Red Velvet Cupcakes for Valentine!

Happy Valentine Day! My son Maxime came home, last night, from Ontario. I picked him up at the Nanaimo airport and we had a great drive home. I am so happy to have him around. On Thursday we will take the ferry and go to Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics. I can't wait. I have been waiting for this moment since I am young. I have been watching the Olympics for as long as I can remember and always dreamed about being there someday. The day has come. We will be visiting the French Quarter at Granville Island and watch many shows. I will be going to see a hockey game, they Russian against the Czech. I always loved watching the Russians on TV. Beside Canada they are my 2nd favorite team. This will be a moment in the history of my life. I am going to enjoy every minute of it.

For Valentine Day I made some delicious Red Velvet Cupcakes for my two sons. They are a Martha Stewart Recipe. I made my own buttercream recipe for the frosting. We are enjoying them today in between hockey games. My son Mathieu plays and is refereeing three games today. And finally the sun in Comox Valley after many grey days and rainy days.

Recipe:
Red Velvet Cupcakes

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Winner of Epicure Selections Giveaway

The winner of the Epicure Selections Giveaway is:

Darina from Gratinée.

She wrote:

I'm going to make an ultra rich flourless torte.

Congratulations!
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Epicure Selections Valentine Giveaway

Epicure Selections is a a 100% Canadian, family-owned, woman-led company committed to adding value to the lives of Consultants, Customers and Canadian communities.

I can't say enough good things about this company and their products. They strive to maintain the highest quality standard. From dips to desserts you will find a variety of products that you can serve when hosting a party, game night, girl's night.

Thanks to Epicure Selections for this Valentine Giveaway.

By entering in the comments sections what you are going to cook or bake for Valentine Day you will be eligible to win $100 worth of Epicure Selections products.

In the package you will receive:
Red Pepper Jelly, picture above
Margherita Sauce Mix
Bruschetta Herbs
Dip Baker
Dark Belgian Chocolate
Tiramisu Dip Mix
Roasted Red Pepper Dip Mix

Only one entry per person.

Anyone can comment but the contest is open to Canadians only.

You have until Wednesday February 10 to participate.
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See's Candies for Valentine Day

You can give great Chocolates, this Valentine Day, to your loved ones. See's Candies are offering a great variety of Chocolate gifts. That person close to your heart will thank you for such a nice gift.

I had the chance to sample some of their best selling chocolate and candies.

Look at this cute Teddy Bear Box. Even the older 'child' will enjoy this gift. It is packed with See's Gourmet Lollypops, Sugar Sticks, and Milk Chocolate Red Foil Hearts.

I have to have Chocolate in a Heart shape at Valentine. These cute little hearts are made of solid Milk Chocolate . They also come in Dark Chocolate.

You can also order a nice assortment of Chocolates like this Traditional Red Heart.

Don't forget the loved ones that lives far away from your home. See's Candies will ship anywhere in the States. I'm sure Grandma would love to receive a gift, delivered to her attention, from a far-away grandchildren.
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World Nutella Day & Olympics

Let's Celebrate World Nutella Day. Sara from Ms. Adventures in Italy had declared February 5th World Nutella Day.

On the blogosphere, today, you will find many delicious recipes using Nutella.

I made this Nutella Swirl Pound Cake, in October, after seeing it on my dear 'blog friend' Val of More than Burnt Toast. This recipe was featured in Oct. 2009 of Food & Wine Magazine.

This pound cake is rich in butter and Nutella. Serve yourself a slice with a good coffee or tea.

My daughter is flying, from Ottawa, today. She will be working, as a Journalism, at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler. She is so excited. I am so proud that she was selected, as a Journalism student, to be part of the unique experience. She is only 20 year old and she gets the chance to do what others have been waiting all of the career to do. She will be part of a team called: Franco Médias 2010. They will be writing, interviewing French athletes.

I am going to the Olympics, next week, with my other son Maxime. He will be flying, from Ottawa, next Saturday. We will spend couple days in Vancouver. We could not get tickets to events but we will be part of many festivities. This year, on Granville Island, we have La Place de la Francophonie. This will be a little 'French Quarter' where we can watch, for free, many shows by great French performers, eat food, watch the medals ceremony every night. This will be my first time at the Olympics. I can't wait to go.

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Caprese Salad - Cooking Light

We spent last week-end in Port Hardy. It's a small community at the end of Vancouver Island. My son Mathieu had a hockey tournament. I enjoyed the week-end. The hotel had a suite with full fridge and stove. I cooked for the boys homemade meals. All the other players were eating junk food. I was the only mom that was cooking meals. I guess I can really call myself a foodie. It was to the point where the parents were asking me about what I would be cooking next. One night we had the Fennel and Sausage pasta, that I featured on this blog. One boy had three servings. The next day for lunch we had Split Pea soup and for Dinner mashed potatoes/carrots with Turkey. Even when we are on the road I like to have homemade meals. Is anyone like me?

For this month Cooking Light Virtual Club we are having an Italian feast. I prepared a delicious Caprese Salad. I could not get enough of the tasty mozzarella cheese from a local cheese factory the Natural Pastures Cheese. This cheese is an Authentic mozzarella made of water buffalo milk and is a porcelain white, moist ball of fresh cheese. With fresh basil and tomatoes, a drop of olive oil and this was a great lunch for me. I had this salad three days in a row last week-end.

We are experiencing lot's of rain in the Valley this year. January was grey and rainy and February has not been better. I can't wait for those sunny days to take better pictures. I love to take pictures in daylight with no flash but let me tell you that I was not happy with the weather since the beginning of January. Hope we see the sun soon.

For more Italian recipes please visit these blogs:

More than burnt toast
Aggie's Kitchen
Mom's Cooking Club

Recipe:
Tomato, Fresh Mozzarella and Basil Salad

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