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flourless chocolate cake
bakeoff_Lauren
Sarah, from Sarah Fit, and I decided to have a bake-off! Our mission was to make a dessert that was on the healthier side, yet still able to satisfy the sweet tooth! I went with a chocolaty taste and Sarah went with more of a pumpkin pie-ish flavor. I thought they both came out great. I am actually going to make Sarah's dish for my Thanksgiving gathering. I can’t wait to share how it comes out!
*Sarah's 100 calorie Pumpkin Pie Dessert Bars
Check out our videos and try both recipes. Which do you like more? [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gknIC2yASh4]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq8ecJrlLm0&w=560&h=315]
My inspiration for this dessert came from my love of chocolate and sweet potatoes! The recipe that I followed is from Chef Toni Robertson, as I also added my own twist here and there.
Ingredients:
¾ C semi sweet chocolate
2 ripe bananas
1 medium-sized sweet potato
3 egg whites and 1 whole egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbs chia seeds
1 tsp of cinnamon? If you wish!
1/4 c (or less) honey
2 tbs brown sugar
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350
Melt chocolate (any way you know how!) add in 1 tsp vanilla if you wish
Microwave the sweet potato and peel. Place sweet potato, 2 ripe bananas, honey and sugar in blender. Blend until smooth.
Remove the melted chocolate from heat and fold over sweet potato/banana puree add 1 whole egg and chia seeds. Mix well.
Beat the 3 egg whites until a little foamy. Add this to your mixture.
Place chocolate mixture in (sprayed) single serving custard cups. This recipe serves 6-8. The more filling in the cup the longer it cooks!
Cook for about 10 minutes. If you desire it more cooked through add 5 minutes or less. Keep a lookout though, every oven cooks differently!
I had an awesome time cooking with Sarah. You have to check out the videos. Her new camera is insane!! Have an awesome Thanksgiving.
Nutella and banana crepes
YUM! Walking the streets of Paris you are bound to come across freshly made crepes. They are the best! Check out the video to see our nutella and banana crepe being made.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qq-CGBhpa4?hd=1&w=420&h=315]
I have never tried a savory crepe, have you?
Here is our man in action.
mmm falafel and bakalava
When in Boston I go to Cafe Jaffa (on Glouceter st.) for a falafel plate or a humus plate. Falafel is deep friend chickpeas, so this dish is definitely an indulgence for me. But Cafe Jaffa also serves a great greek salad! My cousin informed me of the Jewish quarter in Paris. I loved this area. We explored it a couple days ago and then went back yesterday to do some food tasting. There were two falafel places right across the street from one another. We chose "L'as Du Fallafel" due to the fact that their line was going out the door, where the other place looked pretty sad.
walking into falafel restaurant [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySMB1kvjIHY?hd=1&w=560&h=315]
The pita was stuffed with falafel, red and white cabbage, cucumbers, chopped tomatoes, eggplant, humus and tahini sauce! Tahini is a ground sesame seed paste. It is a creamy, oily, and a smooth nut butter rich in calcium.
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View of the falafel [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x-mw0DEWR4?hd=1&w=560&h=315]
After our yummy falafel experience we walked about 500 feet to check out what I have heard serves the "best bakalava ever". I have to say I think my mémé (grandmother in french) makes it better, but it was still darn good.
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Bakalava is made from layers of phyllo dough, an assortment of nuts ( I think mostly almonds and walnuts) and sweetened with tuns of honey!!! YUMMM. It is a sweeeeeet dessert, but light, crispy from the phyllo dough, and crunchy from the nuts. The bottom gets a little chewy from the phyllo being soaked in honey. Seriously awesome.
Bakalava is messy and difficult to make, but this is one dessert I will eventually attempt. I will start with some home-made humus (should not be too hard) and I will share my experience with you! Have you ever made humus? Can you share any good recipes?
a taste of Paris
The title of this blog is a bit ironic considering everything listed below has really no French roots, or does not scream "FRENCH FOOD". Regardless, they are all on my list of what I think is wonderful food. My favorite dish so far has been this amazing pumpkin and tomato soup. The restaurant is called Les Philosphes and they pride themselves on making everything from scratch and using only local and organic ingredients when possible.
It was quite delicious. It was a cold night and my camera man and I opted for outside seating and chose a spot under a heater. We drank some wine and shared this wonderful bowl of soup. France recently passed a law that smoking is not allowed inside, but is allowed outside. Hence the tables, chairs and heaters outside. I LOVE sitting outside. If I have a heater I am fine, but the smoke does taint the wonderful fresh air. It amazes me how many people smoke. It is part of their culture for sure. Yesterday we went to a huge mall in paris called Printemps. There, I also had another awesome meal. This place was a grab and stay (or go) type place. You can choose from all types of fresh pre-packed food. The ingredients were listed in French, but this is what I gathered: lentils, crushed walnuts, oranges and parsley 
carrots, noodles, crab meat, peanuts, lime juice (dish pictured all the way to the left) This dish had a Thai feel to it. 
amazingly seasoned quinoa, raisins, grapes, hazelnut, blue cheese, and parsley 
Though a bit on the pricey side it was so fresh and delicious. I think Boston needs a place like this. To-go food that is healthy and fresh. Would you buy your lunch, or a quick on the go snack at a place like this? What would be your ideal mixture? A couple blocks away is the Galeries Lafayette. 
It is another HUGE department store. There I bought a "cape". It has no arms, but has arm holes, and covers you like a poncho! Everyone around here has one ( I will do a fashion segment later this week). It's Perfect for throwing over a tun of layers on a cold day!
If you click the photo below to enlarge you can see the cape.
I leave you with a picture of me and the camera man in front of the Tour Eiffel. 
WOWZA. It was awesome. You always see the Eiffel Tower in pictures, but seeing it in person made my heart stop. We were able to catch the light show that happens every hour after dark. We are going to the eat some falafel and baklava at the Jewish quarter today. Should be delicious!
