Vegan Mexican Chocolate Bundt Cake

This vegan chocolate cake has a Mexican twist with sprinkle of ground cinnamon and a touch of cayenne pepper. It is a fabulous addition to any Mexican-themed party or celebration, or to a vegan dinner party. You can also opt to leave out the cinnamon and cayenne and you have a go-to vegan chocolate cake recipe that is sure to wow your guests.

Makes 1 bundt cake.

For the cake:

1/2 cup olive oil, plus 1 tablespoon for cake pan

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp ground cayenne pepper

1/2 cup almond milk

2 cups unsweetened applesauce

1 tsp vanilla extract

For the ganache:

1 bar vegan dark chocolate

1/2 cup almond milk

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

1. Brush 1 tbsp olive oil on the inside of a bundt cake pan.

2. Mix flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.

3. In the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment on low speed, mix together sugar and 1/2 cup olive oil. Add applesauce and vanilla.

4. Slowly add half of the dry ingredients into the bowl of the electric mixer. Pour in almond milk. Mix in the remainder of the dry ingredients and combine thoroughly. Add cinnamon and cayenne.

5. Pour the batter into the oiled bundt cake pan. Bake for approximately 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cake cool on a cooling rack for at least 30 minutes, or covered overnight.

6. Meanwhile, break up the chocolate bar into pieces and place it into a heat-safe bowl. Pour almond milk over chocolate and heat in the microwave at 30 second intervals stirring between each interval, approximately 2 minutes. Using a spoon, pour vegan ganache over the top of the cooled cake.

Cheers! -Lauren

Tips for Setting your Thanksgiving Table

Thanksgiving is on its way, so you might be considering how you would like to decorate your fall table. With just a few easy steps, you can get your table looking fall-ready in no time!

Step 1: Pick Your Table Linens

Choose a tablecloth/table runner in your colors of choice. Of course, a palette of red, orange, and yellow is a classic fall color palette that can instantly give your home an autumnal feel. Choose cloth napkins in a neutral color, or one that matches your color scheme of choice.

Step 2: Find Your Flowers

Purchase your flowers the night before or the day of your Thanksgiving event so they are fresh and fabulous. Find flowers that match your color scheme, and try to find fresh greenery to elevate your floral displays. For the table, create short flower arrangements so your guests can have easy conversation. You can even opt to use a flower garland instead of floral arrangements. If you can't find flowers in your specific colors of choice, go for an all-white bouquet.

Step 3: Set Your Table

Place your best china, flatware, and glassware on your table. You can opt to use chargers to elevate your table décor, but if you have limited space on your table, skip them. Fold your napkins nicely and secure them with pretty napkin rings or bows. You can also fold your napkins flat and omit the napkin rings, whatever you think looks prettiest!

Step 4: Add Some Decorative Details

Add a few candles to make your table look inviting. Because it's Thanksgiving, add a few pumpkins to create an even more festive feel. If you can't find pumpkins in your color scheme of choice, find some inexpensive craft pumpkins and paint them with acrylic craft paint in colors that match your scheme. Add a few metallic touches to create even more sophistication.

Now you have an easy step-by-step guide for decorating your Thanksgiving table! Happy decorating!

Cheers! -Lauren

En Plein Air - Outdoor Hosting Tips and Ideas

It's warm weather season - the season for enjoying beautiful blooms, fresh fruit, and everything about the great outdoors! One of my favorite things about Summer, or l'été in French, is hosting outdoors on my patio. Having a garden party or backyard soirée is a perfect way to take advantage of the warm weather and longer days with friends and family!

Here are a few of my tips and ideas for hosting a party en plein air (outdoors):

1. Give Your Patio a Little Refresh

With just a few simple touches, you can refresh your patio and give some life to your outdoor living space. Firstly, clean up a little by dusting cobwebs and sweeping your patio to remove leaves and debris. Next, dust off your outdoor furniture and fluff up your chair cushions.

One of my suggestions for keeping your outdoor furniture fresh year-long is to purchase a waterproof cover to keep your furniture protected from the elements. This will also protect your chair cushions from sun bleaching and fading. Outdoor furniture covers come in a range of prices and can be found online. I recommend covering your outdoor furniture any time it is not in use.

Another quick way to brighten up your patio is to refresh your potted flowers. Remove any dead plant material from your pots and plant fresh blooms in their place. Give overgrown plants a little trim, and shape your boxwoods.

2. Bug-Proof Your Outdoor Space

Nothing puts a damper on a private party quite like an unwelcome party crasher, and bugs are some of the worst culprits! Bug-proofing may sound impossible, and while it is challenging to keep these curious critters away, there are a few easy tips to keep them at bay. If you want to read more about bug prevention outdoors, read my blog post on Bug-Proofing Your Patio 

3. Set the Scene with Lights

Part of the fun of an al fresco affair is dining under the stars. If you're hosting a nighttime dinner outdoors, think about lighting. Lanterns, string lights, tiki torches, and LED candles are all great options to help spark up some fun.

4. Consider Comfort

With the glory of Summer comes hot weather! If you are thinking of hosting a daytime party, consider shade structures and umbrellas to keep your guests cool and add a little extra dimension to your event space. Keep food in the shade, and make sure your cooler is protected from the heat and packed with ice to keep the drinks flowing.

At night when temperatures drop off, a propane patio heater can help keep your guests warm, although these can be quite expensive. Fire pits are also wonderful conversation areas and can act as a warm respite for chilly guests. However, fire pits and outdoor fireplaces can also be pretty expensive and they can be dangerous if you live in a dry area. Instead, consider putting out a basket of blankets to help keep you and your guests warm. I suggest buying thinly woven blankets as they are less likely to catch debris from the great outdoors, and they are typically inexpensive.

5. Pick the Perfect Playlist

Music is essential to any gathering. Pick a playlist that suits your particular occasion. For instance, a tea party could be complemented with instrumental music. A backyard BBQ might go well with some Country or R&B. And of course, a French-inspired dîner en plein air goes perfectly with French café music !

Hosting outdoors is fun because it allows you to open up a new part of your home to your guests and enjoy the great outdoors. I hope you find these tips useful as you plan your next outdoor party to ring in the Summer!

Cheers !

Lauren