Halloween cupcakes and a great new cupcake recipe

New: Halloween cupcakes and a great new cupcake recipe

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 It’s almost time for Halloween and of course another opportunity to search for the perfect cupcake recipe. In comparison to the previous recipe I tested out, this recipe uses only egg whites. 

This perfect cupcake recipe checks off on every factor on my perfect cupcake checklist. It has a fluffy, springy texture, a wonderful, non-eggy, non-floury taste and yes, it uses one more egg than I really want it to use, but it’s just the egg whites so it’s not so bad. It’s a bit sweeter than I would like it to be, but that can be remedied by decreasing the sugar a bit.

This recipe is also great for baking cakes, which is what the original recipe intended it to be for. However, you can’t argue with these fantastic cupcake results. I got this recipe from Bakerita and included a few of my own little changes.

What to bring to a potluck party and Chocolate Covered Pound Cake

New: Recipes - What to bring to a potluck party and Chocolate Covered Pound Cake

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Potlucks, parties and picnics, they’re tons of fun, and a great way to try out new bites, but, the question is, what to bring? What will make everyone happy? What won’t break the bank? What is the perfect potluck recipe? The perfect potluck party dish should be:

1. Tasty. It should still taste good even if left out on a table for hours
2. Inexpensive. Especially if making large quantities
3. Impressive. Something to show off your skills
4. Shareable. Everyone should be able to grab a piece
5. Presentable. Sure casseroles are tasty, but after a few digs, it doesn't look quite as appetizing

This recipe for chocolate covered pound cake is from Make it Naked.  These tasty bites are unique, easy to make and will taste great even when left out on the dessert table for hours. With the chocolate covering, the pound cake doesn't need to be as sweet so I decreased the sugar.

Bite-sized chocolate covered pound cake

Strawberry coffee cake and must-have summer desserts

New: Strawberry coffee cake and must-have summer desserts
What’s up: Restaurant Review - Le Faux Bourgeois , Cheap baking substitutes

Summer in Vancouver never lasts as long as I hope it will and it definitely doesn’t last long enough for me to enjoy all my favourite summer treats. You’ve got a week, maybe two weeks left to indulge in the warmth of our shortest season, so before it ends, make sure you give one of these delicious summer desserts a try:

Taiwanese Shaved Ice

Delicious and simple. This dessert is simply a pile of what only could be described as fluffy snow topped with fruit jellies, sweet beans, fresh fruit and a drizzle of condensed milk. Try it at The One restaurant in Burnaby, or Frappe Bliss in Richmond. There's also a great place (so great I can't remember the name currently...) inside Crystal Mall near Metrotown where you can pick seven different toppings for about $5. 

Taiwanese shaved ice with fresh fruit and ice cream

Taiwanese shaved ice for the slightly more daring with red beans, grass jelly, ice cream and taro

Strawberry Sponge Cake Recipe and how to pick the best strawberries

New: Strawberry Sponge Cake Recipe, Berry Picking and How to Pick the Best Strawberries

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Delicious Strawberry Sponge cake recipe

Summer is cheap strawberry season! Time to indulge in some strawberry pies, strawberry cakes, strawberry muffins, strawberry mousse strawberry lemonade, and just plain, fresh, vibrant strawberries. Here are a few tips on how to pick the best strawberries:

Colour: Generally, the deeper the red, the sweeter the and riper the berry . 

Size: Smaller and medium strawberries are always, always better. Not only are they more natural (have you seen the fist-sized beasts they call berries?), but they will almost always be sweeter.

Smell: If possible, give the strawberries a sniff. Sweeter strawberries have a stronger strawberry smell. 

Firmness: Firmer strawberries can sometimes be more sour, the softer ones are not only more natural, but they tend to be sweeter as well. The large, crunchy strawberries are never as sweet and tend to lack a real strawberry taste.

Fresh, hand-picked local strawberries taste the best.