Shopping local whether it's for food, clothes, beauty products... is something I find truly important. I'm extremely excited to have partnered up with Alexis Le Gourmand, a local grocery and gourmet counter located in Griffintown (https://www.alexislegourmand.com/) to create this festive recipe. All ingredients were provided from there shop. Now, let's get cooking!

Chocolate Cake

INGREDIENTS:

‍

For the cake:

• 1 1/2 cup of flour
• 60 grams of sifted cacao powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 cup of sugar
• 30 mL of Canola oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla (or 1 vanilla pod) 
• 1/2 teaspoon of spice mix of your choice (nutmeg, cinnamon...)
• 225 mL of buttermilk
• 1 jar of jam

For the icing:

• 170 grams of white chocolate
• 250 grams of cream cheese at room temperature
• 1/4 cup of room temperature butter
• 1/2 of a vanilla pod
• 1/4 teaspoon of cardamom
• 2 cups of icing sugar

INSTRUCTIONS:

For the cake:

1. Preheat oven to 360°F.
2. Use butter to grease three 8" pans.
3. In a bowl, sift the dry ingredients (except sugar) together.
4. In a mixing bowl, mix the eggs, sugar, vanilla and oil.
5. Incorporate the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk.
6. Separate equally in your 3 pans
7. Bake at 360°F for 15 minutes and 340°F for 20-25 minutes

For Icing:

1. In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and cream cheese.
2. Using a bain marie, melt the white chocolate.
3. add the vanilla pod and melted white chocolate.
4. Gradually add the icing sugar until incorporated.
5. Place in a pipping bag and store.

For Montage:

1. For each level of cake, do an outside circle of icing, place jam in the middle and place the next layer of cake on top.
2. Make the crumb coat and place the cake in the fridge for 30 minutes.
3. Make the second layer of icing and add splash of pink & red icing.

Love Potion Cocktail

INGREDIENTS:

• Bottle of Brut (I used l'Orpailleur Brut)
• Fresh strawberries (cut in slices)
• Fresh raspberries
• Pomegranate juice
• Tablespoon of sugar

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Place half the fruits with the spoonful of sugar and let sit for 30 minutes.
2. Place the syrup obtained as well as some pieces of fruits in the bottom of the drink.
3. Add fresh fruits & the pomegranate juice.
4. Pour the sparkling wine in the glass.

‍

Until next time,

Cheers & Bonne Appetit!

*Special thank you to Alexis le Gourmand for sponsoring this post