Holiday Treats and a Giveaway!

As the holidays are fast approaching, my to-do list seems ever expanding - everyday I pin another recipe I'd like to try, or DIY project I'd love to tackle. I'm sure many of you can relate to this, but every year I wish that December was a couple of days longer. Between flavoured marshmallows, indulgent cakes and intricate cookies, I know this holiday season will be sweet, flavourful and time-consuming!

To help ease the hectic season and lend a little festive spirit, here is the first of our December giveaways! I have a copy of Rachael Ray's newest cookbook, My Year in Meals. The book is split between recipes and a series of cocktails concocted by Rachael's husband, John Cusimano. If you're looking for a few colourful drinks to add to your holiday menus, this is a great place to start. I already have my eye on the Panettone, a mix of vodka, Grand Marnier, orgeat syrup and champagne - that has to be a perfect way to ring in the new year, don't you think?

To enter the contest, simply leave a comment on this post and let me know what your go-to holiday dish is when you entertain. The contest ends on December 15th, at midnight. The winner will be drawn at random and you must be a Canadian or American resident to enter. Good luck and I look forward to hearing from you!

And for a few stress-free holidays treats, try a few of my favourite indulgences for this time of year!

{1} Almond, Ginger and Chocolate Buche de Noel
{2} Hot Chocolate with Mini Marshmallows
{3} Lemon Bundt Cake

Carrots 'N' Cake Giveaway

It's time for another giveaway folks! I will be giving a copy of Carrots 'N' Cake to one lucky Chocolate Shavings' reader. This book stems from the popular Carrots 'N' Cake blog. You will find plenty of recipes as well as stories about its author, Tina Haupert, and how she managed to find a livable and practical way to be healthy. The book will give you tips on how make wise food choices without giving up the things that you love.

In other news, I've been exploring Toronto as much as possible since moving here. I've tried dozens of restaurants already and am getting a better idea of this city in terms of its variety of food offererings. Understanding a city through its food is the ideal to really understood the core of a place: its origins, people, history. It's been great. Toronto really is the most multi-cultural area I have ever lived in.. even more so than New York! I wil be sharing some more of my experiences in a few, so stay tuned!



Back to our giveaway: here is how to enter! leave a comment on this post or write a comment on Chocolate Shaving's Facebook page. You can write a comment on both and your name will be entered in the contest twice. Simply let me know what eating healthy means for you and what your struggles with it are. The contest ends on August 28th, at midnight. The winner will be drawn at random and you must be a Canadian or American resident to enter. Good luck and I look forward to hearing from you!

Congratulations to Isabelle of Crumb, the lucky winner of this cookbook!