Hot Chocolate Cream Puffs

Chocolate | Christmas | Mousse | Pastry

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I can't believe Christmas is just four days away! It seems like it was November just a few days ago… I guess when you're working as much as I am, the days seem to blur together. My days are all very much the same - wake up, go to work for 12 hours, come home, eat something (anything, really. Instant noodles have been my dinner for the first time since, well, last Christmas), and go right to bed. Aaaaand wake up and do it all again! I used to be so excited for Christmas, it was my favourite time of the year. I would figure out gifts in October, decorate in November, listen to Christmas music all throughout December, and wrap my gifts weeks in advance.

It's December 21st and I only bought gifts last week, they're not wrapped yet, my decorations went up in mid-December, and I think I've listened to Christmas music twice. Honestly, I can't wait for Christmas to be over so I can relax and sleep! But at the same time, I still love Christmas and I really wish I could have more time to enjoy it.

Posted by : Hint of Vanilla
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Dark Chocolate, Passion Fruit, and Hazelnut Layer Cake

Cake | Chocolate | Fruit

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It's my birthday!!!

It is 3:30 in the morning and I am getting ready for work, which will probably be a 12 hour day because we're in Christmas production mode and that shit is crazy. If you're a long term reader of this blog, that sentence may sound awfully familiar to you because I said almost exactly the same thing when I posted this chocolate cake for my birthday last year. Except last year, it was 6:30 am instead of 3:30 am. Not much has changed.

Posted by : Hint of Vanilla
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Chocolate Brioche Wreaths

Bread | Chocolate

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I know that I sometimes post some pretty complicated and difficult desserts on this blog. I work as a pastry cook, so making a 4 component dessert at home is pretty straight forward for me. Things that can sometimes scare a home baker, like making caramel or tempering chocolate, are as easy as can be for me. I don't mean to brag, but I'm trying to say that I know the stuff I put on here is not always easy for everyone to make.

Except these. These are easy for everyone to make.

Posted by : Hint of Vanilla
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Milk Chocolate and Passion Fruit Marshmallows

Chocolate | Confections | Fruit

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I love marshmallows, but only in hot chocolate. And only if they're homemade. Okay, sometimes I make hot chocolate with a mix that has tiny little marshmallows already in it, but they're really small so it doesn't count. 

But seriously, homemade marshmallows are infinitely better than store bought and they're easy and don't even require a whole lot of ingredients! And you can customize the flavour to almost aaaanything.

Posted by : Hint of Vanilla
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S'mores Custard Cake

Cake | Chocolate | Custards

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Every summer, I have to make a s'mores dessert. There's just something about the summer and the warm weather than makes me crave that graham cracker-chocolate-toasted marshmallow combo. Theres just no beating it. 

Way back in 2013, it was a s'mores tart. Last year, it was s'mores cream puffs. This year, I think I may have really outdone myself with this s'mores custard cake. I don't even know if I can make another s'mores dessert that isn't this cake because this is the pinnacle of s'mores reincarnations.

Posted by : Hint of Vanilla
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Earl Grey and Dark Chocolate Cream Puffs

Chocolate | Mousse

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I love tea. I've always loved tea. I drink tea every single morning and have done since I was a little kid. Back then, I used to drink it out of brightly coloured plastic cups. Now I drink out of an actual mug, but everything else is basically the same. I like my routines, probably a bit too much, and my morning tea routine hasn't changed in about 12 years.

Posted by : Hint of Vanilla
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Mint Chocolate Tart with Caramelized Cocoa Nibs

Chocolate | Christmas | Custards | Tarts

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Only a few more days until Christmas!!! I have to admit, it really snuck up on me. I know, I know, I was getting ready for Christmas months ago and have been going gung-ho on Christmas recipes since December 1st, but suddenly it's right here! Right in my face, saying "Hey, are you ready? Here I come, ready or not!".

Despite all my Christmas recipes, my decorations, and my tree, I don't know if I'm actually ready for Christmas...

Posted by : Hint of Vanilla
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Cranberry & White Chocolate Macarons

Chocolate | Christmas | Cookies | Fruit | Macarons

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I love Christmas. This is nothing new and I'm sure you've already come to that conclusion based on the many Christmas recipes that I've put up since the beginning of December. I love the decorations and the twinkling lights and even the music. But I love it for reasons more meaningful than shiny baubles. 

Posted by : Hint of Vanilla
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Gingerbread Cream Puffs with White Chocolate Chantilly

Chocolate | Christmas | Mousse

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I have been waiting ALL YEAR for this month. I talked about how excited I was for Christmas back in August. I have been thinking of Christmas baking ideas since the summer. My Christmas Pinterest board is incredible. I love everything to do with Christmas.

And now, finally, it is an acceptable time to display my undying love for the holiday season because it is the first of December. 

It's going to be Christmas all month long here on the blog. 

