Madeleine Cookies

There's a new cookie in town and her name is madeleine. All year  I've been besotted by these soft, scrumptious little shell shaped cookies you have with tea or coffee.  The great French author Marcel Proust put madeleines on the map in his novel Rememberance of Things Past. Unfortunately he did not leave a recipe, and a great one is hard to find. Here's the best recipe I've found for this 'magical' pastry, courtesy of Sarah Bell, pastry chef and co-owner of the recently expanded Bobbette and Belle (bobbetteandbelle.com)

   

Ingredients

7 Eggs

1 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled

2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted

11/2 cups white or brown sugar

1Tsp baking powder

Pinch of salt

2 Tsp Vanilla

1 Lemon- Juice

1Lemon – Zest

1cup confectioners' sugar (optional)

Directions

·      Preheat over to 350 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour twenty-four Madeleine molds.

·      Melt and cool butter. Add vanilla, lemon juice and zest.

·      Wisk eggs and sugar together until volume is tripled. Transfer mixture to a very large mixing bowl.

·      Sift dry ingredients together: flour, salt and baking powder. Sift one-fourth of the flour mixture over

    the egg/sugar mixture, gently folding in, taking care not to deflate. Continue until all flour is added.

·      Fold in butter mixture gently.

·      Scoop mixture into a disposable piping bag and squeeze to fill each mold completely.

·      Bake at 350 F  for 8 to 10 minutes until the tops spring back when lightly touched, and edges are slightly golden. Remove from pan and allow to cool on a rack.

·      Sift confectioners' sugar over the tops.

Winners of Redken Nature's Rescue Haircare Giveaway

Congratulations to Jess from London and Rosemary from Toronto,Ontario. Both are the lucky winners of a  Redken Nature's Rescue Haircare collection. Their prize includes Nature's Detox Shampoo, Rescue Cooling Deep Conditioner and Nature's Rescue Radiant Sea Spray. Congratulations!

Thanks to everyone who entered. More contests to come.

Contest: Redken Nature's Rescue Haircare Line Giveaway

Gorgeous hair is always glamourous. The Beauty Guide wants to help you look your most fabulous this holiday season, so enter for a chance to win the following three (3) Redken Hair Products!

The Product: Redken Nature's Rescue Haircare

The Details: Nature's Rescue is like a spa experience for your scalp and hair. The recently launched, nature-inspired haircare line contains  aloe vera, soy protein and sea algae, which pamper and perfect your natural hair texture, while also being conscious of the environment.  Recommended for all hair type, safe for colour treated hair and for daily use.

Prize consists of:

• Nature's Detox Shampoo, a sulfate free cleanser formulated with moisturizing aloe vera and soy protein. (200ml)
• Nature's Rescue Cooling Deep conditioner (125ml)
• Nature's Rescue Radiant Sea Spray, a lightweight texturizer that releases an oceanic scent when you touch your hair. Nice!(100ml)
• Estimated Retail Value: $90

How to enter: 

Leave a comment telling us why you want to try Redken Nature's Rescue Haircare.One winner will be chosen.

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Repairing Catastrophic Hair Damage

CATASTROPHY The nightmare of catastrophic hair damage usually involves chemicals—relaxers, perms, bleaches, dyes—and over processing.  Back in the spring, I had the bright idea to use a mild chemical relaxer to 'loosen the tightness' of my curly hair. Big mistake.

Blame it on the wrong chemical strength or leaving the relaxer on too long…whatever, the result was catastrophic damage and the signs were unmistakable. When wet, my hair was porous, matted, tangled. When dry it was rough, lacking elasticity, and brittle. Frantically I used my entire arsenal of deep conditioning treatments but they only produced a temporary improvement. Long story short, I had to cut off two years of growth. 

SOLUTION Such drastic measures might have been avoided had I known of a two phase, professional 'shock' treatment from L'Oreal's Kerastase Collection:  Concentrate Vita- Ciment, a keratin protein reconstructor, and Aqua Oleum, a moisturizing conditioner with extracts of avocado and jojoba.  "These products are effective because Kerastace has engineered the molecular weight of the active ingredients so they reach into the hair's core and rebuild the internal substance of the hair fibre," explained Tom Knapp,a Colour Technician at Salon Daniel where I had the treatment.  This is important because relaxers and chemical hair products work by penetrating the hair shaft and literally rearranging the internal molecular structure. To repair this type of catastrophic damage you have to get right back in there at the molecular level to affect any true repair.

