top of the cake.
13. Once you’re done, carefully transfer the cake to a serving platter. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
14. When slicing the cake, use a sharp knife. Dip the knife in hot water in between each cut and be sure to wipe the water off the knife before you slice.
15. Enjoy!

Note:  For this recipe, I used Lindt chocolate.

There is no denying that one has to learn quickly in Blog World! In a matter of two weeks I have gone from looking extremely perplexed and thinking, "Huh?" when hearing the term "MEME", to winking ever-so-smugly and thinking, "MEME? No problemo!"

This time, Rosa of Rosa’s Yummy Yums has tagged me for the "Cooking Challenges of 2006" MEME. (If you haven’t visited Rosa’s blog yet, do so immediately!).

Dear Readers … I present the five challenges that I am issuing to myself for 2006:

1. Puff pastry. I have absolutely no problem admitting that my very first crush was puff pastry. Yes, that’s right, I fell in love with dough. You have a problem with that? I’ll never forget the day I fell in love either. It was a Sunday. And I watched, transfixed, as a pastry chef took an enormous block of butter and pounded it into a neat rectangle. Then he enveloped the rectangle in dough. And that beautiful package was turned into the most glorious sheet of silky, butter-flecked pastry … puff pastry. I remember thinking that if I could, I would wrap myself in it. I want to learn how to make puff pastry from scratch. Good puff pastry. And then I want to use that puff pastry to make the most glorious pastries. Challenge #1 … accepted!
2. Fresh pasta. My mother is a pasta master. Her fresh pasta is incredible … and she can make it with her eyes closed. When I was a little girl, she would always give me a little piece that I would play with, pretending to make long fettuccine strands or thin sheets of pasta for lasagna. While I have learned to make a great many things from my mother, I have stopped short at pasta. I will admit that it intimidates me. Well no more! Every master needs an apprentice, so this year I shall endeavour to learn from the pasta maestro:  my mom. Challenge #2 … accepted!
3. Bread. My father used to say that a meal could not begin until two items had been put on the table: wine and bread. Very few aromas excite me as much as freshly-baked bread. I want to smell freshly-baked bread more often. And the only way that will happen is if I start mixing water and yeast and flour. Challenge #3 … accepted!
4. Pavlova. 2006 is the year that I make pavlova. Bank on it! Challenge #4 … accepted!
5. Marcella Hazan. For several years now, I have read Hazan’s cookbooks like they were novels. Her book The Essentials of Italian Cooking, in particular, has comforted, inspired me and amused me. If a kitchen could speak, I imagine that it would speak with Hazan’s voice … strong, practical and wise. And yet after all these years, I have only ever tried two of her recipes. Two recipes! Well that is going to change. This will be the year that I delve into Hazan’s cookbooks and embrace them. Challenge #5 … accepted!

Now that I have challenged myself to overcome my cooking obstacles, it’s your turn. I am tagging the following 5 people:  Sara, Cindy, Easily Pleased, Lisa and Dreska.

Ciao!

The brilliant Jenny at De Arte Coquinaria (check out the lovely new look of her blog) has tagged me for the "10 Things About Me" MEME. Wow. So you want to know 10 interesting things about me … well … I’m not sure I’m all that interesting, but I’ll give it a try. Here goes:

1. When I was born (early 70s), my parents wanted to call me Tania. However, that name was taken by another family member who had recently given birth to a girl. The next name on the list was Anastasia, but my mom vetoed that one. So the third name on the list was Yvonne, which was inspired by a French actress (not sure which one) that my father and mother admired (I’m guessing it was more my father’s admiration than my mother’s). There was one minor problem. The Italian alphabet does not include the letter "Y". The sound made by the letter "Y" is made by the letter "I", hence, the spelling of my name … Ivonne. 
2. I took my first steps in a shoe store. How fitting!
3. I finally learned how to swim two years ago at the age of 30! I am now a reasonably capable swimmer, although I’m sure I will never be asked to try out for Canada’s synchronized swimming team. I’m just a tad too clumsy for that!
4. The very first thing I baked on my own was a chocolate cake.
5. In September 2003, I slept in the doorway of a fancy boutique, not far from the Spanish Steps in Rome, in the rain during a city-wide blackout. I was with my brother and my cousin. We were in Rome for about a week and on that particular night, we joined hundreds of thousands of people for a celebration of "La Notte Bianca" (the White Night). La Notte Bianca is an incredible event where, for an entire 24-hour period, a city stays completely open. Stores, restaurants, museums … they’re all open! And the city entertains its guests with all sorts of special presentations and shows. It was an amazing nigh! We watched clips of the movie La Dolce Vita broadcast onto the Trevi Fountain and we sipped espresso just feet away from the Pantheon. And then came the rain. And then came the blackout. The subways shut down and there was not a taxi cab to be found anywhere! So we, along with thousands of people, settled in wherever we could find a spot. The night was long, wet and unusually cold, but also exhilarating — it is without question one of my most treasured memories.
6. My family owns a shoe factory called Mellow Walk Footwear Inc.
7. I was class valedictorian in elementary school and high school.
8. In one of my first job interviews after university (I was interviewing for the position of copy editor at a well-known publishing firm that shall remain nameless), I was asked to identify three personal qualities that I needed to work on. I came up with two and then immediately suffered a brain cramp and blurted out the following, "Sometimes, I have trouble paying attention." A quality that I’m sure publishers everywhere are looking for in their copy editors! Needless to say I did not get the job!
9. This past summer, I fulfilled two food dreams by eating at The Zuni Cafe in San Francisco and Chez Panisse in Berkeley, CA (will post about these events at length at a later date).
10. This is what I looked like at the age of 15 months. While I could have removed the red eye, I chose to keep it as I feel it accurately sums up my rabid support for the Toronto Maple Leafs (although the support has waned somewhat after the recent NHL lockout). I’m glad to say that the menacing hockey stick has now been replaced by a not-so-menacing whisk!