Posted by : Hint of Vanilla
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Dark Chocolate and Espresso Demi Spheres

Cake | Chocolate | Custards | Mousse

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We're getting a little fancy over here today. I'm talking demi-spheres-fancy. Look at those cute little domes! And the little dome inside the dome! It's like a Russian doll that has smaller dolls inside each one, but this is edible. And not kind of creepy looking.

Posted by : Hint of Vanilla
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Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Mousse and Gianduja Buttercream + It's My Birthday!

Cake | Chocolate | Mousse

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So, in case it's not glaringly obvious from the photos and the title, IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!

Posted by : Hint of Vanilla
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Chocolate Pecan Brioche Buns with Salted Caramel Sauce

Bread | Chocolate

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If you've been reading my blog for the last few months, you'll know that I have been working away from home this summer. I left at the beginning of June, so it's been about four months. The job was seasonal and the summer season is winding down to a close. This resort town is getting pretty quite with the tourists - and a lot of the summer staff- gone.

And I'm going home in 4 days!

Posted by : Hint of Vanilla
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Dark Chocolate Mousse with Graham Cracker Streusel and Toasted Meringue

Chocolate | Mousse

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Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few years, you've noticed the absolute explosion of "GF", or gluten-free. 

The gluten-free trend is now an everyday thing. My neighbour eats gluten-free bread, not because she has coeliac disease, but just because she thinks it's better for her. She complains that it tastes like cardboard and when I tell her that regular bread is fine when eaten in moderation, she just shrugs. "Gluten-free" is now synonymous with "healthy". However, that's not true. 

Posted by : Hint of Vanilla
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Chocolate Custard Ice Cream

Chocolate | Custards | Ice Cream

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My mom, her boyfriend, my brother, and his girlfriend came for a little visit this week. They rented a cabin here at the lodge and I booked a few days off work, so I was able to stay with them in the cabin. We did a bit of surfing, went on a day trip to the natural hot springs, ate some great food, and just had a nice relaxing time up here in Tofino.

It's back to work and the daily routine, but I realized the other day that I have a little less than four weeks left here in Tofino. I have mixed feelings about this. Mostly, I'm really excited to go back home. I can't wait to see my boyfriend again and cuddle my little kitty. I can't wait to sleep in my own bed. I can't wait to be back in my own apartment. I can't wait to be back home.

But I will miss living on the beach. I'll miss going surfing. I'll miss the rugged and beautiful landscape of the west coast. I'll kind of miss living 5 minutes away from work because waking up at 4 AM is bad enough without any sort of transit time. I'll miss the quiet and slow pace of this surf town. 

Posted by : Hint of Vanilla
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Hazelnut Milk Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Chocolate | Cookies

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Looking back, I wish I had made these into ice cream sandwiches with this Brown Butter Ice Cream. The nuttiness from the brown butter would pair perfectly with the hazelnuts in the cookies. The cookies are soft and chewy enough to not get too rock hard during freezing and they're not too thick so you'd get a great cookie to ice cream ratio. Oh, the regrets! 

Posted by : Hint of Vanilla
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S'more Cream Puffs

Chocolate | Custards

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Sorry about posting a little later than I usually do, but my mom was in town visiting me! Since she was only in town for one full day, we packed as much as we could into it. Boat rides up the coast, natural hot springs, tacos, good dinners, an incredible local clothing designer, more tacos, and some beautiful beach walks. All in a days work here in gorgeous Tofino.

Posted by : Hint of Vanilla
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Chocolate Kouign Amann

Chocolate | Pastry

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Summer is fast approaching and that means the kitchens are going to get hot, especially in the afternoon. No one wants to turn on the oven or stand by a stove. You want to be outside, enjoying the sunshine and eating a cool refreshing dessert. 

So, I'm putting this recipe up now before it gets too uncomfortably hot to make these in your own kitchen. You have to give these a try before summer hits because these. are. unreal.

Posted by : Hint of Vanilla
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Ginger White Chocolate Mousse with Honey Roasted Rhubarb

Chocolate | Fruit | Mousse

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Are any of you guys up to your ears in rhubarb? I don't even have a rhubarb plant and I'm drowning in rhubarb. I have made more rhubarb desserts in the past few weeks than I have in my entire life. 

And I still have so much rhubarb left.

Posted by : Hint of Vanilla
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Cookies and Cream Macarons

Chocolate | Cookies | Macarons

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Growing up, Oreos were never that big of a deal to me. I had eaten them before and they were good, but we never had them in the cupboards at home. Out of sight, out of mind. Over the years, they were grouped into the "store bought cookies are nasty" category in my mind and then subsequently forgotten about.

Until I decided to make these.

Posted by : Hint of Vanilla
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Pecan Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread

Bread | Chocolate | Fruit

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Remember last week when I was bummed about my new job and how I just felt like I was doing a bad job every day, no matter how hard I tried? 

Yesterday, I decided that I had had enough of the stress, anxiety, and confusion. I talked to the pastry chef and told him how I felt about the job and how overwhelming it was for someone with such little experience in the industry. And I told him it just wasn't working for me. I quit.

Posted by : Hint of Vanilla
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