The Easiest Chocolate and Pear Pudding

Before I give you the recipe for this deliciously easy chocolate pudding - some food news! As most of you know, I've been working in the food realm for a few years now and, as of a couple weeks ago, started a new position as a Food Specialist for Canadian Living. Canadians will know the magazine I'm sure, and for all my non-Canadian readers - I hope you take a few minutes to take a look at the magazine's website.

I will be sharing some of my daily experiences with you on this blog and talking about life in a professional Test Kitchen.I`m excited for this new chapter - nothing makes me happier than spending my work hours creating recipes, writing about food and talking about today's relevant food-related issues. I hope you will be joining me on this culinary journey!

For the time being, I wanted to share a recipe inspired by Nigella Lawson's Chocolate Pudding. I made a few changes to this basic pudding  and served it warm with a side of orange/mango sorbet. This was the easiest chocolate dessert and the perfect recipe to have on hand when you have a late night chocolate craving and not much in your fridge. It starts with plump canned pears - which help keep the pudding really moist. Although I usually prefer using fresh fruit, canned fruit really work here. They are plump and soft, and the extra juice they release gives the pudding a satisfying saucy consistency  This sure hits the spot!

Getting inspired in Paris

Every time I go home, I recharge, relax and get inspiration from what I can now say is the most beautiful city in the world. Sure, there are close seconds in my mind, but the beauty of Paris always finds its way to my heart. I always get inspired by the beauty of Parisian streets and the constant discovery of a new detail you hadn't noticed before. I usually come home with a slew of ideas for upcoming projects, and a paper-version of my Pinterest boards that I create by jotting detailed notes on small patterned notebooks. Although I grew up in Paris and have all my family still there, I find that I appreciate the city that much more now that I live away from it. I look at familiar streets with a new eye, and take the time to explore neighbourhoods that I sometimes took for granted when I had them surround me all year long.

I was in Paris last week and took a few hours to wander the Marche aux Puces of Sanit-Ouen. Walking through the small cobblestone streets with its vendors and old world aroma makes you feel like you, literally, just walked in to a scene in Midnight in Paris. You'll find everything here: from antique furniture, to period pieces to memorabilia of eras long gone. This time, I went looking for tableware inspiration and come back with a myriad of new ideas. I wanted to share some of my favourites with you, a virtual tour of my Paris, if you will.

Keep reading to see all of the photos from my trip...

Outdoor Accessories

I'm spending a few days at my parents' home in Paris for a short vacation, so I apologize for the lack of posts! I will soon be back with many photos to share and stories to tell. I've discovered new restaurants (it seems that everytime I come home there is a full list of new places to try) and taken the time to walk around a few neighbourhoods I don't usually spend too much time in. Although the weather hasn't been very nice since I've arrived here, I've been making up for it by preparing for the warmer months. These pretty outoor accessories are my favourites for 2012.

Which of these would make a nice addition to your patio, balcony or terrace? I'm loving the bright touches of reds and yellows, it makes me want to sit outside with a homemade fruit juice and a few tasty nibbles. Here is the list of where each of these are from if you want to track them down:

DIY Easter Egg Decor

With Easter being a handful of days away only, I thought I would share some of the DIY Easter egg ideas I prepared for Style at Home this year. After long work week, I can't think of many more relaxing activities than spending a few hours doing something creative. These eggs all use different simple decorating techniques (using paint, stickers, glitter and tape) and are perfect to make with children or to prepare as decorations for a fancy Easter dinner.