winter – Cocoa Bean The Vegetable

Clementine and Hazelnut Cake with Orange Blossom Buttercream

April 2, 2016

Sunshine is one of those things that Canadians never take for granted- especially in the dead of winter when you become hungry for light and to hear the birds sing. To celebrate the return of sunshine, I made a cake (how else would you celebrate?) that welcomes the incoming spring with orange blossom, and says adieu to winter with the last of ...

main dish, recipe, vegetable, year-round

Whiskey Three-Bean Chili

January 27, 2016

Are you watching the super bowl next weekend? I’m not a huge football fan, but I do love the spirit and excitement it brings. My favourite part is cooking up some delectable delights that are enjoyed by everyone! But with the many dietary restrictions cropping up among friends, it can be hard finding something that suits everyone’s ...

recipe, sweet, year-round

Guinness Cupcakes and Bailey Cream

February 18, 2015

I believe cupcakes will never fall out of trend. They clearly took the foodie world by storm (and the homemade donut-shaped cakes followed suited), but I honestly believe there will always be room in a chef’s repertoire for a perfect no-plate-needed cupcake recipe. But cupcakes do have a juvenile element to them, don’t they? I ...

autumn, recipe, snack, sweet, vegetable

Butternut Squash Cake with Brown Sugar Cream

October 19, 2014

The opulent selection of squash and gourds at the Farmer’s Market is one of the most decorative and delicious parts of autumn. In fact, for Canadian Thanksgiving I even made them into place settings! This picture is from my Instagram account: Thanksgiving name tags done! 🙂 A photo posted by Cocoa Bean, The Vegetable (@cocoabeantheveg) on ...

breakfast, recipe, sweet, winter

Pink Grapefruit and Rosemary Cornmeal Cake

May 6, 2014

My friends Priscilla and Patrick are getting married in less than a month, and we had a bachelorette party for Priscilla last Saturday. There were lots of decorations (pink, pink, and more pink), dancing, drinking, and of course food. I made a lemon meringue pie (it was gone in a flash- no pictures to prove its existence unfortunately) and the ...

recipe, snack, winter

Holiday Spice Pecans

December 29, 2013

I am on the VIA train, rolling past farms and small cities as I travel from Montreal to small town Belleville, Ontario. Home for the holiday season at last! After a technical delay in uploading these pictures (the internet available in a moving vehicle never seems stable), I am so very pleased to be presenting you this very flavourful treat: ...