After shampooing, they first apply the Kerastace Vita-Ciment Concentrate, a liquid serum from a glass ampoule, and massage it into the entire length of the hair, especially the most weakened areas for 5 minutes. Next comes the Kerastase Aqua Oleum, sprayed on for 5 minutes before rinsing. Immediately, my hair was detangled, silky and soft. Each ampoule cost $25.

For 10 minutes of treatment, the results are truly jaw dropping, akin to transforming straw into silk. Good to know next time disaster strikes.

My New Winter Fragrance:Donna Karan's Cashmere Mist Luxe

Do you change your perfume with the seasons? Fragrance is a crucial part of my winter survival kit. It brightens my mood and distracts from the cold, harsh reality. Now that the dark days are here again, I'm ready to switch from a light, summery scent to something warmer, richer, more comforting. My current fave is Donna Karan's Cashmere Mist Luxe Edition Eau De Parfum Spray Fragrance. It's sooooo gorgeous!! 

The literature says it evokes the feeling of pure cashmere against bare skin--a luxury I've never experienced. Still, the fragrance does make you feel pampered. It contains two of my favourite scents, amber and vanilla, which add  warmth and depth without being too strong or overpowering. Three people have commented so far on how nice the fragrance smells on me; that hasn't happened for ages, so I know this is keeper. 


I once interviewed a 'nose', (the official name for a professional perfumer), who told me that during winter he sprayed his curtains with amber fragrance to scent his home. How opulent! I tried it (just one spritz is enough) and now my bedroom feels like a 'boudoir', the perfect setting in which to hibernate.

 

1.7-oz. Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Luxe Edition EDP Spray Fragrance, $72.00 is available at Sephora.com and Holtrenfrew.com.

 

Event: Dare To Wear Love Fundraiser

Sudanese designer Rashel

Lewis Foundation Representative

Volunteer Karen Tyrell

Mayoral candidate George Smitherman

Dare to Wear Love, the colourful and exuberant closing night show at LG Fashion Week beauty by L’Oréal Paris, thrilled the fashion crowd this past Friday, October 22 at 8 p.m.

For the second year, Dare to Wear Love, produced by Chris Tyrell and Jim Searle of the Toronto fashion line Hoax Couture, was held to benefit the The Stephen Lewis Foundation, which supports various grassroots organizations working to turn the tide of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Ticket holders enjoyed an exclusive cocktail party and an exhibit of African inspired fashions in the Fashion Environment at Heritage Court. Following the party, guests moved into the marquee runway room and experienced the Dare to Wear Love, an uplifting and unforgettable show full of African-inspired fashion, dance and music. Working with textiles from different parts of Africa, 26 of Canada's top designers put their creative skills, heart and soul into some fabulous and charitable couture. The outfits were worn by models, celebrities like Pop singer Keshia Chante and media personalities.

All outfits will be auctioned off  until November 2 - find more information and make a donation at DareToWearLove.com.The goal is to raise $100,000.00. 

Sesame Street Celebrates Black Hair

How adorable is Sesame Street! The latest you tube viral sensation is a song called "I Love My Hair". It shows a brown Muppet with a nappy fro singing about the many hairstyles she can wear. It's meant to encourage girls of colour to love their natural texture. Sesame Street head writer, Joey Mazzarino, whose adopted Ethiopian daughter, wished her hair was straight like Barbie, wrote the song. Mazzarino says he wrote the song to tell his daughter: "Your hair is great. You can put it in ponytails. You can put it in cornrows. I wish I had hair like you."

Here we are in 2010, and it's obvious that young girls of colour still absorb the message that straight, long hair is the ideal, a sentiment that sets up a lifelong struggle with their natural hair texture. This song celebrates the versatility of ethnic hair, something that's rarely shown in fashion images. It's a delightful teaching tool and I wish this had been around when I was young.