Chocolate Red Beet Cake

Panetone

Although this bread is associated with the Christmas season, I decided to bake this special treat for Easter. The Easter counterpart for Panetone is Colomba. Both breads are the same, except for their shapes. Panetone is round and Colomba is shaped like a dove.

Panetone is a rich egg and butter bread filled with raisins and candied fruit (soaked in rum or whiskey). I soaked my fruits in Grand Marnier, vanilla extract, orange extract and orange blossom water. (the latter was used in lieu of Flora di Scicilia)

It takes about two days to prepare this bread, and requires about 4 hours of proofing. At the end it is worth the effort. See for yourself.

Banana Bread

From the quick bread family, Banana Bread has got to be one of my favourites. A classic, tried and true. Great for breakfast or afternoon tea.

Croissants

What a way to start off your morning! Fresh baked croissants and coffee. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, a sign of a good croissant. The layers of butter make it all so yummy.

Stollen

This is a German style Christmas bread. Made with flour, eggs, butter, marinated fruits (raisins and candied orange peels in rum or brandy) and a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.

Right when it comes out of the oven , these loaves are basted in butter and sprinkled with a generous topping of powdered sugar.

The shaping of this bread resembles a baby's blanket, one which the Christ child would have been wrapped in.

A lucky few may receive a loaf with marizpan in the centre. This is truly a special treat around the Christmas season.

Mincemeat Tarts

Mincemeat tarts. A Christmas tradition from England. Once used as a meat preservative, it makes for a tasty dessert. My recipe is made from fresh apples, raisins, almonds, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and soaked in whiskey. So rich and full of flavour.

Cranberry Pecan Cookies

Another one of my Christmas time favourites. This is a light crispy and rich cookie with pecan and cranberry in every bite.