Vegan cocoa crepes with pear and almond masala chai spices topping

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    After the Christmas yule log cakes and other treats, in France, we have a busy food calendar. In January, we enjoy French kings cakes (called "galettes des rois") for the Epiphany, which is a sort of large flaky puff pastry filled with frangipane (home made almond cream mixed with custard). You hide a lucky charm inside and the one who finds it when eating the galette des rois is said to be the king and can wear a paper crown and chose his queen (reverse way of course if it's a woman). Some traditions also say that the one who finds the lucky charm has to buy the galette des rois the following year.


   Anyway, after this very light pastry in January, we enjoy crepes in February for Candlemas (the "Chandeleur"), crepes are very typical in France and especially in Brittany but I have to say, I make crepes all year long, as soon as I'm craving some for snack, breakfast or dessert. And so here we are and as last year, with these rooibos vegan crepes topped with a home made orange coconut syrup, I wanted to publish a recipe a little different. And I had been willing to try cocoa crepes for a long time and the first test was a success and they were not sickly as I would have thought using so much cocoa powder. They're even very good on their own, but I wanted to add a little something to make it a real dessert and served them with some pear and a home made almond chai spices topping. I really suggest you to enjoy them warm because, thanks to the cocoa, the crepes are so moist!

{ Waiting for Christmas } Vegan option chocolate ginger biscotti

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   Let's end this week with my last sweet recipe of the year that you'll b able to do for Christmas holidays or whenever you're craving som chocolate and spices, to offer or just enjoy yourself, as a treat with som tea or coffee or a snack, dessert or even breakfast.

   I'm not a big fan of chocolate but I like to bake some recipes with it in Winter or holidays because I find it quite comforting and to add even more comfort and warm feeling, I used ginger, ground and candied, that makes a nice association with chocolate.

Pink grapefruit cranberry ginger cocktail • For The Love Of Cocktails, Las Vegas premier charity cocktail festival

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    Today, we'll talk about cocktails, Las Vegas and charity. A few days ago, I heard about For The Love Of Cocktails, a cocktail and charity event hosted in Las Vegas once a year. The celebration is not only a mixology party but also a 72-hour fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. In honor of the next edition of the festival taking place in May this year, I created a fun cocktail I wanted to share with you! 

   The event brings, every year, the finest mixologists, cocktail bars and chefs. I'm not a big drinker, ageing, I've been drinking alcohol less and less but I like to enjoy a good cocktail once in a while. If I could, I would have been delighted to meet some professionals there and also because Las Vegas is one of my top destinations I wish to visit. It sounds like a lot of fun but most of all for a great cause.

Orange mango immune booster Winter smoothie (turmeric, ginger, cardamom and baobab)

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    Let's begin this week with a vitamins packed smoothie, because it's good and to fight the bad weather of March, between Spring and apocalyptic rainy days.

   At first, I had tried this smoothie with fresh orange juice and it was delicious but I thought it would be interesting to use the whole orange flesh in order to add more fibers that help to digest and make you feel hungry later because they regulate the carbohydrates and lipids. Mango is also a fruit rich in fibers but also antioxidants (and it's my favorite exotic fruit). 

Ginger lemonade

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    I had the occasion to taste a delicious home made ginger lemonade in a little restaurant in Paris a few weeks ago and it was so good that I told myself I would have to make one myself at home soon because I'm a big fan of ginger! If there is some in a dish, a dessert or a drink, I'll choose this one for sure, this is one of my favorite or maybe even my favorite spice.

Banana mango ginger turmeric smoothie (vegan option)

    You may have noticed that I like smoothies, it's a nice way to eat fruit and hydrate oneself at the same time with just a glass and a straw without having to sit at a table with forks and knives, it's also very convenient to take away.