I am now tagging Isabella di Pesto of The Hungry Blogger!

Ciao!

You cannot imagine my reaction when the lovely Rorie of Milk & Honey informed me that I had been "tagged".

Tagged? Childhood memories of always being "it" flooded back to me. Don’t tell me I’m "it" again!

And then I realized that this is an entirely different game of tag. Oh, glorious day! Cream Puffs in Venice has been tagged for its first MEME. Surely this day will go down in history … ok … I see I’m getting carried away.

I’ll stop now.

I present to you the Official Cream Puffs in Venus response to the 7 MEME …

7 Things to Do Before I Die

1. (Obviously) Eat a cream puff in Venice.
2. Own and run a charming and adorable pastry shop where butter is appreciated for the glorious food that it is. And no one feels guilty about it.
3. Live in Italy.
4. Get married and have children (my mother will be sooooooooo happy …)
5. Be part of the annual chestnut harvest in the Fall and help collect chestnuts from the trees we own in Rocca di Montecalvo, Le Marche, Italy.
6. Watch the Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup (I better not hear any laughing.)
7. Invite all food bloggers, the world over, to my house for dinner. The menu would feature the following: 

• Appetizer:  roasted figs with blue cheese and prosciutto, stuffed baby artichokes, roasted tomatoes and stuffed olives;
• First course:  my mother’s crepes in broth and her ricotta agnellotti with a sauce of butter, nutmeg and parmesan;
• Second course:  frenched lamb chops that have been breaded and fried ("manichitti" in Italian), my mother’s deboned chicken roll stuffed with oranges and then wrapped in its own skin, tied and roasted, potatoes Anna, broccoli rabe with chili flakes, stuffed mushrooms and roasted asparagus;
• Salad course:  a mixture of freshly-picked lettuces (from our garden) with slices of roasted fennel in a light vinaigrette of olive oil and balsamic vinegar;
• Fruit course:  a tray of perfectly ripened Ontario strawberries with lightly whipped cream; and
• Dessert:  my white chocolate, raspberry and pistachio tart.

7 Things I Cannot Do

1. Invite all food bloggers, the world over, to my house for dinner. (It’s a space issue, people!)
2. Avoid the cookbook section.
3. Avoid the food magazine section.
4. Give up chocolate.
5. Stop hoping that the Toronto Maple Leafs will win the Stanley Cup. (I said no laughing!)
6. Leave the mall without stopping in at Williams Sonoma.
7. Stop dreaming.

7 Things that Attract Me to Blogging

1. The food.
2. The people behind the blogs.
3. I like to know what everyone is eating for dinner.
4. I like to see how many cookbooks other people own (and which ones). Then I don’t feel so bad when I look at my "wall of cookbooks".
5. The incredible pictures of food. (While licking my computer screen would normally be a revolting thought … believe me I’ve been tempted!)
6. Food blog humour. (Some of you out there are really funny!)
7. The inspiration to expand my culinary mind.

7 Things I Say Most Often

1. "I want chocolate!"
2. "Do you have chocolate?"
3. "Are you going to watch the [hockey] game?"
4. "I think I’m going to bake something!"
5. "You are not going to believe this!"
6. "Are you serious?"
7. "You have to try this recipe!"

7 Books I Love

1. A Thousand Days in Venice by Marlena De Blasi
2. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres
3. Emma by Jane Austen
4. The Iliad by Homer (technically not a book)
5. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
6. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
7. The Game by Ken Dryden

7 Movies/DVDs I Watch Over and Over Again

1. The Sound of Music
2. Billy Elliot
3. The Godfather I and II (let us never speak of The Godfather III)
4. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
5. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (the scene on the parade float gets me every time!)
6. Gladiator
7. Pride and Prejudice (the A&E series starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle)

7 Tags

1. Rowena at Rubber Slippers in Italy
2. Jenny at Coquinaria
3. Angelika at The Flying Apple
4. Paz at The Cooking Adventures of Chef Paz
5. Bea at La Tartine Gourmande
6. Kat at Our Adventures in Japan
7. Fiordizucca at Fiordizucca

Ciao!